Reviews (1)

Smashing Newsletters
Thomas Bivins identifies USA Today as a model, with its colorful banner, easy-to-follow page design, full-color photographs, inviting table of contents, and short articles. As FUNDAMENTALS OF SUCCESSFUL NEWSLETTERS guidelines, the author also points to simple graphic design, with boxes, sparingly appropriate illustrations or photographs, rules, tint blocks, and no more than two typefaces, used not only for getting out an entertaining or informative or persuasive message but also decoratively as initial caps, pull quotes, and reverses. He then throws in limiting printing to two colors, with black, dark blue or dark brown giving a quality look; blue, brown, or green screening nicely as a second color; and with colored paper lending a second- or third-color look. Finally, he sees the end goal as a compatible, consistent, unified artwork all in black and white or all in color, with all formal or all informal text layout and with optically weighted sequencing from left to right and from top to bottom on each page of big to smaller, bright to muted, colorful to black and white, dark to lighter, and unusual oddly shaped to usual. It works particularly well to pool the book's information with Barbara Fanson's PRODUCING A FIRST-CLASS NEWSLETTER and Rita and Roberta Street's CREATIVE NEWSLETTERS AND ANNUAL REPORTS. ... Read more

Book Description

Now reorganized into an easy-to-follow, six step approach to effective writing for every business communication format. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best business writing reference ever
This book really cuts to the chase. It includes what you need to know for all types of business documents, and doesn't bother with things you really don't need to know to get the job done. This is perfect for those of us who are already too busy. It's helped me make my business correspondence clear, succinct, and to the point. If your work requires any writing at all, you should have this book.

Outstanding Business Writing Book
This book provided me with all the useful business-writing tips and examples needed to prepare effective and succinct business documents. I constantly refer back to it when preparing various writing projects.

I would recommend this to anyone who has to write in the business world and needs examples on how to write documents that are concise with appropriate details.

An essential and succinct reference for business writers!
I'm buying a second copy of this book - the first one was borrowed and not returned. I often re-read parts of this book.

"Write to the Top" has made a real difference in the amount of positive feedback I have received at performance review time! ... Read more

Book Description

With hundreds of ready-to-use model business letters that you can adopt for your own business correspondence!

These clear, easy-to-follow sample letters cover the most important types of business correspondence:
* Proposals and requests for bids or information
* Claims, complaints, and policy statements
* Sales and solicitation letters
...And many more!

They'll make your business communications quicker, easier, and more efficient by showing you how to create outstanding letters that get your point across-and get the results you want. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

May I give back!
The cover page is very attractive but in reality the content is not so useful. First of all, there is only one example in each page. I think this is wastage of empty places. Secondly, there are very little examples for each topic. In short, I was waiting different sentences for every situation for example In Order Topic - Ordering: example sentences for introduction, development and conclusion; Order Confirmation: example sentences for introduction, development and conclusion.... But I couldn't find this in this book.

Great book for anyone with an attitude problem.
I mistakenly assumed all business reference guides provided, above all else, a professional format. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Muckian & Woods' Business Letter Handbook. Particularly, I was disappointed in the model letters, to say the least. I would be embarrassed to have written the letter in the complaint section. Honestly, who would begin a letter, "Am I wrong or isn't it your responsibility..."? (Mind you, I've already returned the book for credit and this quote is taken from memory, so I apologize for any miswording.) And since when is it professional to interject cute phrases like, "But seriously..." or "Just kidding..." in a congratulatory letter? What business person would write like this in a real situation? Were Muckian & Woods bored with formal business writing and wanted to loosen up all of us stuffed shirts? Maybe next time I need guidance on business letter writing, I'll call Jerry Seinfeld. He's not doing much these days. ... Read more

Book Description

Harnessing people power for profit

Staffing has become the second-fastest-growing industry in the United States, largely by serving a lean business world in which companies are forced to downsize and merge in order to stay competitive. The work still has to be done, but now outsourcing to staffing services, especially for specialized business and technical skills, covers it.

