Best Book for improving writing???

seconded

 

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...

 

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

 

Good lookin, Snuka.

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

And that is why you are an awesome journalist!

 

If you want to learn more about the writing process -- rather than just the X's and O's -- buy any of the Paris Review Interviews books with famous writers (or the University of Mississippi series in the same vein). Wonderful stuff.

 

Hemingway On Writing is one of my favorites.

http://www.amazon.com/Ernest-Hemingway-Writing-Larry-Phillips/dp/0684854295/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-4455542-8162354?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188491117&sr=8-1

 

It won't necessarily improve your writing, but I recently came across a book I forgot I even had. It's called Woe Is I. It answers several of those grammar questions often posted on here about which word is the right one to use.