Five Things You Must Read to Be a Better Writer

In the age of ChatGPT, it’s important that your writing stands out. Sure, AI churns out passable prose. But it’s pretty lifeless. For now.

Here are five essays and books that will ensure your copy gets clicks, speeches sound smart, and op-eds are outstanding.

1. Politics and the English Language by George Orwell

The Bible for how to write well. Although the essay is about political rhetoric, the lessons apply to all writing. His rules are:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

2. How to Say Nothing in 500 Words by Paul McHenry Roberts

Don’t let the title fool you. This offbeat but essential essay is about how to say something. Roberts says most writing doesn’t stand out, make interesting points, or use original words. Like so much political punditry, it sounds the same.

If you want to break the mold, do the following:

1.   Avoid the obvious content.

2.   Take the less usual side.

3.   Slip out of abstraction.

4.   Get rid of obvious padding.

5.   Call a fool a fool.

6.   Beware of pat expressions.

3. The Political Speechwriter’s Companion by Robert Lehrman and Eric Schnure

If you write speeches, remarks, or wedding toasts, keep this book by your desk. Writing a speech isn’t easy, but this will guide you through the tools and tricks of the trade. From structure to soundbites, the authors—former White House speechwriters who know how to make a sentence sing—will turn you into a speechwriting pro.

4. All Art Is Propaganda by George Orwell

Orwell again. While 1984 and Animal Farm are his better-known books, this one should be. You’ll never look at Picasso, Beyonce, or your kid’s drawings the same. Orwell believes all art expresses a point of view. We’re trying to influence someone, right? In these essays, he examines famous subjects from Dickens to Gandhi.

5. Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs

Heinrichs is a magazine vet and persuasion expert. With chapters devoted to “Eminem’s Rules of Decorum” and “Homer Simpson’s Canons of Logic,” it’s a fun read. And useful one. There are tips on changing reality, talking to unruly uncles at Thanksgiving, and connecting with audiences. Heinrichs’ mix of pop culture and ancient history makes it easy to pick up new rhetorical devices.