This hands-on guide, from Entrepreneur magazine's highly successful StartUp series, shows the budding entrepreneur how to set up and operate a firm that can supply person power for a narrow or broad range of business needs. Among other topics, Start Your Own Staffing Service covers:

Book Description

This unique book combines classical and contemporary methods of cryptology with a historical perspective. The interaction between the material in the book and the supplementary software package, CAP (Cryptographic Analysis Program), allows readers to gain insights into cryptology and give them real hands-on experience working with ciphers.Provides a history of codes and ciphers and a thorough discussion of classical ciphers including monoalphabetic, polyalphabetic, polygraphic, and transposition ciphers as well as contemporary ciphers such as stream, block, and public key ciphers. The book also covers message authentication including key management, digital signatures, hash functions, and certificates and quantum cryptography.Any person who wants to gain a fundamental understanding of cryptology. ... Read more

Book Description

For technical professionals in all fields, a practical guide to enhancing communication, interpersonal, and managerial skills

Flatter, more collaborative organizational structures, combined with the pressure to translate innovative ideas into action quickly, are increasing the need by technical professionals-such as computer programmers, design specialists, engineers, and R&D scientists-to expand their repertoire of communication and managerial skills. In this highly accessible and practical book, Harry Chambers offers a wealth of strategies and tactics for building these skills, to the benefit of individuals, teams, and companies. In his trademark shoot-from-the-hip style, Chambers identifies specific real-world challenges that technical professionals face in the workplace, and offers definitive guidelines for enhancing their communication skills-from making presentations to giving and receiving criticism to navigating office politics. Featuring interviews with people in the trenches, as well as self-assessment tools and exercises, Effective Communication Skills will become a valued resource for technical professionals and their colleagues, trainers, and HR departments in all industries. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Job Success is Often Contingent Upon Social Skills
It is estimated that 85% of job success is contingent upon social skills. Harry E. Chambers' book, Effective Communication Skills for Scientific and Technical Professionals, has illuminated the very essence of social skills that managers need in order to lead well. This book absolutely captures very specific skills that are necessary for technical and scientific professionals to lead well.

It is a fact that individual technical and scientific professionals have great intelligence. But without social intelligence, an intellectually gifted leader may fail. An organization usually cannot reach its highest potential when its individuals work in conflict and without interdependence. Mr. Chamber's book is THE book to buy for its specific, insightful, and pertinent information to assist technical managers in gaining a much higher level of leadership competence.

STP Book
In the past, I always believed I was a good communicator, yet many times I would get a "look" from others that told me they were not with me. So, I purchased the Communication Skills for Scientific and Technical People. Since I am a computer programmer and frequently find myself in situations that need very clear instruction this book fit right into my needs. It was great! What I learned cannot be counted in monetary value and I know that I will continue to use the techniques in my everyday enounters with my peers as well as on a personal level. Thank you Mr. Chambers for your insight and direction.

Preaching to the Choir
This book may have valuable content, but its tone is demaning and insulting to its target audience. Perhaps if the reader was a manager, a marketing executive, or a proffersor teaching communication, this book would reaffirm their beliefs on what a technical person ought to want. But if you are like me, a young engineer trying to become a better communicator, this book will serve to anger you and nothing else.
It fails to follow its own advice and makes use of many "you statements". Replaced quickly with refferences to "an STP" in place of "you". It tries to tell the reader what they should want and not want. It added to my "Us vs. Them" mentality (which I though I had little of before).

For a book that actually writes for its intended audience (not for people who wish the intended audience would read the book), try :
"Why Don't You Want What I Want?" by Rick Maur
or "How to Speak, How to Listen" by Mortimer J. Adler

For written communication there are plenty of books with more proffesional and less insulting styles.

Even rocket scientists have to communicate clearly
While dealing with scientific and technical professionals (STPs, he labels them) during his management career, Harry Chambers recognized that many of his colleagues were not able to share their expertise clearly enough, whether they were writing and speaking to their counterparts, or whether they were addressing people beyond their areas. So he wrote this book as a guideline for the STPs. I applaud Chambers' writing style--competent enough to please an educated audience, yet folksy enough to illustrate that stuffiness isn't required for explaining complicated ideas. The book underscores the widely accepted observation that people who get promoted because of their expertise may score very poorly when they try to manage a team. To equip STPs for management, Chambers offers advice about how to relate well to your boss, develop listening skills, serve customers, direct meetings, give and receive critism, and other vital topics. As a former university faculty member, I vote for placing this book in every campus library, and making it required reading for those pursuing the B.S. degree. To STPs who have their degrees already, I suggest that Effective Communication Skills for Scientific and Technical Professionals merits your close study. Although Chambers admits that "becoming a highly skilled communicator is not easy," this book makes the assignment easier. ... Read more

