Scientific Writing: A Reader and Writer's Guide by Jean-Luc Lebrun Given that scientific material can be
hard to comprehend, sustained attention and memory retention become
major reader challenges. Scientific writers must not only present their
science, but also work hard to generate and sustain the interest of
readers. Attention-getters, sentence progression, expectation-setting,
and memory offloaders are essential devices to keep readers and
reviewers engaged. The writer needs to have a clear understanding of
the role played by each part of a paper, from its eye-catching title to
its eye-opening conclusion. This book walks through the main parts of a
paper; that is, those parts which create the critical first impression.
The unique approach in this book is its focus on the reader rather than
the writer. Senior scientists who supervise staff and postgraduates can
use the book to review drafts and to help with the writing as well as
the science. Young researchers can find solid guidelines that reduce
the confusion all new writers face. Published scientists can finally
move from what feels right to what is right, identifying mistakes they
thought were acceptable, and fully appreciating their responsibility:
to guide the reader along carefully laid-out reading tracks. (Amazon.com).
Tell it Slant
Creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing segment in the writing
market. Yet, the majority of writing guides are geared toward poetry
and fiction writers. Tell It Slant fills the gap. Designed for
aspiring nonfiction writers, this much-needed reference provides
practical guidance, writing exercises, and a detailed discussion of the
range of subcategories that make up the genre, including memoir, travel
writing, investigative reporting, and more.
Ideal for writing a short story, essay, review, or report, this guide provides beginning writers with the hands-on direction they need to improve their writing techniques and ability. Using a six-step approach to writing, this resource covers brainstorming ideas, choosing a topic, outlining, drafting, revising, and editing. The tone is casual, the advice is straightforward, and the whole approach makes writing a skill that anyone can learn. Illustrations reinforce the ideas visually and help to break up the text into bite-sized chunks. An example section with worked examples of two kinds of writing—a creative writing piece and an essay—takes readers through the six steps, so they can watch writing develop from a blank page to a finished piece. Ideal for high school students but also appropriate for writers of all ages, this book also includes tips on user-friendly grammar, a table of different types of text, and a quick night-before-the-exam summary.
How to Write What You Want & Sell What You Write is one of two books Skip Press has written for writers. He has recently completed the Writers Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors and Screenwriting Agents. His class in the UCLA Extension Writers Program has given his students a high success rate in selling their own works.
