How to Write Short

Word Craft for Fast Times

By: Roy Peter Clark

Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

America's most influential writing teacher offers an engaging and practical guide to effective short-form writing.

In How to Write Short , Roy Peter Clark turns his attention to the art of painting a thousand pictures with just a few words. Short forms of writing have always existed - from ship logs and telegrams to prayers and haikus. But in this ever-changing Internet age, short-form writing has become an essential skill. Clark covers how to write effective and powerful titles, headlines, essays, sales pitches, Tweets, letters, and even self-descriptions for online dating services. With examples from the long tradition of short-form writing in Western culture, How to Write Short guides writers to crafting brilliant prose, even in 140 characters.

©2013 Roy Peter Clark (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Entertaining, but more survey than instruction.

Would you try another book from Roy Peter Clark and/or Roy Peter Clark?

Based on this book, perhaps not.

Any additional comments?

More nuts-and-bolts instruction, the purported 'How to' of the book's title, would have improved it.

One to read and not listen

I wish I had read the print version to make notes in. If I get around to doing so, I’ll get a lot more out of it than if I had just read it.

Timeless tips for any writer

What did you love best about How to Write Short?

Yes, it's ironic that a book about writing short is so long - but that's because it's packed full of perfect examples! This builds on his other book (Writing Tools) and is a perfect accompaniment.

What did you like best about this story?

Great tips. Even they're dated, the examples are still relevant - and I think they always will be.

What about Roy Peter Clark’s performance did you like?

Solid all around. I listened at 1.5 speed.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The way he compared a story to facts - Facts can help you get somewhere. A story places you directly in it.

Any additional comments?

Get it.

this is the book to start at...

this gives useful advise. I have no friend's...ducks can be scary...
I spend way to much time on tiktok...
also this book is good

Ironically long

An ironically long book on the topic. Also ironic that Audible requires a twenty word review.

Too Long Still Read, Well Listened

If you want to write short then read short writing. That sums this book up. The rest of this book got tedious. There was some good stuff about where to find short writing to read. But honestly, for a book about how to write short, there was a lot of excess material. The real problem with this is that I now have a hard time remembering the parts of the book I liked. I

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book delivers on its title, How to Write Short. And it also tells you why.

Good idea, old reference

Read by, is good.. Many references were to old for me to reconcile with the chapter subjects. I was looking for advice on writing short (stories), but the reference to tweets and list lost me. Good advice on building a dBase of words and what to include.

Full of insights, examples, exercises.

The title of my review says it all ... but reviews require at least 15 words.