Book Description

Over 300 business letter-already written for you! Collections; sales promotions; applications; employee relations; congratulations; announcements; appointments; problem customers; rejections; social events; speaking engagements; suppliers; sympathy; job offers and more. Let the new third edition of the Handbook of Business Letters by Roy Poe, help you get added response with ready-to-use letters that give your message impact. Each full-length letter comes with a brief analysis of its style, tone and psychology. Use the letters as is-or call up the letter on the enclosed computer disk, follow the guidelines and adapt it to your specific situation. You'll even find simple ways to improve your grammar, write clearly and directly, and use action words that make your ideas come alive. Eliminate letter-writing drudgery forever! ... Read more

Book Description

The essential guide to copywriting--jam-packed with rules, tips, easy "how-to" nuggets, and commandments.

Great promotional copy grabs you by the throat and demands your attention. Great copy promises you things you want (or maybe a better word is "crave"). But how do copywriters know what to promise...and how to promise it? In this book, Herschell Gordon Lewis, one of the great copywriting artists of our day, supplies actual rules anyone can implement to create powerful, effective copy.

With more than 100 simple, time-tested rules that copy professionals use to captivate and convince readers, the book explains: 1. General writing rules for how to be concise, take control, motivate readers, "warm up" copy, write a guarantee, and adapt copy for each medium, including the Internet. 2. Specific rules for direct mail letters, television, radio, on-line, fund-raising, special-interest ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Worth rereading - and reading once again
I took this book off my shelf to write a blurb for a bibliography and in flipping through it, realized just how much I learned from Herschell Gordon Lewis about the subtle nuances of writing copy. He understands the power of words like few other marketing experts I know. I highly recommend this and all of his other books on writing copy.

Helps Readers Improve Their Writing Skills!
Herschell Gordon Lewis, the author of many writing books, including Cybertalk That Sells, has updated his book, On the Art of Writing Copy. This book offers a fresh approach to learning the in's and out's copy writing. By gleaning from the many actual printed ads and rules provided in the book, every reader will begin producing better copy.

Lewis provides bold and creative solutions to creating copy for any occasion - including traditional and online advertising campaigns, corporate usage, news reporting, fund-raising, and general correspondence. Throughout the book, Lewis presents actual printed magazine advertisements that demonstrate various methods of communicating - his insightful critiques of them will help readers to structure, clarify, and polish up their own work.

Lewis has mastered the art of writing and so will his readers who apply the contents of this book. Specific instruction includes choosing and using words, exercising care in selecting words, manufacturing words for impact, creating effective sentence structure, producing motivational copy, writing guarantees, and targeting specific audiences. His short course on grammar and usage will help readers improve their writing skills. They will see immediate results.

This book will cater to the writing needs of many, including Web developers and online businesses. They will find this book particularly useful for creating professional-grade Website copy, e-marketing newsletters, and e-mail correspondence. This book would make a great writing class instructional guide. This book is essential reading!

On the Art of Blowing Your Own Horn
Instead of offering copywriters solid suggestions or advice based on experience, Lewis instead gambles that he will reach similarly jaded, sarcastic and negative readers who are eager to ride alongside him on his high horse.The author seems more interested in listening to his own embittered critique of others' work than in instructing readers with real information.

I disagree strongly with most every advertisement he holds up as an example of ineffective copy writing and/or visual communication.It is almost as if Lewis belives his zealous slashing of others' work can replace helpful examples. It is unfortunate that a book like this gets published with such a promising title. Lewis doesn't even come close to providing any sort of tangible help for copywriters who want to increase their repertoire or get another professional perspective.

What the...?
I didn't like this book at all. I have read a lot of books on copywriting and this has to be one of the worst i have read. Lewis has written about 30 books on copywriting. and when someone writes that many books i always say to myself - "Why do they have to write that many, surely not purely for the MONEY?" If you were writing about copywriting, then you would probably fill 5 books max. This is just a rehash of his other material. And i HATE the way he preaches about clarity but his own book is the most unclear book i have ever read. There are lot of books better than this that you should read first.

