Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-272) and index.
Contents:
part one. Change your perspective: Transcend bullshit ; Seize your opportunity -- part two. Change what you write: Move beyond fear ; Write short ; Front-load your writing ; Purge passive voice ; Replace jargon ; Eliminate weasel words ; Be direct ; Use numbers wisely ; Reveal structure -- part three. Change how you write: Be paranoid early ; Think early ; Think first ; Plan purposefully ; Unleash creativity ; Find flow ; Collaborate without tears ; Embrace edits ; Edit effectively -- part four. Change what you produce: Understand containers ; Email thoughtfully ; Master social media ; Promote intelligently ; Craft actionable reports ; Change the bullshit culture.
Summary:
"Writing Without Bullshit is the first comprehensive guide to writing for today's world: a noisy environment where everyone reads what you write on a screen. The average news story now gets only 36 seconds of attention. Unless you change how you write, your emails, reports, and Web copy don't stand a chance. In this practical and witty book, you'll learn to front-load your writing with pithy titles, subject lines, and opening sentences. You'll acquire the courage and skill to purge weak and meaningless jargon, wimpy passive voice, and cowardly weasel words. And you'll get used to writing directly to the reader to make every word count. At the center of it all is the Iron Imperative: treat the reader's time as more valuable than your own. Embrace that, and your customers, your boss, and your colleagues will recognize the power and boldness of your thinking. Transcend the fear that makes your writing weak. Plan and execute writing projects with confidence. Manage edits and reviews flawlessly. And master every modern format from emails and social media to reports and press releases. Stop writing to fit in. Start writing to stand out. Boost your career by writing without bullshit,"--Amazon.com.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.