By: Jan Yager

2nd Edition

1889262269 $20.95 trade paper retail list price

1889262331 $30.95 HC retail list price

Covers the basics of style and content as well as how to conduct research for nonfiction writing plus how to write a memo, business letter, report, and how to try to get published in magazines, newspapers, or books. The second edition includes time management tips for writers as well as guidelines for writing faxes or e-mails.

Detailed Information

Contents

    Acknowledgments   vi
    Preface to Second Edition    vii
    Preface to First Edition    xxi

1.  Words, Words, Words: An Introduction    1

 

2.  Writer’s Block   11

 

3.  Tools of the Trade   31

 

4.  Content   45

 

5.  Style   69

 

6.  Writing for Work, School, or Personal Reasons   87

 

7.  Getting Your Writing Published   103

 

8.  Conclusion: Building on the Skills You Have   137

 

    Index   159

Published or Reader Reviews

Wisconsin Bookwatch
Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Jan Yager’s Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is a seminal reference and instruction book for anyone seeking to master the techniques of writing in general, and creating effective business letters, memos, emails, proposals, reports, articles, as well as books of all categories, subjects and genres. …Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is a key and valued contribution to any personal or professional writing skills reference collection.

Harold’s Bookshelf

Essex Journal (Alan Caruba)
“…a good place to start if you have aspirations of being published. It is brief, based on her own extensive experience as well as interviews with many other pros. And can get you started in the right direction without making the typical start-up mistakes.” (review of 1st edition)

The Midwest Book Review
“Easy to read, easy to understand, and well written using the same principles put forward in the book it is a highly recommended read that is sure to improve anyone’s communication skills.”

Ruth Winter, author, former president, American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)
“Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is not only an excellent, step-by-step guide to writing for the novice, professional writers can benefit from the creative hints and exercises presented in the book. I particularly liked the chapter on writer’s block solutions.”

www.womenscreativity.com
“Communications expert and prolific writer Dr. Jan Yager’s excellent book “Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing” teaches us these basic skills…This second edition is updated with several timely new resources such as web site addresses, tips for email & faxing and time management skills. As we live in a time where distractions are ever increasing and robbing us for time to write, these time management tips are very useful.
“Dr. Yager is an expert on time management. Her impressive career attests to this fact, as it includes writing 15 books, working as a management consultant, seminar leader and teaching writing at Penn State.”

Book Excerpt

Nonfiction Writing Style Self-Evaluation

By Jan Yager
All rights reserved.

Consider the effectiveness of your current writing style and in what ways you want to improve it. Take the nonfiction writing self-evaluation that follows. The evaluation reflects some basic writing concerns, as noted in such classic books about writing as Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style and Flesch’s How to Say What You Mean in Plain English. Use this self-evaluation to create a beginning point for your self-study program of improving the style of your writing. Considering these evaluation questions and the guidelines that follow it will help you to begin recognizing the elements of good writing.

 

Nonfiction Writing Style Self-Evaluation

Date: ________

1. Do you write with ease or agony? [Yes|No]
2. Do you check your spelling against the dictionary? [Yes|No]
3. Is your writing clear? [Yes|No]
4. Do you use flowery language? [Yes|No]
5. Do you use thousands, nay, millions of commas? [Yes|No]
6. Do you gear your writing to a specific audience? [Yes|No]
7. Do you create an outline (or make a list of points to cover) before you write? [Yes|No]
8. Are you open to criticisms of your writing? [Yes|No]
9. Do you read good writers?[Yes|No]
10. Are you self-confident about your writing? [Yes|No]
 

 

The statements that follow in response to the above questions will help you to assess some of your current nonfiction writing problems or challenges. If with the help of this book [Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing], you can achieve these basic goals, you will become a better writer:

 

1. Make your writing flow as naturally as your speech.
2. Check and correct your spelling, unless you want to appear illiterate.
3. Always strive for clarity.
4. Avoid flowery or fancy words.
5. Use commas where necessary, and only where necessary. Take the time to master correct punctuation. Poorly punctuated writing is unclear.
6. Allow your specific audience to determine not only what you write but also how you write it.
7. Organize your writing by using outlines or lists of points to be covered, especially for longer or more complicated writing tasks.
8. Attempt to handle criticism of your writing constructively: This will enable you to improve your skills.
9. Improve your writing by writing more and reading more. If you read junk, you’ll write junk.
10. Try to improve the reliability (content) and readability (style) of your writing. Your self-confidence will increase as you become more competent.