Again, a winner book on copy and ads
Again, Herschell Gordon Lewis has written a great teaching volume on copy and ads.

In just the first four chapters, I ended up writing three new approaches to sell my wares. And, there are twenty three (23) or nearly Two Dozen more chapters for inspiration.

As an engineer turned merchant, the biggest drawback to the works of H G Lewis is his assumption that the reader actually understands the English language. This is sometimes a shock to an engineer who defines a sentence simply as : " It starts with a big letter, and ends with a period." Reading these works actually improves my understanding of my native tongue.

The examples used are quite up to date. Lots of visuals are presented for one to relate the ideas.

I specifically appreciate seeing the many examples of High Tech (modest budget) ads which he has selected as examples of Hucksterism. Clever guys substiting cleverness for understanding - a deadly combination.

I look forward to making money from reading this work.

Oh, it is also just plain fun to read as well.

James D Buch PhD - too old, too educated and too experienced for today's Aerospace High Tech (read more easily, salary too high and harder to manage than some less expensive young kid. ... Read more

Book Description

You don’t have to be especially "creative." And you can forget about writer’s block. Because now, even if you’ve never written advertising before, there’s a simple proven way to Write *ADS* Great copywriters aren’t born. They’re made! That’s because writing isn’t a talent you’re born with—it’s a skill as learnable as driving a car or typing. Write Great Ads takes the mystery out of copywriting and shows how to write effective advertising copy for print ads, direct mail packages, radio spots, and television commercials. Write Great Ads takes you, step-by-step, through every aspect of the process. You’ll learn:

• How to zero in on the key features and benefits of your ad
• How to write a headline that really sells
• How to come up with an original, effective selling concept
• How to put all the facts together and craft an irresistible call to action—guaranteed to pull in sales!

Reviews (1)

Great little gem of a book!
As a copywriter I have had the privilege of reading many books on copywriting and I can say with all candor that this book (with a forward by Bob Bly himself) is a short course in copywriting.

It steps the reader through the process of creating a great ad, warning, counseling, and coaching all along the way.

An easy read, it is a great addition to your copywriting bookshelf! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The most comprehensive reference book available.
I discovered The Gregg Reference Manual as a student in an Executive Secretarial curriculum at a local community college. It was a required textbook at that time. Not only did I come to depend on the book for everything, it has become a permanent fixture in my library of books, and I continue to use it daily. It truly sharpened my grammar and punctuation skills, and I now have excellent verbal and written skills as a result. It has been ten years since I purchased the book, and because the world has advanced in such a short period of time, I decided I needed a more recent edition. I began searching for the Gregg Reference Manual, but I had no success. I had just about given up when I discovered the Amazon.com website. I was really excited to find the book via website, so I quickly ordered it.

Oh no... I can't find my old Gregg Reference Manual!!
I'm buying my second copy of The Gregg Reference Manual today since my old one has apparently disappeared. I purchased my first copy of this book as a secretarial student in the early 1980's and have used it regularly for both professional and personal writing and editing ever since. I feel lost without my Gregg Reference Manual. My kids will get lots of use out of the new copy as they write reports and business letters in junior high and high school. I can't wait to receive my new book. It's too bad it won't come with the dog-eared pages I used to mark the most frequently used subjects in my old copy.

A must for writting references.
A wonderful resource book with easy tab reference locations

An excellent, easy-to-use guide to writing
This manual is really excellent: clear, succinct yet detailed, and very user-friendly. It is a much better guide for the everyday or business writer than the Chicago Manual of Style. In particular, its organization and layout make it easy to quickly find the answers you need. Definitely recommended by this average writer.

No matter how arcane, it's in there.
I used this book for years while working at a university bookstore. No matter what rule of punctuation or grammar I needed -- and no matter how unusual the application -- I could always find the answer in the Gregg Reference Manual. It's the most complete writing reference I've ever found. ... Read more

Book Description

The design of code and cipher systems has undergone major changes in modern times. Powerful personal computers have resulted in an explosion of e-banking, e-commerce and e-mail, and as a consequence the encryption of communications to ensure security has become a matter of public interest and importance. This book describes and analyzes many cipher systems ranging from the earliest and elementary to the most recent and sophisticated, such as RSA and DES, as well as wartime machines such as the ENIGMA and Hagelin, and ciphers used by spies. Security issues and possible methods of attack are discussed and illustrated by examples. The design of many systems involves advanced mathematical concepts and this is explained in detail in a major appendix. This book will appeal to anyone interested in codes and ciphers as used by private individuals, spies, governments and industry throughout history and right up to the present day. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

