Writing & Composition Tools - Books for Improving Writing Skills and Productivity
By acquiring effective writing skills, you can clearly communicate ideas and significantly improve productivity in work and creative activities.
The Importance of Writing Skills
In modern business and creative activities, the ability to write has become an essential skill. From emails to reports, blog posts, and social media posts, we write many texts daily. However, writing that communicates effectively is not easy for many people.
Excellent writing skills are not just about grammar and vocabulary. They are comprehensive abilities to think from the reader's perspective, logically structure information, and choose appropriate words. By polishing this skill, work efficiency increases and ideas are communicated more accurately.
Effects of Improving Writing Ability
Improving writing ability leads to enhanced overall communication skills. In the process of organizing your thoughts and putting them into writing, thinking itself becomes clear. Also, when you can write text that communicates to others, similar effects appear in conversation and presentations.
Recommended Writing Related Books
Here we introduce practical books for improving writing ability and increasing writing productivity. We've carefully selected four books providing learning appropriate for each level from beginner to advanced.
Writing Lectures for My 20-Year-Old Self
This book is a writing lecture designed to solve the problem of 'being able to speak but not write.' A working writer generously shares the know-how cultivated over 15 years of field experience, teaching specific methods to convert spoken language into written language. It provides practical guidance to overcome the sense of difficulty in writing and learn to express your thoughts accurately.
- Writing is 'translation' - the work of converting thoughts in your head into words that readers can understand
- Thoroughly organizing 'what to write' before writing is the first step to good writing
- By sitting in the reader's 'chair' when writing, you can avoid self-indulgent prose
- Being conscious of rhythm and structure in writing dramatically improves readability
An introductory book for those who feel uncomfortable about writing. Author Fumitake Koga is a writer known as co-author of "The Courage to Be Disliked," explaining essential thinking about writing in an easy-to-understand way. Particularly suitable for those with the concern "I can speak but can't write," it lowers psychological hurdles to writing. Despite the compact shinsho format, it systematically covers from composition to revision.
Writing Habit: The Most Important Writing Power That Changes Yourself and Your Life
This book provides a practical approach to developing the habit of writing. It resolves the psychological block that causes inability to write due to seeking perfection too much, and specifically shows how to start writing casually. After reading, you will be able to make writing part of your daily life, starting with social media or diaries.
- Continuing to write is more important than writing well
- Seeking perfection leads to inability to write, so prioritize starting to write first
- Writing in your own words creates real connections with readers
- Writing is a powerful tool for understanding yourself
A practical guidebook for making writing a habit. Author Yuki Ishikawa is a writer who gained many followers through social media and blog posting. This book emphasizes the importance of "continuing to write" rather than writing well. It introduces specific methods for overcoming the state of being unable to write due to seeking perfection and starting to write casually. Recommended for those wanting to start with diaries and social media posts.
The Art of SEO Writing (Updated Edition)
A practical introductory book that teaches SEO-strong web writing techniques in story format. It aims to achieve both text that search engines evaluate well and text that resonates with readers, explaining specific know-how through storytelling. It provides techniques that can be immediately used in the field for managers and writers who want to achieve results on websites.
- Understanding search intent and accurately providing the information users want is the essence of SEO
- The combination of logical text structure and emotionally appealing expression creates content that gets read
- Information dissemination conscious of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness leads to long-term evaluation
- Writing with an attitude of solving readers' problems results in improved search rankings
沈黙のWebライティング —Webマーケッター ボーンの激闘— アップデート・エディション
松尾 茂起, 上野 高史 / エムディエヌコーポレーション / 2022-04-22
SEOのためのライティング教本に、改訂版が登場! 「検索エン...
The revised edition of a long-seller book for learning how to write text that gets read on the web. It explains in story format from SEO basics to how to write text that communicates to users. Rich in practical know-how including how to structure articles evaluated by search engines and expression techniques that move readers' hearts. Essential reading for those who have opportunities to write articles on blogs and websites. A bestseller exceeding 230,000 copies, supported by many web writers.
Research, Writing, Revision: A Textbook for Writers
This book explains in detail over 480 pages all the processes necessary as a professional writer. Practical know-how cultivated from the author's many years of experience, from interview preparation to manuscript revision, is generously shared. After reading, you will understand the essence of writing and gain a solid foundation for writing professional prose.
- Interviewing is a process of verifying your hypotheses and making new discoveries
- 80% of good writing is determined by preparation before writing
- Revision is the work of strictly reviewing your writing from the reader's perspective
- Professional writers are always conscious of what to leave with readers
A full-fledged textbook for those aiming to become writing professionals. Author Fumitake Koga explains in detail over 480 pages the know-how cultivated through many years of experience. You can learn the entire process of professional work from research preparation to manuscript revision. Not just a technique book, it's content that delves into the essence of the act of writing, providing deep learning for intermediate to advanced writers. A book worth reading repeatedly for those seriously wanting to polish writing skills.
Summary
Writing ability is not acquired overnight, but definitely improves through learning correctly and practicing continuously. The books introduced approach the essence of writing from different perspectives. First pick up one that matches your purpose and challenges, and cultivate the power to write that communicates by applying what you learn to actual writing. By developing the habit of writing, not only work productivity improves but also the range of self-expression expands.