Abstract

The Craft of Professional Writing is the most complete book ever written about the real-life work of being a writer. Covering topics ranging from business writing (advertising, PR) to commercial work (news reporting, feature writing, blogging, non-fiction books) to creative writing (screenplays and novels), as well as advice on pitching, rejection and leading a writer’s life, the narrative is filled with anecdotes and illuminating stories, as well as tricks of the trade in each form of writing. For the student, The Craft of Professional Writing is the most wide-ranging and practical textbook on the subject. Designed to be an instructional text for producing professional-level work, it is also a survey of the various writing professions to enable budding writers to make career decisions. For the professional, this book is the ultimate reference work—offering practical tips and advice they can return to again and again to help them through various phases of their career.

“Few places on the planet are as cutthroat as Silicon Valley. I’ve had a front-row seat for the past 30 years watching Mike build his reputation as the most creative writer and editor the Valley has to offer. He’s earned that distinction by being as innovative, thoughtful and hardworking in his craft as any of the Valley’s best entrepreneurs.”
—Ed Clendaniel, Editorial Page Editor, The Mercury News

‘The Craft of Professional Writing’ is the complete book ever written about the real-life work of writing for a living. It not only provides an in-depth description of every important job in professional writing, from PR and advertising to technical writing to journalism and fiction and non-fiction book authorship, but also includes extensive practical advice and hacks on how to report, prepare, pitch, edit and invoice your work – as well as how to successfully conduct a writing career. There also are extensive models of actual products in each of these fields.

For the student, this is the most wide-ranging and practical textbook on the subject. It is designed to be an instructional text for producing professional-level work – but also a survey of the various writing professions to enable budding writers to make career decisions. The goal is to empower graduates to hit the ground running – and to quickly establish themselves in the professional writing world.

For the professional, this book, written by an author who has been successful in almost every writing discipline, is the ultimate reference work – offering practical tips to their current field, as well as a guide to other writing professions. ‘The Craft of Professional Writing’ also offers these experienced writers work advice they can return to again and again to help them through various phases of their career.

“Ever helpful, practical and inspiring, Mike Malone offers a friendly, nuts-and-bolts approach to craft writing that makes professional writing seem wonderfully possible as a career.”
—Ron Hansen, Novelist and Professor, Department of English, Santa Clara University, USA

Michael S. Malone is one of the world’s best-known business and technology journalists. In the course of his 40-year career he has produced, at the national and international levels, almost every form of professional writing, both non-fiction and fiction.