Don’t get discouraged if your answers to the [previous] self-evaluation displease you. You will find information, examples, and exercises throughout this book to help you correct these and other common writing problems…..

 

To read the rest of this chapter, as well as work on the exercises that accompany this, and every, chapter, order your copy of Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing now!

Links of Interest

Click here to view related links.

 

About the Author

Jan Yager

Jan Yager, Ph.D. (the former J.L./Janet Barkas) is a writer, sociologist, consultant, professional speaker, artist, and publishing entrepreneur whose areas of expertise include relationships and business issues including time management and work relationships. Jan's first book published by Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc., Friendshifts®, based on fifteen years of original friendship research, led to interviews on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, The View , National Public Radio, and other programs. Other books include When Friendship Hurts (published by Simon & Schuster, Inc.) as well as two career books by Facts on File, Inc. A prolific writer of fiction as well as nonfiction whose books have been translated into 14 languages, she is co-author of two suspense thrillers, Untimely Death and Just Your Everyday People. For more information, go to: www.drjanyager.com.

Click here to find more books by Jan Yager

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Foreign, Subsidiary, & Film Inquiries

Foreign language editions:
Chinese

Direct inquiries about translation into other foreign languages, as well as English reprint rights for the UK, Australia, and India, to the foreign rights department at Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc.: foreignrights@hannacroixcreekbooks.com . Our company maintains an active network of highly-regarded and prestigious foreign agents in most major territories; in territories where we are not represented by a foreign co-agent, we deal directly with foreign publishers.

For subsidiary rights consideration of this title including mass market paperback rights, or for book clubs, contact the subsidiary rights department at Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc. ( subsidiaryrights@hannacroixcreekbooks.com, Fax: 203-968-0193) and your inquiry will be considered.

E-mail is the preferred way to contact us, followed by fax (203-968-0193), followed by regular mail (Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc., 1127 High Ridge Road, #110, Stamford, Connecticut 06905 USA), but for urgent inquiries, you may also call us: 203-321-8674.

Media Kit

"Nonfiction writing is a unique skill in that everyone has to do it, professional or not. Consider: Unless you are a composer, your employer will not ask you to write a song. Unless you are an artist, your teacher will not base your grade on your prowess at painting. However, almost all employers and teachers will ask you to write...and if you do not write well, it will be held against you."

                                     — a  self-evaluation to access your current writing skills

— the 4 basic steps to effective business or nonfiction writing

— how to overcome writer’s block

— how to craft a style that’s right for you and your audience

— how to get your writing published

— time management tips for writing

— exercises to hone your writing skills

— and lots more

 

There is a business video with accompanying educational self-study materials develped by Jan Yager, entitled “Effective Business Writing,” based on Yager’s book, Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing, available through http://www.mindleaders.com.

 

 

About the author:

Jan Yager, whose first nonfiction book was published by Scribner’s when she was 26 years old (under her maiden name of Janet Barkas), has a Ph.D. in sociology. She has taught nonfiction writing at Penn State as a visiting assistant professor in the English Department and has consulted on writing for more than two decades. Her nonfiction books include Business Protocol, Making Your Office Work for You, Creative Time Management for the New Millennium, The Help Book, When Friendship Hurts, Friendshiftsâ: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives, and Career Opportunities in the Publishing Industry (co-authored with Fred Yager), published by Facts on File, Inc., 2005. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, Parade, and The Wall Street Journal career web sites. She is frequently interviewed by print and TV and radio for her expertise including appearances on OPRAH, THE VIEW, THE TODAY SHOW, NPR, ABC RADIO, and CBS RADIO. Her web site URLs: www.JanYager.com and www.JanYager.com/writing.

