Book description
The Secret to Good Writing
When asked by the Paris Review what compelled him to rewrite
the ending of A Farewell to Arms 39 times, Ernest Hemingway
replied, "Getting the words right." His answer echoes what
every successful writer knows: The secret to all good writing is revision.
For more than twenty years, Getting the Words Right has
helped writers from all professions rewrite, revise, and refine their
writing. In this new edition, author Theodore Cheney offers 39
targeted ways you can improve your writing, including how to:
- create smooth transitions between paragraphs
- correct
the invisible faults of inconsistency, incoherence, and
imbalance
- overcome problems of shifting point of view and
style
- express your ideas clearly by trimming away weak or
extra words
You'll strengthen existing pieces and every
future work by applying the three simple principlesÂ-reduce,
rearrange, and reword. Once the secrets of revision are yours, you'll
be able to follow Hemingway's leadÂ-and get the words right!
A longtime University professor, Theodore Cheney is also
the author of Writing Creative Nonfiction.
