Writing for the Press
“Writing for the Press” is a practical handbook of the art of newspaper writing, written by a practical newspaper man. There is no “padding” in it; almost every line contains a useful hint or suggestion about the proper preparation of newspaper “copy,” and a wonderful amount of information of use to writers is crowded into its carefully-written pages. The work is the result of the practical experience of the author as desk editor on the Boston Globe, and was written in the main from notes made while handling MS. there and elsewhere.
Four editions of “Writing for the Press” have been required. For each edition the work has been revised and enlarged, so that it has grown from forty-two to ninety-six pages,—yet, it is believed, without the addition of a useless sentence. New matter has been added partly to make the book more useful to newspaper writers, and partly to bring within its scope all other writers. Therefore, those who bought copies of earlier editions will find it desirable to buy copies of the fourth edition as well.
That literary workers of every class will find “Writing for the Press” exceedingly helpful, both for study and for reference, is shown by these subject-headings: The Preparation of Copy; How to Write Clearly; Grammar, Good and Bad; Use and Misuse of Common Words and Phrases (with several hundred examples); Mixed Metaphors; Slang; The Use of Titles; Puzzling Plurals; Condensation; Points on Proof-reading; Addressing Editors; Getting into Print, etc. The book is one that every writer should keep upon his desk for constant reference and study.
Newspaper editors, who are naturally the best judges of the value of such a work, all commend Mr. Luce’s book. For instance, the Boston Advertiser says of it: “It is a remarkably compact and useful little manual, full of the wisest and most practical suggestions in regard to the mechanical requirements for the proper preparation of manuscript; the right use of doubtful and frequently misused words; punctuation; matters of style; and errors of arrangement.” The Critic says: “It is full of sound advice and practical suggestions.”
Quantities of the book have been bought by the managers of leading daily newspapers for distribution among their editors, reporters, and correspondents,—among others by the Boston Herald, Globe, Journal, and Transcript, the New York World, and the Chicago News. Special rates will be made to newspaper managers on quantities for distribution in this way.