You learn how some key encryption machines were made
The ability to convert data into a form that is readable only by a selected group has been a matter of utmost importance for thousands of years. The fate of entire nations has rested on the ability of a nation to keep their messages secure or accurately unravel the messages of opponents. The most celebrated cases involve instances of war, where the messages sent by the Germans and Japanese were intercepted and decrypted by the allies. While not decisive in the outcome of the war, the knowledge gained was of enormous value and did a great deal to assist in the victory. By far, the most well known case is that of the Enigma machine used by the Germans in world war two. The British were able to break the code and the knowledge they obtained made a significant difference in the early years of the war.
Encryption is now a foundation pillar of modern society. Trillions of dollars are now electronically exchanged over the course of a year, and the entire world economy is now dependent on the ability of computers to exchange data in a manner that is accurate and secure from fraud. While security over the Internet is the most widely cited example, most of the data is exchanged over private lines.
The first documented case of encryption being used in war is when Julius Caesar used a simple substitution cipher to send orders to his troops. That and all similar codes is where the book begins. After that, there is a very detailed examination of the Enigma and Hagelin machines, right down to how the wheels interact. This part of the book was by far the most interesting, as well as the descriptions of how it was possible for the allied cryptographers to break the Enigma code. It turns out that the breaking of the codes was not due to a flaw in the machine, but in the way it was used. The remaining part of the book is filled with a description of public key cryptography and the applications for the Internet.
The sections on the substitution ciphers and public key cryptography are good but fairly standard. Problems are given at the end of each chapter and solutions are in the back of the book. What makes this book unique is the mechanical descriptions of the Enigma and Hagelin cipher machines. If you are interested only in the mathematics of encryption, then you will most likely not find them interesting. However, if you are like me and are interested in the mechanical aspects of the machines, then you will like it. ... Read more

Book Description

Contemporary Business Report Writing addresses the creation and crafting of a variety of business reports, including feasibility studies, business plans, and employee manuals, with an emphasis on reports as vital tools in business decision-making. Beginning with the fundamentals of writing, readers learn the process of drafting, revising, editing, and producing simple reports, as well as planning and conducting research which leads to a well-prepared report.Once report preparation and writing is mastered, the book discusses presentation techniques which teach report writers how to effectively communicate the information they have prepared. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Very Good Book.
I consider myself an average Business English writer based less on education and more on experience. This book did help me learn a lot of new concepts and how to utilize them. I still feel quite dazed with the plethora of rules and sugestions as provided in this great book.

There are two tings I like about this book:
1- It is small and concise.
2- It is full of exercises.

Two things I dislike about this book:
1- It is small and at times does not go into more detail of topics leaving me with unanswered questions.
2- Some of the exercise questions get quite confusing. I am sure with practice and time, they will begin making better sense. ... Read more

Book Description

Expanded and revised again for its Third Edition, this popular book and its companion CD-ROM are highly accessible, self-contained desktop references developed to be informative, practical, and easy to use. They help small and mid-sized businesses as well as non-profit organizations and public-sector agencies to achieve effective, efficient, and disciplined business development, proposal development, and knowledge management (KM) processes. These, in turn, contribute to increased contract awards and enhanced levels of revenue. Using this book, any small company or organization with a viable product or service can learn how to gain and keep a client's attention, even when working only a few employees. Entrepreneurs can use this resource to assist in the establishment of best-of-breed business development, proposal development, knowledge management, and publications infrastructures and processes within their organizations. In many ways, a small company's future performance in the marketplace will be a direct result of how effectively it chooses to implement the disciplined business development, proposal development, and KM processes and methodologies as well as the modes of thinking presented in this work. All 18 chapters have been updated and expanded to provide you with the very latest guidance on effective proposaling—so essential to the growth and development of your organization.

CD-ROM Included! Features useful proposal templates in Adobe Acrobat, platform-independent format; HTML pointers to Small Business Web Sites; a comprehensive, fully searchable listing Proposal and Contract Acronyms; and a sample architecture for a knowledge base or proposal library.