ISBN 1-889262-26-9  (trade paperback, $20.95 retail list price)   ISBN 1-889262-33-1 (hardcover, $30.95)

Published by: Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc., 1127 High Ridge Road, PMB 110, Stamford, CT 06905-1203 USA

e-mail: Hannacroix@aol.com  URL: www.Hannacroixcreekbooks.com

 

 

 Praise for Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing

 

Wisconsin Bookwatch

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Jan Yager’s Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is a seminal reference and instruction book for anyone seeking to master the techniques of writing in general, and creating effective business letters, memos, emails, proposals, reports, articles, as well as books of all categories, subjects and genres. …Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is a key and valued contribution to any personal or professional writing skills reference collection.

 

Ruth Winter, author, former president, American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)

“Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing is not only an excellent, step-by-step guide to writing for the novice, professional writers can benefit from the creative hints and exercises presented in the book. I particularly liked the chapter on writer’s block solutions.”

 

www.womenscreativity.com

“Communications expert and prolific writer Dr. Jan Yager’s excellent book “Effective Business & Nonfiction Writing” teaches us these basic skills…This second edition is updated with several timely new resources such as web site addresses, tips for email & faxing and time management skills. As we live in a time where distractions are ever increasing and robbing us for time to write, these time management tips are very useful.

“Dr. Yager is an expert on time management. Her impressive career attests to this fact, as it includes writing 15 books, working as a management consultant, seminar leader and teaching writing at Penn State.”

 

Harold’s Bookshelf

The Midwest Book Review

“Easy to read, easy to understand, and well written using the same principles put forward in the book it is a highly recommended read that is sure to improve anyone’s communication skills.”

 

Essex Journal (Alan Caruba)

“…a good place to start if you have aspirations of being published. It is brief, based on her own extensive experience as well as interviews with many other pros. And can get you started in the right direction without making the typical start-up mistakes.” (review of 1^st edition)

 

Sample Interview Questions*

Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing, 2^nd edition

by Jan Yager

 

 

1.         I understand that you met your husband through a clever, well-written ad in New York magazine. Tell us about it.

 

2.         Is writing within the reach of everyone or is it a skill possessed only by a lucky few?

 

3.         Do you need a great deal of time in order to write well?

 

4.         Is inspiration an important consideration in good writing?

 

5.         What is the most important trait for someone if he or she wants to learn how to effectively write for business as well as nonfiction prose such as newspaper or magazine articles or books?

 

6.         How does someone develop self-confidence about his or her writing?

 

7.         You’ve done research on writer’s block.  What did you discover are some of the myths that cause writer’s block?

 

8.         Can anyone get published or does the usual complaint, “It’s who you know,” also apply?

 

9.         What career opportunities are available for nonfiction writers?

 

10.       You are a prolific author—more than 20 published nonfiction books and scores of articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online publications, such as The New York Times, Harper’s, Redbook, The Los Angeles Times, and Family Circle. How did you get started?

 

11.             You are a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. What is this organization and how does being a member help a writer further or enhance his or her career? What are some of the other associations that new and seasoned nonfiction writers might want to consider joining and why?

 

*These questions, edited and updated by Jan Yager, Ph.D., are based on the questions composed by Gwen B. Phillips when she was Director of Publicity at Arco Publishing, Inc. for the publicity campaign for the 1^st edition of Jan Yager’s Effective Business and Nonfiction Writing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Bio

 

 

 

Jan Yager, who has a Ph.D. in sociology, has worked as a book editor and publisher, taught writing at Penn State, and has led workshops on writing, getting published, book promotion, and foreign rights. She has also coached on writing and book promotion. Her 25 published books, translated into 20 languages, include When Friendship Hurts (Simon & Schuster), Career Opportunities in the Publishing Industry (Facts on File, Inc.), Friendshifts® (Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc.), and Untimely Death (a novel) (Hannacroix Creek). Dr. Yager’s magazine, newspaper, and online articles have been published in Parade, New York Times, Redbook, www.careerjournal.com, Writer’s Digest, Family Circle, Harper’s, Glamour, Modern Bride, American Baby, Woman’s Day, Executive Update, lhj.com, etc. For more author information, go to: http://www.janyager.com/writing.

 

Dr. Yager’s program on business writing, based on her book, is available to companies through www.mindleaders.com

 

To contact Jan Yager for an author interview, send an e-mail to hannacroix@aol.com (Fax: 203-968-0193) or directly to Jan yager at: yagerinquiries2@aol.com.

 

 

Members of the media, click here for a media kit including sample interview questions.