Best Book for improving writing???

[YoungGun7]

Let me get your ideas...

 

[earlyentry]

AP Sports Writing Handbook.

 

[21]

The Elements of Style, by EB White.

 

[DKIA]

Playboy. I'm always inspired after browsing through an issue.

 

[Joe Williams]

Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Guaranteed to help with your fictitious leads.

 

[FishHack76]

"Beyond the Game" by Gary Smith
"The Art and Craft of Feature Writing" by William E. Blundell

 

[earlyentry]

Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Guaranteed to help with your fictitious leads.

Could you explain?

 

[FishHack76]

Five People You Meet in Heaven.
Guaranteed to help with your fictitious leads.

Mitch, do I meet Mateen Cleaves and Jason Richardson in Heaven, and can you tell me what they'll be wearing so I can look for them?

 

[Chi City 81]

His propensity for long-windedness aside, Stephen King's "On Writing" is an excellent read.

 

[SuperflySnuka]

Let me get your ideas...

Best American Sports Writing of the Century.

Without a doubt, helped me grow as a writer more than anything...though a few days with JMac and Jones in the WW helps too

 

[HeinekenMan]

On Writing Well, Zinsser

 

[earlyentry]

I was thinking of making this a separate thread, but here goes:

When you have the time of day, what are your essential reading stops for the day's sports news?

I spend practically all of my days devouring anything and everything via usssportspages.com. As a matter of fact, I stay up late enough to read tomorrow's news, if that makes sense. Long story short, I'm reading newspapers from east to west because it's fun. Now if I could just start typing as frequently...

So how do you divide you free time and which sites or newspapers do you visit? Are there some sites that are just automatic, set your clock to it?

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

On Writing Well, Zinsser

seconded

 

[SuperflySnuka]

A web site:

Neiman's narrative Digest.

Harvard takes all of the great newspaper features writing and condenses it into one great site...

Also, go to the pulitzer web site and just dig up the winning feature stories of the last several years. You'll be blown away...

Start with this one: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0412050232dec05,0,4852884.story

Phenomenal lead...

 

[Double Down]

YoungFirearm,

Give this thread a read.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/40404/

There is no "one" book. Don't think about it that way. Think about reading as many books as you can that will help, making serious reading a priority in your life every day.

In addition to the recommendations on that thread, I would offer up Roy Peter Clark's 50 Essential Tools for Every Writer. But definitely think of it in terms of books, not book.

Mr. Clark's Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Tools-Essential-Strategies-Writer/dp/0316014982

 

[earlyentry]

Good lookin, Snuka.

 

[Cansportschick]

In Canada, some universities recommend the Canadian Press Style Guide. I needed to get it for my j courses and really found it useful. They do have a sports section.

Another good book is the Canadian Reporter. While it doesn't per say improve writing, it can help you with journalism topics.

Paul McLaughlin wrote a book called the Art of the Interview which is great for honing interviewing skills. He came into my class to talk about it and really, it is a must have for anyone.

You can tell what my so called "journalism bibles" are.

 

[Speedway]

I was thinking of making this a separate thread, but here goes:

When you have the time of day, what are your essential reading stops for the day's sports news?

I spend practically all of my days devouring anything and everything via usssportspages.com. As a matter of fact, I stay up late enough to read tomorrow's news, if that makes sense. Long story short, I'm reading newspapers from east to west because it's fun. Now if I could just start typing as frequently...

So how do you divide you free time and which sites or newspapers do you visit? Are there some sites that are just automatic, set your clock to it?

This would be an interesting survey on SJ, but yes it should be a separate thread.

 

[CountryFeedback]

I recommend Jon Franklin's Writing for Story. In fact, it's time I give it another read.

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Story-Secrets-Dramatic-Nonfiction/dp/0452272955

 

[Flip Wilson]

Start with this one: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0412050232dec05,0,4852884.story

Phenomenal lead...

I use that story as an example in my classes every semester. The detail is amazing. I stress to my students the importance of observation, and after reading a few excerpts, someone from outside the class walks in, picks up a book I have sitting on my desk and walks out. I then give a quiz asking about what the person was wearing, what hand he/she used to pick up the book, stuff like that. Always an interesting assignment. But that's an amazing article.