Recent reviews of the Second Edition of this work have been published in Business Week (New York); Minorities and Women in Business (Washington, D.C.); Canada One Magazine; E-merging Business magazine (Pacific Palisades, California); Small Business Advisor (Los Angeles); and Women's Business of South Florida (Hollywood, Florida). Amazon.com, where it ranks in the top 1% of sellers, includes 10 exemplary reviews of the Second Edition of the book, as well. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Knowledge-Based Mentorship!
The most comprehensive, single source, small business strategy guidebook I have read and applied.
The tactical processes Robert Frey recommends gets you focused early by crystallizing your business strategy, mentoring you step by step, establishing knowledge-based decision points and executing a successful proposal.
The CD is a great plus with schedules, proposal templates, and more to get you started for your next contract award!

Fellow Small Business CEOs, Institutionalize this Material!!
In this blue-ribbon edition, Robert Frey provides enough valuable proposal management detail to establish your proposal department, to write your proposal manager's job description, to outline your proposal team's functions, to produce topflight and winning proposals, and to measure the proposal team's success. And if that were not enough, Frey offers his bravura insights into knowledge management and how this wonderful concept can be realistically and incrementally applied to the proposal development process.

Frey mentors you to success with regard to every aspect of proposal management. Frey's style is not staid and wooden. To the contrary, his love for his audience and his desire for their proposal management success shines forth. I would pay twice as much for the book. My company's proposal win rate this year alone proves the worth of the material in these pages. Invest in it, do what it says, and prepare for the reward.

Excellent Source of Proposal Management Information
Bob Frey has again created a valuable source of information that should be on every Business Development professional's desk. It presents a clear and concise approach to properly managing the proposal business acquisition process, including creating a winning proposal. The use of Knowledge Management approach to leveraging intellectual property provides an excellent approach to crafting a winning strategy and incorporating it in the proposal. I highly recommend this book.

An Indispensible Resource for Small Govenment Contractors
The previous editions of Robert Frey's invaluable book "Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Businesses" have already established this title as a virtual bible of proposal development for small business government contractors, particularly in the support services. Now, with this third edition, some 20% longer and with extensive new material, Frey expands the utility of this important book by integrating his approach with the emerging discipline of Knowledge Management.

In addition to his complete yet concise discussion of nuts-and-bolts proposal issues such as organization of the proposal volumes, establishing the role of the proposal manager, and so on, Frey demonstrates how an effective organization of corporate intellectual capital can be a critical resource in the marketing proposal process. Importantly, he provides step-by-step procedures for creating such an added-value environment.

As in the previous two editions, Frey's approach is very highly application-oriented. He lays out theory when necessary, but his principal goal -- which he achieves admirably -- is to equip the reader with an exhaustively complete set of marketing and proposal development procedures and tools (all the way down to a template for phone lists!).

If I have any complaints at all, it is that the sequence of chapters could use some rearranging; a chapter on internatiohnal proposals seems to be placed unexpectedly, and there is one very brief chapter on private-sector solicitations that could be easily merged with another chapter or deleted altogether. But these are quibbles. This book has garnered a well-deserved reputation as arguably the premier reference work in this field. It is inadequate to state that it deserves a place in every small government contractor's library; it would be more accurate to say that such firms cannot afford *not* to have this book and pay close attention to it! ... Read more

Book Description

Why You Need This Book

You need this book because you probably don’t have one (a book of your own that you have written I mean). And you need one. Really. That is, if you believe in what you have to say and care about your audiences. If not, then that’s another book. A very short one, it would be entitled Get Out Now, You’re Wasting Your Time And Everyone Else’s Too!

But I’ll bet that isn’t the case so let’s move on. By this time you have decided that you have something to say in life. Something that people are willing to pay for. You probably get paid for saying it. You should get paid for saying it. Worthwhile thoughts and ideas are worth something. And that being the case, you should make those worthwhile thoughts available in as many forms as possible. That means if you have a speech, you have an audio cassette. If you have a speech, you have a video. And if you have a speech, you have a book. Now most people that buy this book will have a speech. And many will even have an audio cassette. A few more will have a video. But very few will have a book. But you should have. And this book will show you how to get one.

