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Monday, May 25, 2009

The Little Red Writing Book by Brandon Royal - a brief review

Writing guides and handbooks fall into roughly two categories: Some are long, comprehensive, and, except for the extremely punctilious writer, unfathomable; a few are direct, useful, and ideal for serious writers who would rather write than spend hours finding the rules for semicolons. In the latter category falls Brandon Royal’s brilliant The Little Red Writing Book.

The articulate exposition of his twenty principles of writing and thirty rules of grammar fit neatly into 159 short, accessible pages, pages undoubtedly well-thumbed by thousands of grateful writers for years.  Built carefully and simply around the categories of structure, style, readability and grammar, Mr. Royal’s little book will satisfy both the sit-down-and-read-all-about-it reader and the frustrated-fly-by-and-check-something-quickly writer. 

I recommend this wonder to all my writing students; one day the writing committee with wise up and make this a primary text for all writing courses at my school.  I won’t hold my breath, but you could buy a copy now here anyway.

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