Good Writing 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences

by Allen, Neal; Lamott, Anne

• ISBN13: 9798217046959
• ISBN10: 8217046956
• eBook ISBN(s): 9798217046973
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2026-03-17
• Publisher: Avery
• More Book Details

Summary

36 ways to improve your writing

Two writers show you how to turn a worthy sentence into a memorable one. Starting where The Elements of Style leaves off, Good Writing can improve your book, your essay, your memo, your blog post, speech, or script. These essential rules for persuasive language work on any type of writing, and anyone can learn them quickly.

Each rule is accompanied by examples and a lively pair of essays, the first by Neal Allen, who developed the list of tips over the course of his journalism and corporate careers; the second by his wife, Anne Lamott, acclaimed author of Bird by Bird and nineteen other nonfiction works and novels. The authors don’t always agree on the specifics, but they are passionate about making better sentences.

As Neal writes, “These rules economize, favor the plainspoken and the specific, keep the reader’s attention sharp, and in other ways show respect for the audience’s time and desire for novelty.”

Some rules are fundamental: Use strong verbs. Remove the boring stuff. Twist clichés. Some are more subtle: Draw on all five senses. Give your sentence a finale. Along the way, Good Writing addresses practicalities such as finishing projects despite challenges, trusting editors, and knowing when to break the rules to serve your story.

Whether you're a novice writer or a seasoned author, this entertaining guide will revolutionize your approach to crafting sentences.

Author Biography

Neal Allen is a writer, spiritual coach, and speaker. He is the author of Shapes of Truth and Better Days. A former journalist and corporate executive, he holds master’s degrees in Political Science and Eastern Classics.

Anne Lamott is the author of twenty books, including the New York Times bestsellers Somehow; Help, Thanks, Wow; Dusk, Night, Dawn; Traveling Mercies; and Bird by Bird, as well as seven novels. She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and an inductee to the California Hall of Fame.

Neal and Anne live in Northern California.

Table of Contents

Contents
Read This First
RULE 1: Use Strong Verbs
RULE 2: Question “Being” and “Having”
RULE 3: Keep It Active
RULE 4: Stick with “Said”
RULE 5: Don’t Show Off
RULE 6: Prefer Anglo-Saxon Words
RULE 7: Sound Natural
RULE 8: Trust Your Voice
RULE 9: Question Transitions
RULE 10: Link Ideas with Semicolons
RULE 11: Drop “Very” and Other Crutch Words
RULE 12: Jettison [All Those] Tiny Words
RULE 13: Dress Up “This”
RULE 14: Remove the Boring Stuff
RULE 15: Refresh Your Words
RULE 16: Know Your Words Inside and Out
RULE 17: Stay In Tune
RULE 18 : Find the Hidden Metaphor
RULE 19 : Twist Clichés
RULE 20 : Knock Three Times
RULE 21 : Stretch Out
RULE 22 : Short Sells
RULE 23 : Give Your Sentence a Finale
RULE 24 : Crystallize Your Dialogue
RULE 25 : In Fiction, Archetype Your Characters
RULE 26: Show, Then Tell
RULE 27 : Give Them a Hero’s Welcome
RULE 28 : Once Is Enough
RULE 29 : Smell the Roses
RULE 30 : Don’t Filter
RULE 31 : Trust Your Reader
RULE 32 : Layer Your Sentences
RULE 33 : Write the Hard Stuff
RULE 34 : Break the Rules
RULE 35 : Finish the Damn Thing
RULE 36 : Worship (Talented) Editors
A Final Word
Neal’s Kit Bag
Acknowledgments
Index