Book cover of Writing With Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process

Book description

Writing with Power is a guide for the student writing an essay, the professional writer working on a story, or the manager writing a memo for a tight deadline. As Elbow explains, "Writing with power doesn't just mean getting power over readers. It means getting power over yourself and over…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Writing With Power as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Decades ago, when I was a young and confused college writing instructor, I found this book; although later in my teaching career, I developed a different approach from Elbow’s, I’ll always be grateful to him for this foundational book. Elbow was one of a number of teachers at the time who realized the need to show inexperienced writers that writing is not a one-step, blank-page-to-final-draft affair; it’s a process.

Elbow’s technique of freewriting now appears in every writing workshop. Other techniques from the book, especially focused freewriting and considering the audience, are less well-known but extremely useful. This book gave…

From Barbara's list on achieving writing excellence.

If you love Writing With Power...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like Writing With Power?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Writing With Power.

Browse books like Writing With Power

Book cover of Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise
Book cover of Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Book cover of Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,395

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Writing With Power, you might also like...

Book cover of Need to Know: World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence

Need to Know by Nicholas Reynolds,

The authoritative but accessible history of the birth of modern American intelligence in World War II that treats not just one but all of the various disciplines: spies, codebreakers, saboteurs.

Told in a relatable style that focuses on actual people, it was a New Yorker "Best of 2022" selection and…

Book cover of Tsunami

Tsunami by LeeAnn Pickrell,

On the morning of December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean. The resulting tsunami killed an estimated 230,000 people across fourteen countries, from Indonesia to Sri Lanka to Thailand to the Maldives to India and all the way to East Africa.…

5 book lists we think you will like!