Mini Style Guide

I enjoyed this quick, useful guide that covers the fundamentals of good writing and the different ways your writing may appeal to publishers and agents. Also, good tips for self-publishing.

This book is billed as a mini guide, and it was that. This guide covers a lot of ground, and it's a handy quick reference to have around. It doesnt replace the Chicago Manual of Style, but it will complement it. I was both confused and amused by the section comparing American writing to British, there are regional differences within the US that could also qualify for this section! I appreciated the conversational tone of the author and the non-lecture style of her writing. I'm happy to recommend this Mini Guide to Style.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

A very informative and helpful guide on everything regarding writing, in all forms. It covers all the basics, but also goes beyond them, giving examples and information detailed enough so as to provide help both to writers and to editors.

Mini Style Guide provides valuable information on aspects such as copyright and publishing, while still dealing with the basics (which are important nonetheless), such as grammar and punctuation. This is definitely a recommended read for everyone involved in the writing business.

Pros: This is a great book that will define style books in detail. Sometimes you don't have time to flip through books to find what you're looking for. This book is an index and glossary built into one. I will definitely put this in my arsenal because one person cannot remember all the rules for each style of writing. My field deals with APA and MLA style and it's just too challenging to remember it all. I only want to know if I use numerals or indenting and not have to read through several sections before finding what I need. This book will get you there quickly. I absolutely love how it gives you more than definitions to be effective.

Cons: None! It is worth reading through and going to the section you need as well. You will surely benefit either way.

(Review also posted on my Goodreads account!)

THANK THE DEITIES ABOVE FOR THIS BOOK!

Mini Style Guide: An Introduction to Good Writing and Manuscript Presentation truly lived up to its name. If you're a struggling writers, do pick up a copy of this book. If you're working in a writing world, do pick up a copy of this book. And I can't stress it enough. Although nearing the end it focuses for writers (what's with all inquiring letters and presentations), I reckon anyone mentioned above would benefit from reading it.

I know I am. And in the future, I might come back, rereading it again, and be enlightened again.

*I received a copy of Mini Style Guide: An Introduction to Good Writing and Manuscript Presentation from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Opinions here are mine*

Mini Style Guide lives up to its name, measuring about 6x8 inches, making it perfect for a purse or messenger bag carry along. At 264 pages, the volume is succinct, well-organized and intuitively laid out for quick browsing and discovery.

Author Denise O'Hagan begins the first half of the book with the hard mechanics of good writing, covering both high-level concerns such as style, language variance, and notes on copyright and plagiarism as well as nitty-gritty grammar like plurals, possessives, and punctuation. Worth noting is special chapter on inclusive writing, covering the treatments of topics such as ethnic diversity, gender neutrality, pronouns, disability, and age in today's writing landscape.

The second half thoroughly details manuscript formatting and preparation, covering everything from special tools and sequencing to basic formatting and style. Fiction writers will find this useful in preparing their novels for the query trenches, however nonfiction and academic writers may have even more use for the later chapters that cover the more technical types of formatting needed when including supplemental data and materials.

A smaller third section provides a quick, glossy run-though of publishing options, I imagine for the sake of completeness, because the actual publication process isn't really the focus here--it's everything up until that point. It's worth reading for the information, especially if you're new to publishing, however there are entire resources devoted to that topic alone and once you're at that point it might be worth checking them out.

Mini Style Guide's chapters are thorough and include examples of the areas covered, but never run for more than a few pages. I appreciated the logical layout and progressive flow of the book, and the directness of the information. (I like my reference materials to give me the information I need quickly!)

All in all, Mini Style Guide looks like a great resource for writers, especially those in the final stages of pulling a manuscript together for editorial submission. It's the perfect ready-reference tool I like to keep on my personal shelf and refer to again and again in the course of my own writing, and I’ll be recommending my library make the purchase for its collection as well.

If you are looking for a clear and concise style manual that will refresh you on the trickier aspects of the English language, clear up any confusion you have over the muddier points of grammar once and for all, help you to stylistically present your manuscripts in the most professional manner, and offer you options on where and how to publish your finished pieces, don't hesitate to add Denise O'Hagan's Mini Style Guide to your writer's reference shelf!

Written by a seasoned publishing industry professional, Denise offers an easy-to-read, practical and inspiring alternative to weighty tomes like the Chicago Manual of Style!

The Mini Style Guide is a welcome resource for independent and self-published writers who need editorial advice before they publish their work.

HIghly recommended!