Writing tends to make people anxious & with good reason The first sentence of a job application letter can consign it to the bin A speech intended to rouse can put a room to sleep A mistimed tweet can cost you your job & a letter to a beloved may aim to convey feelings of tenderness but end up making the recipient laugh rather than melt In this complete guide to persuasive writing Sam Leith shows how to express yourself fully across any medium & how to maximise your chances of getting your way in every situation From work reports to Valentine cards & from emails of condolence to tweets of complaint Leith lays bare the secrets to successful communication eloquence & off- & online etiquette How do you write a job application a thank-you card or an email to your bank manager to your children's headteacher to your clients or your boss? How do you prepare a speech to win the argument get the vote of confidence or embarrass the bridegroom? Getting these things right
- or wrong
- can be life-changing Succinct treatments of the most general principles of style & composition as well as examinations of specific modes of address (What is a subtweet? How do I write a moving elegy?) are accompanied by concrete & well-illustrated dos & don'ts & examples of wins & fails Astute sprightly & illuminating Write to the Point will give you the skills & confidence you need to get your message across on every occasion