This time next week I will be officially jobless, so I've been steadily bringing home my little library of journalistic/editing texts. Some of these books have been with me since 1994, when I first trotted off to journalism school as a mature age student, but others were purchased later on in my career.
Here's what's in the pile from the top down:
The Elements of Style (Fourth Edition) by William Strunk Jr. and EB White
This is a classic textbook which provides simple rules for writing plain English. It's for anyone who writes for a living, but it's also ideal for students, bloggers and letter-writers. Oh yes, and EB White is the same EB White who wrote Charlotte's Web!
Cassell's Guide to Written English by James Aitchison
Very similar to The Elements of Style but goes into the specifics of English language rules and usage a bit more deeply. I found it helpful for settling arguments with sub-editors!
A Dictionary of Modern English Usage by H.W. Fowler
First published in 1926, this is the standard work on correct use of English, and the perfect tome to settle arguments about whether particular words should be hyphenated or not, how to use commas properly and how to avoid split infinitives!
Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss
This book was hugely popular in 2003, when it was first published, and my copy, a first-edition, got passed around a 10-strong team of sub-editors, each of whom tittered through it.
Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers by Harold Evans
The bible. It covers everything from headline writing to structuring news and feature stories. Every intern or work-experience student I have had under my wing over the past 10 years has been encouraged to buy their own copy of this book. Honestly, it's brilliant.
Reporting in Australia by Sally A. White
This is almost the Australian equivalent of Harold Evans' book (see above), but it has a much more detailed focus on the mechanics of reporting news: how to gather it and how to write it.
The Guardian Stylebook by David Marsh and Nikki Marshall
I love a good style guide and have helped write, edit and update various in-house ones during my career. The Guardian one, published in 2004, is recommended reading for word nerds.
The Economist Style Guide
Not quite as well laid out as The Guardian's one, but still hugely helpful for anyone seeking to write clearly in a way that is immediately understandable.
Subediting for Journalists by Wynford Hicks and Tim Holmes
The kind of book that does exactly what it says on the cover. It covers everything from media law to writing headlines and standfirsts. Given most news organisations seem intent on getting rid of subs altogether, I imagine the market for this type of book has opened widely. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...
