The Elements of Eloquence: Secrets of the Perfect Turn of Phrase
Big thank you to @david_perell and @dollarsanddata for recommending The Elements of Eloquence by @Inkyfool
Thread with some favorite quotes and personal notes 👇— Driven Wealth (@DRIVENwm) November 9, 2018
My writing is a work in progress.
I hated writing growing up, largely because it never came naturally. I resigned to thinking that some people either have the skill or don’t. I gravitated toward math because I enjoyed following the rules that led to clear right or wrong answers.
Upon launching Driven, I made it a priority to improve and practice my writing. The writing process is incredibly helpful in working out thoughts.
David Perrell and Nick Maggiulli are fantastic writers. David originally recommended EoE and then Nick Maggiulli cited the book in his extremely helpful article with tips on how to improve your writing. I was quickly sold.
After reading EoE, it turns out there are in fact rules to writing. Rules, that when followed connect you to your readers with precision. Without even realizing it we see these rules being utilized from the most famous authors, playwrights and songwriters alike.
I had three major takeaways from the book:
- Like any other skill, writing can be improved over time with practice
- There are certain rules and tricks that need to be utilized for effective writing
- Two of these rules are using lists and the rule of three (see what I did here)
Along with being insightful, I found Forsyth’s writing style entertaining and engaging. If you have any interest whatsoever in improving your writing, I highly recommend the book.
