Today's writer needs more than just a solid knowledge of usage and composition to write successfully. Bestselling author Arthur Plotnik reveals the secrets to attention-grabbing, unforgettable writing, in this trade paperback edition. Updated with all-new writing exercises, Spunk & Bite will help writers take books, articles, business reports, memos, and even social- media posts to the next level. " . . .delivers what it advertises: a kick in the pants toward bold, contemporary style. . . . This will be the best ten bucks you've ever spent. . . . 5 of 5 stars" ---Jules L., 15 Nov., 2009 --Go, Go, Gatsby (gogogatsby.com) "[A] book filled with wise advice, many belly laughs, and much inspiration. I re-read it from front to back at least once a year--and I dip into its pages from time to time as a way of recharging my writing batteries. -"The Five Best Writing Books No One Ever Told You About," Daphne Gray-Grant, July 2, 2013, Ragan's PR Daily: Europe "[L]oving language doesn't mean we always understand how particular words or expressions work their magic. Personally, I really love it when someone like Plotnik can break it down for me, help me look under the hood to see how that writer I so admire has done it." ---Nancy Wick, The Editor's POV , Jan. 6, 2011 During my often misspent days at St. Edward High School, how I wished I had someone like Arthur Plotnik to spice my daily diet of Warriner ' s English Grammar and Composition , . . . I'm just glad I discovered Spunk & Bite after its debut lessthan a decade ago. -J. F. McKenna, Cleveland Business Review, July 2, 2015 clevelandbusinessreview.org/2015/07/02/the-art-of-messaging-today/#comment-10113 . . . the next step in a writer's evolution. In this age of increasingly short attention spans and overwhelming media input, writing must have "punch and vibrancy" to capture a reader's interest. This clear and entertaining instruction guide seeks to energize and liberate writers from outdated style conventions. --eraserheadpress.com/2015/06/25/top-10-books-recommended-for-writers/ . . . I found the book a hoot to read and at the same time a very smart guide to all aspects of penning a superb paragraph. At the end, his chapter called "Butterflies in the Killing Fields" is worth the price of admission I've always hoped that educators and their students, in addition to general readers, would find Spunk & Bite  an appealing alternative or supplement to traditional writing/style textbooks.  An educator's creative and systematic approach to the book can assure that its principles will be tested, practiced, put into efforts subject to feedback,  Never mind a few more bucks from royalties; the prize is influence for one who believes in his advice, as I do. I'm honored that among the schools using the book regularly as a text or supplemental is the Harvard Kennedy School (John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University) for a course entitled "Introduction to Writing for Policy and Politics."An open Pinterest course has also been announced, using the study guide included in the book (paperback).   When too tightly leashed, writing chokes and loses its vitality. Although the rules of composition popularized in William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White's "Elements of Style have been "de rigueur for decades, they won't exactly set your writing free. To the rescue comes "Spunk & Bite, a guide to bold and radiant language and style. The secret, according to bestselling author and former publishing executive Arthur Plotnik, is to embrace those qualities that composition rulebooks sidestep-among them, surprise, personality, engagement, edge, and fearlessness. Drawing on selections from today's most exciting writers-Jonathan Franzen, Sandra Cisneros, Bill Bryson, Maureen Dowd, and many dozens more-Plotnik reveals the tricks and techniques that make prose fresh, forceful, and publishable. For all types of writing-novels, articles, poems, ad copy, blogs, and even e-mail-this uncommon handbook reveals how to make your words so fetching that readers beg for more. Arthur Plotnik is an author, and former publishing executive. Two of his works have been featured as Book of the Month Club selections: "The Elements of Editing and "The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words . Reviewers have consistently praised Plotnik's writing for its accuracy, style, and wit, often ranking it with Strunk & White in practicality. Plotnik studied under Philip Roth and Vance Bourjaily at the Iowa Writers Workshop . As a publisher, he brought five national awards to the American Library Association's book imprint. He also won numerous honors as editor of ALA's flagship magazine, "American Libraries. Arthur Plotnik is a former publishing executive and author of the Book of the Month Club selections The Elements of Editing and The Elements of Expression: Putting Thoughts into Words.