Business Writing: 10 Great Authors
Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to create classics that help both the beginner and the mid-career professional.
Writing's completely subjective. What interests you may not interest me. But if somebody told me I could read the wisdom of only ten business writers, these are the ones I'd choose:
1. Socrates - He was likely history's first "self-help" writer. He taught people to seek ultimate truths by questioning conventional wisdom and examining their own beliefs. He said folks shouldn't accept opinion as fact.
2. Sophocles - Another guy with no last name. He created plays that usually centered on a single heroic character who chose an unpopular course of action. This dramatist may have been the first "niche" marketer.
3. Benjamin Franklin - This multi-talented American championed succinct writing, and his epigrams became part of our national heritage. Ben warned, "He that speaks much is much mistaken." Franklin succeeded in multiple business ventures.
4. Mark Twain - He's been called America's finest author because he wrote in American dialect, using phrases and speech unique to the United States. He punctured pompous prose, and laced his stories with regional references. (Many say Twain was also America's greatest lecturer.)
5. Claude Hopkins - This researcher wrote "Scientific Advertising" in 1923. He's among the first to discuss the use of product samples and demonstrations.
6. Edward Bernays - This nephew of Sigmund Freud is called the "father of public relations." He authored the classic book "Crystallizing Public Opinion" in 1923.
7. Dale Carnegie - His book "how to Win Friends and Influence People" is one history's greatest guides. He discussed the value of developing one's personality, and wrote beautifully.
8. David Ogilvy - This brilliant copywriter and ad agency executive believed in the value of brand image, and valued advertising research and testing.
9. John Caples - His wonderful books like "Tested Advertising Methods" serve as a great source of information on powerful words, phrases, sentences, headlines, and much more.
10. Al Ries and Jack Trout - They wrote the classic "Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind," which discusses ways to get your product or service remembered. (It's my favorite business book.)
Rix Quinn wrote "Words That Stick: A Guide to Short Writing with Big Impact." It's a writing book to help people who hate to write. It's available from your local bookstore, or from http://www.tenspeed.com/catalog/all/item.php3?id=1661
MORE RESOURCES:
Elmore Leonard's Writing Tips Washington Post (blog) Love these writing tips from Elmore Leonard and a bunch of other scribblers. Some favorites: Elmore Leonard: 'Never use a verb other than "said" to carry ... Elmore Leonard's Writing Tips |
 Us Magazine | Kendra Wilkinson Writing Autobiography Us Magazine --Kendra Wilkinson is reportedly penning an autobiography titled "Sliding Into Home," according to her ex, Hugh Hefner. The Playboy mogul Twittered the news ... |
Democrats Writing Healthcare Bill Behind Closed Doors, Gregg Accuses Talk Radio News Service By Laurel Brishel Prichard Sens. Judd Gregg (RN.H.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Thursday that the health reform bill must first become a law before ... |
 Boston Globe | Panera Bread's Calorie Postings: The Writing's On the Wall, Literally BNET Panera Bread's decision to put calorie information on its menu boards — the first national chain to do so — is an ... Panera Bread First Chain to List Calories Nationwide |
Students discover letter-writing; find rewards in mail Middletown Journal The 18 students in Claudia Guler's class have been writing letters as way to practice good sentences, neat writing and good spelling. ... |
Writing workshop at Waltham Public Library Boston Globe The Friends of the Waltham Public Library is sponsoring a free writing workshop for writers and non-writers of all ages on March 13, from 10 am to 2 pm at ... NA library to hold tween writing workshops |
Brees: I'm writing a book WWL "I never thought this would happen, but I am writing a book. A great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many." That's all the information ... |
Remember Me: Movie Review ScreenCrave.com With some of the best writing I have heard on screen in a long time the film still didn't succeed as much as it should have. ... |
 New York Times | How Fox's new comedy, 'Sons of Tucson,' was created Los Angeles Times (blog) In 2002, Dewey, 31, and Bratman, 34, both writers and actors in college, decided to try their hand at scripted writing and created a two-man show, "Natalie! ... John Orr: Son of Gunn behind 'Sons of Tuscon' |
Home > Art > Closed-circuit writing: In search of the Juneau literary scene Juneau Empire Thompson cited Juneau as being inspirational in her own writing, and believes the city's remoteness is an asset to the craft. "Juneau's mountains and water ... |
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