To have something good to say and not offer it in every imaginable format is a disservice to those who need it and want it. So it’s time for you to have book. And that is why you need this book. This book teaches you how to write a book. One page at a time. And that’s why you need this book.

You Will Love This Book

No kidding. Because in it you will discover that writing a book is not all that hard. Regardless of what you have been lead to believe.

It’s mainly about putting your rear end in a chair and typing. It is about transcribing your thoughts and ideas into a readable format. It is about loving what you have to say and knowing that you should share it with others because they deserve to hear it.

And it is about adding credibility to what you do. Authors are held in higher esteem in our society. Take advantage of that.

And it’s about money. Books bring in a bunch of money. Back of the room sales and mail order and retail distribution can make life much easier for you.

It is not about perfection. There are very few perfect books. So don’t worry about writing the perfect book. You won’t. That’s okay. Most people won’t read it any way. Really. I don’t mean to be ugly here but very few people actually read books. Lots of people buy books. But very few read them.

It is not about being able to spell. That is why they make spellcheck. And even then you won’t get them all. Big deal. I have never read a book published by anyone that didn’t have a typo or two in it.

It is not about punctuation. Hire someone to do that for you.

It is not about knowing everything there is to know about yoursubject. If you had to know everything there is to know about something before you wrote a book, no books would ever be written.

Again, it’s about believing in what you do and those you do it for. Period. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very informative
This book is an excellent reference for a very busy person. It's easy to read and it can help anyone who seems to be stumped on how they should word the most difficult letters. I highly recomend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

In the business world, limply written, badly organized documents can subtly but steadily downgrade your career. You’ve got to write clearly, concisely, and energetically--without meandering, repeating yourself, or sabotaging your ideas with poorly constructed sentences, stilted language, and embarrassing grammatical errors. Get the help you need--now--with RULES OF THUMB FOR BUSINESS WRITERS. Written by the author team of the best-selling RULES OF THUMB: A GUIDE FOR WRITERS, this new guide is designed especially to meet the real writing demands of daily business. Whether you’re composing a letter, preparing an outline for your next big report, or simply wondering whether or not that comma makes sense, RULES OF THUMB FOR BUSINESS WRITERS explains how to do it right. It’s packed with concise explanations of the most frequent problems in writing, bulleted lists of easy-to-read guidelines, and hundreds of practical guidelines that instantly illustrate each concept. Quickly and easily, you’ll learn how to find your focus, break up your thoughts effectively, format your documents for optimal readability, begin with an attention-grabbing bang, adopt a straightforward, conversational tone, and improve your style. And you’ll learn how to write succinctly, accurately, and persuasively, whether in formal business correspondence, more casual e-mail messages, memos, agendas, instructions manuals, reports, newsletters and press releases, proposals, or résumés. PLUS, you’ll learn to effortlessly adhere to the rules of punctuation, grammar, and usage, understanding when to capitalize, choosing the correct pronoun, avoiding fragments and run-on sentences, properly placing apostrophes, and more. There’s even helpful advice on tackling special topics, such as conducting research on the Web efficiently, using footnotes accurately, developing templates to simplify future tasks, planning and executing a long-term project, and editing the work of others. A valuable appendix of ready-to-use memos, letters, agendas, résumés, and more round out this handy book. RULES OF THUMB FOR BUSINESS WRITERS helps you take all those amorphous ideas and disjointed bits of information and record them in a way that is clear, logical, and action-oriented. It’s the on-the-job reference you’ll turn to again and again, for both a thorough overview of the essentials of great writing and for fast, easy lessons on key topics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great reference book
Rules for Bus. Writers is an excellent quick reference to keep handy at your desk. Plenty of material for beginners as well as advanced writers. I liked the quick tips and good resources. I'd rate it "concise and helpful plus very easy to use" - it's a short and to the point guide. You don't have to wade through long passages of chitchat and padding to get the help you need. Highly recommend it! ... Read more

Book Description

The author combines detailed instruction with sound advice and more than 70 model letters that show how to write clear, concise business correspondence. Model letters include formal business announcements, credit applications, inquiry letters, sales letters, and many more. New in this edition are model letters via electronic communication, and pointers for using e-mail appropriately in business contexts. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

excellent reference book to have at your desk
i started using this book with my students who are learning english. they found the example letters very useful for reference when writing for their jobs. i really appreciated the excercises that are included to learn how to write right the first time. we both liked that it was a 'real book' and not one just for ESL. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on the proposal-writing system used at A. T. Kearney and KPMG Peat Marwick, this book features work sheets and other tools for moving "buyers" from concept to acceptance. Thoroughly updated, the second edition includes many new examples and scenarios, chapters on fees and collaboration, and new sections on "voice" and presentation.

