***This book was reviewed independently

As a writer myself, both poet and author, I’m always on the lookout for new words, and new ways of playing with them. Reading writingcraft books inevitably sparks a flurry of writing or editing, and this book was no exception. I managed to get quite a bit done!

I adore thesauri. They are a writer’s best friend, especially ones that help with body language. The first half of this nifty tome is stuffed with thesaurus lists to help tighten writing, focusing on key words that tend to be overused. There is a section on unusual punctuation that tends to be overused, like ellipses or exclamations. Another section looks at supposed writing taboos such as using cursing, working with ‘have’ and ‘to be’ and how to work with or around them. The final sections are thesauri for incorporating sensory words to strengthen your writing.

I love learning new tidbits too. I wasn’t aware of how hyphenated adjectives work if they come before or after that which they describe. And I learned a new word! Grawlix! Who knew?

????? This book is a marvelous addition to any writer’s writingcraft shelf.