Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser Hardcover – January 21, 2020

I stumbled upon this book randomly. I am not a writer but am interested in learning a bit more about the craft. Books on books are often bland where the author regurgitates the obvious points. RPC, in contrast, does two things well in my view. He illuminates the essential ideas about the craft from the dozens of books referenced in really clear manner. This of course is due to the fact that RPC is an excellent writer. Moreover, he intelligently lays out the selected book summaries in a way that really distils additional value through this juxtaposition. The result is a real gem of a book.

I bought this book for my sister when she was graduating with her Masters in Fiction.She was very happy and told me that she had hear about this book and that it was very useful.I hope that it a helps her to write her first published work!

"Murder Your Darlings" is Roy Peter Clark's latest guide to becoming a better writer, and is based not only on his expert advice but on the works of others, as the subtitle notes, "from Aristotle to Zinsser." I was fortunate to be a seminar student of Roy Peter's at the Poynter Institute and to have kept up contact through the years since. My copy of "Murder" is extensively marked in blue highlighter, especially what he says about voice and style, storytelling and character, and rhetoric and audience, and every citizen should read what he has to say about advocacy vs. propaganda, especially our current state of political and social division.

I am only a business executive. Nevertheless, I find the advice in this book applicable to my writing of emails, reports and b-cases. In short, recommended.p.s. Below please find some favorite passages of mine fyi.Imagine that you have been assigned to cut 10% of your work. Mark the candidates for deletion…Raise your standard. Cut 20% pg25Style has two meanings: the conventions that writers adhere to and the distinctive elements of language that set writers apart. Pg57Read drafts of your work aloud. Listen for those passages that have a monotonous rhythm. Pg67Visual thinking and planning are crucial tools for word people, especially at the beginning of a project. Pg77Nothing contributes more to becoming a productive writer than a daily habit. A page a day equals a book a year. King shoots for 2k words per day. Pg145A report delivers info upon which people can act. A story delivers scenes that readers can vicariously experience. A report points you there. A story puts you there. Pg212Move your best words or phrases to the beginning or, better yet, the end. Pg219Keep sentences short. Prefer the simple to the complex. Use terms you reader can picture. Write the way you talk. Write to express. Not to impress. Pg249

My favorite writing coach, Roy Peter Clark, always delivers. Every book he writes is a Master Class and every one is a joy to read. Learn the craft of writing from the best in the business, and learn to "Murder Your Darlings!"

I'm a professional writer and this book taught me things I had never thought about. Roy Peter Clark is an outstanding author, newspaper columnist, and teacher. I have all of his books now.

A most valuable book of writing tips. It is written in a style to entertain and inspire. I am going to keep this one close and read many times.

I appreciate the many tips that the author has collated to help improve our writing.

Amazing insight into the World of writing. Not only for the personal but also professional World.It was a shame that it came in a deteriorated state.