You only need these 3 books if you want to write more effectively
There are lots of books about writing.
And I’ve read plenty of them.
Writing Without Bullshit: Boost Your Career by Saying What You Mean by Josh Bernoff
Everybody Writes: Your New and Improved Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley (2022 edition)
Copywriting Secrets: How Everyone Can Use The Power Of Words To Get More Clicks, Sales and Profits…No Matter What You Sell Or Who You Sell It To! by Jim Edwards
In school, as non-native English writers, we learn to express ourselves in an overly formal, pompous way. Teachers don’t encourage us to write what we really mean.
As a student, I was rewarded for writing using academic conventions, which, while useful in academia, don’t translate well into work conversations or clear, online writing.
The first book I read about writing was by Josh Bernoff. He dissects an Oracle press release in the book, and it resonated deeply with me, having worked at Oracle and being familiar with their corporate jargon. Yep! Yep! When I read it, I was nodding all the way.
Bernoff then rewrites the letter, removing weasel words and using active voice. At the time of reading the book, I was working for PwC, where writing was a big part of my job, and this book simply blew my mind.
Since Bernoff’s eye-opening book, I’ve read another 20 or so in the past few years on writing, but I only found 2 other good ones, both this year.
Ann Handley’s Everybody Writes was a game-changer. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from the book and frequently find myself revisiting the chapters.
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, you’d still benefit from Handley’s GPS framework. She delves deep into each aspect of the framework, and if you take it to heart, your writing will be changed forever — and for the better.
This year, I wanted to learn about marketing and sales copywriting. After extensive research, I settled on a different book initially. I won’t disclose the first book because it taught me nothing new. Sometimes, you can’t trust Amazon reviews.
Edwards’ book came as a close second by recommendation. I thought I would give this a go.
What l appreciate about Edward’s book is the short and simple but not simplistic chapters. Other authors would’ve dragged out a similar book by an additional 100 pages, but he didn’t.
Copywriting Secrets is a concise book packed with essential copywriting 101 information without unnecessary filler. It teaches you the fundamentals, encouraging you to explore further on your own after each chapter. It was a perfect introduction for someone like me who knew nothing about copywriting. However, if you’re an experienced copywriter, this book won’t blow your socks off.
If you’re interested in writing, I can’t recommend these books enough.