Back to basics

I often get asked by people how they can get started as a freelance writer/editor. I tell them that, in the first place, they have to write well, which really develops through reading - a lot of it and preferably, reading the classics and serious fiction. I also tell them that there are five books they should buy.

The first is William Strunk Jr and E B White's timeless The Elements of Style. It's only 92 pages long (index included) but within these pages are key requirements that will help to give your writing "cleanliness, accuracy and brevity". One of the rules: Omit needless words!

The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer is the second book. It covers the basic rules of grammar and usage in 168 pages, providing hundreds of examples of correct grammar. There's even a chapter on how to express numbers.

The next book to buy is the 156-page The Elements of Editing by Arthur Plotnik. It brings together the author's own experience in writing and editing, making it therefore a book that deals with practical issues. He points out, "An editor edits above all to communicate to readers." Written with a wry sense of humour, it gives an inside look into the editorial process, giving aspiring editors a good idea of what editing is all about.

The fourth book, The Elements of Copywriting, is just as concise as the ones above. In 173 pages, authors Gary Blake and Robert W Bly cover "writing headlines and body copy as well as increasing readership and response, and go on to provide copy guidelines for print ads, direct mail, brochures, catalogues, press releases, electronic messages, and more".

And last but not least is the Handbook for Proofreading by Laura Killen Anderson. Proofreading is essential in written communication to avoid embarrassing errors, and this book "shows how to systematically and thoroughly proofread everything from headline copy to book-length manuscripts". It's only 176 pages long but it takes you through the entire proofreading process. 

So there you are - the five books that can make you a better writer and editor. In fact, I bought these books when I was still in full-time employment as my work involved a great deal of written communication. And I continue to refer to them now.