Welcome back to the Hugoversity library!
This month, Steph has been polishing her written communication skills with the help of Everybody Writes (the second edition) by Ann Handley, a book that’s filled with an abundance of useful tips for content writing.
What’s it all about?
Many people have the idea that the ability to write well is a special gift granted to a chosen few. In Handley’s book, she explains that having the power to write well is ‘part habit, part knowledge of some fundamental rules, and part giving a damn.’
In a digital world that’s dominated by short, creative videos on TikTok and amusing gifs on Twitter, you might find yourself wondering: who cares about writing today?
Handley offers a refreshing point of view, embracing the idea that we are all creators and writers – whether that’s online or offline – and demonstrates a different mindset by treating writing as a habit, rather than an art.
What did we learn?
Accept the ‘ugly first draft’. Many of us expect too much of ourselves when writing the first draft, hoping we will write a piece that is strong, compelling and fully formed – a notion that is frustrating and just about impossible. The important thing to remember is to just start writing, then revisit and reshape.
When learning to write well, who could forget about language and grammar? Handley guides us through all the fundamentals including using an active voice rather than a passive voice, words we always get wrong, and eggcorns and mondegreens. Unfamiliar with the latter? So was I! If you’ve ever mistaken Bon Jovi’s lyrics in “Livin’ on a Prayer” as ‘It doesn’t make a difference if we’re naked or not’ then you’re not alone. This is one of many fine examples of a mondegreen.
Writing well helps you to express yourself better and makes you sieve out your thoughts down to the minor details. In this book, Handley helps us realise that the writing process can be joyful rather than that overwhelming feeling of being pressure-filled. She inspires a changed attitude toward writing.
What did we think?
Unlike other self-help books which typically tell you to simply motivate yourself, this book offers concrete actions and technical advice for aspiring writers.
If I were to write a book on writing for a business, I would like to think this is what I would have written (only Handley is much funnier than I am). Her personality shines through her writing and she teaches you to do the same. Even though there are plenty of writing tips readily accessible online, Handley delivered this in a fun-to-read compact way and covered all the bases.
Whether writing is a hobby, a small part of your job or you write for a living, you’ll learn something worthwhile from this book.