Reviews (10)

An Author Responds
Since my book is mentioned in a couple of these reviews, I thought I would respond.

I used Rich Freed's book for years in my consulting practice and MBA classes. It's a great book, and I *highly* recommend it. It's clearly one of the best treatments on writing business proposals available.

But comparing my book on proposals to Freed's is like comparing apples and oranges. My book is aimed at people who work in scientific and technical disciplines. Freed's book is written toward business applications. These two books are designed to work in two completely different arenas.

Buy this book. As an experienced proposal writer and consultant, I believe it's the best book on writing business proposals. It's truly innovative, and it offers wonderful strategies for winning contracts in highly competitive business environments.

Please don't read this book!
Since I'm in the consulting business, writing and presenting proposals for a living, I want all of you to steer clear of this priceless how-to, because it could give you an unfair advantage. Listen to "robert baker" below, who gave it one star (although how he could have done that is beyond me ... maybe he only read the dust jacket).

A more well-thought-out method for thinking through your proposal and then presenting it to the PC (potential client) you will never find. This will definitely help you win jobs. Maybe against me. So hands off! I want this all to myself.

Excellent book
I had no idea how to write a business proposal. I followed this book to the tee...I now write major proposals for my company and my proposal kicked the ass of a couple of MBA's. There were a lot of red faces when I showed up my with version of a proposal. I essentially went from having no idea how to write a proposal to setting the bar on how to write a proposal, thanks to this excellent book.

Like Eating Your Vegatables...
This book is really good for you... just like eating your vegatables. Unfortunately, its not easily digested. This book provides a great method of preparing strategic proposals. The method is largely based on the Mento "Pyramid Principle" a book which is itself not an easy read (however, it is required reading at McKinsey, BCG, and other major strategy consulting firms. This fact should tell you instantly just how powerful a concept it is). However, if you're willing to hold your nose and chew slowly (I'm not willing to give up on the "eat your vegatables" analogy just yet), you and your proposals will be much more competitive. Since the book is far from an easy read, I'd suggest that you tackle it chapter-by-chapter with some time for rest and contemplation in between (divide it into "bite-sized" pieces, in other words). If you're looking for fast-food proposal fair, I'd like to suggest Robert Kantin's "Proposal Kit For Dummies" which, despite the title, is a terrific book on proposal writing for professionals -- particularly consultants. Overall grade: A-/B+.

The 2nd Edition Rocks
The first edition of this books is, as the former editor of Consultants' News remarks, "The most comprehensive treatment we've seen," and the second edition is even better, including (for example) important discussions on fees and collaboration. Most important, this book is about far more than writing business proposals. David Maister-like in spirit, it's a superior treatment about how to sell professional services. Although it addresses business proposals, most of the content is important for writing other proposals as well, but like most successful books on proposal writing, it focuses on one of the sub-genres, unlike more general treatments (Johnson-Sheehan's comes to mind) that in their attempts to focus on all proposals, do a poor job of treating specific kinds. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Memos, letters, reports--for a business world supposedly going paperless, we're writing quite a lot these days. Nonetheless, argues business communications professor Edward P. Bailey Jr., reliance on industry terminology and "business-ese" is ruining many of these attempts to exchange information. His practical guide to reversing that unfortunate situation, The Plain English Approach to Business Writing, shows how to "write as you would talk," which he contends is actually easier than penning convoluted sentences filled with obscure jargon. A basic overview of organization and layout (including typefaces, headings, and graphics) is provided along with advice on proper constructions and style. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A great little book on writing
This is the best little book I've read and used on business writing. As a teacher I'm always looking for simple, practical guides that will improve my students' and my own business skills. This book gives useful, practical advice and practices exactly what it preaches. Its even clear enough and well written enough for me to use with my Japanese students. This is the kind of guide that should be available on-line and in various language versions. Highly recommended. ... Read more