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Books on writing, public speaking offer help, confidence

By Paul Schaumburg posted 02-12-2018 09:09

  

Communication is how we share our ideas, or make them common with one another. The roots of the word relate to community – in effect, common unity… Communication is both my vocation and a favorite avocation. I’ve worked as a radio broadcaster, newspaper writer, school public relations director, and college instructor of public speaking, interpersonal and organizational communication.

So, when someone says he or she is not confident in his or her own writing ability, that’s foreign to my thinking. I more easily understand the fear of public speaking because of the audience. Yet, essentially fear of either public speaking or writing comes from the fear of embarrassment, self-doubt, inexperience, and lack of training. Therefore, I share here my four favorite books about writing and my favorite authors’ series on public speaking.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White originated from Strunk’s writings about writing as a Cornell University English professor in 1918. He privately published it for use at the university the next year. Harcourt republished it in a 52-page format in 1920. E.B. White, a writer for The New Yorker magazine and former student of Strunk’s, had forgotten about his professor’s “little book.” He rediscovered it when he wrote a feature story about Strunk's devotion to quality writing. My fourth edition, 4.5-inch X 6-inch volume of 105 pages, published by Pearson, is what more textbooks ought to be – succinct and without costly color photos!

The Little Red Writing Book cover says, “… Author Brandon Royal offers concise explanations and non-intimidating instruction based on the four pillars of sound writing – structure, style, readability, and grammar. His discussion centers on 20 immutable writing principles as well as 30 commonly encountered rules of grammar…” I quote this as an accurate account and succinct summary of this 160-page, 5-inch X 7.5-inch volume, published by Writer’s Digest Books. I have read, highlighted, and continue to use my personal copy.

The Associated Press Stylebook is an English grammar style and usage guide American journalists with AP ties created during the past century to standardize mass communication. Besides its use by reporters, it also has become the leading reference for most corporate communication. First publicly available in 1953, the Stylebook provides a basic reference to grammar, punctuation and principles of reporting, including many definitions and rules for usage as well as styles for capitalization, abbreviation, spelling and numerals. Writers update the AP Stylebook each year. My 6-inch X 9-inch, wire-bound copy of this reference guide includes some 317 pages.

On Writing Well is one of at least three books William Zinsser has written about the craft for Harper Collins Publishers. He also has taught writing at Ivy League universities. My 5.25-inch X 8-inch copy is a 30th anniversary edition of what the cover calls “The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.” Its 25 chapters spread over 300 pages are divided into four parts: principles, methods, forms, and attitudes. Forms include writing about people, places, yourself, science and technology, and business writing on the job. Attitudes include “The Sound of Your Voice” and “Writing Family History and Memoir.”

Reference-styled public speaking books written by the team of Dan O’Hair, Hannah Rubenstein, and Rob Stewart and published by Bedford/St. Martin’s are excellent. They range from the 4-inch X 8.5-inch, 314-page A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking to the 6-inch X 9-inch, 577-page A Speaker’s Guidebook Text and Reference. My copy of the smaller book is wire-bound. My larger book copy is bound similarly by plastic.

My favorite passages among all these are found in Chapter 16, “Business Writing,” subtitled “Writing in Your Job” of Zinsser’s On Writing Well. Besides writing, his comments also apply to public speaking.

Here are three pertinent excerpts:

“If you have to do any writing in your job… anxiety is a big part of the problem and humanity and clear thinking are a big part of the solution… (p. 165)

“Most people work for institutions… they tend to be so afraid of writing that their sentences lack all humanity – and so do their institutions… (p. 166)

“If you work for an institution, whatever your job, whatever your level, be yourself when you write. You will stand out as a real person among the robots, and your example might even persuade [someone else] to write his own stuff.” (p. 177)

To all this, I say, God bless you, William Zinsser and the others!

 

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