The Little Guide to Writing for Impact - by Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene & Donald F Kettl (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Everyone who writes in the world of public affairs wants to make arguments that will move readers and shape policy. That world, however, is busy and noisy, and even the best ideas often get squeezed out in the frenetic pace of policy debates. No author wants that to happen to their hard work.
In this fresh and lively book, Barrett, Greene, and Kettl combine more than a century of experience in writing to present a series of guidelines that will enable readers to successfully frame a policy argument; pitch it to editors; organize the work so that the ideas have real impact; support it with data and stories; find the right publisher; and follow up after publication to ensure that the argument has enduring impact. These basic steps work well--but work differently--for a wide variety of policy writing, from short blog posts through an op-eds, commentaries and policy briefs, dissertations, articles for both the popular press and academic journals, and books.
The book is a handy manual for writers in the world of research who want to explore the start-to-finish process of writing for impact--and for authors who want to explore a single writing challenge in-depth. It is full of examples of both good and bad writing, as well as the authors' own tales in navigating the road from a new idea to a written product that packs punch. It's a fun and useful primer for steering the policy debate.

Review Quotes

"A little book that will have a big impact on policy. Imagine a whole generation who can clearly communicate great ideas!" --Donna Shalala, Interim President of The New School, former president of the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the University of Miami, and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

""If you want to author a classic book, have your research published in a premier academic journal, complete an award-winning dissertation, or simply write better, consult The Little Guide to Writing for Impact. This quick read is chock-full of golden nuggets that, if engaged, will boost your influence on people and policy through your writing."" --Katherine Willoughby, editor-in-chief, Public Administration Review and Golembiewski Professor of Public Administration, University of Georgia

""I recommend The Little Guide to aspiring writers and communicators at any point in their careers. The Little Guide is full of practical tips and incisive examples. Leveraging their expansive experience and sharp sense of humor, the authors present concrete, accessible tools to strengthen written communications of all kinds."" --Sara Mogulescu, President, The Volcker Alliance

""Discover a treasure trove of practical writing wisdom in The Little Guide. This engaging and delightful read is a must-have for anyone seeking to improve their written communication skills. Keep it on your desk for quick access to expert advice on how to write for impact."" --Chris Morrill, Executive Director, Government Finance Officers Association, former City Manager, Roanoke, Virginia

""With notes of Strunk and White's Elements of Style," Barrett, Greene, and Kettl have gifted us a highly practical guide for communicating in a hyper-distracted world. Even with an array of new digital tools and artificial intelligence, at core communicating involves crafting a clear, concise, and compelling message. Barrett, Greene, and Kettl gives us the tools to do so."" --Trevor Brown, dean of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University

"If you read it carefully and take its lessons to heart, this little book can have a big impact on the quality of your writing. Useful, readable, and above all sensible, it's pitched to scholars and policy wonks who want to reach a broad audience, but it will be helpful to anyone who puts words on paper and wants them to be read, understood, and to matter." --Ben Yagoda, author of How to Not Write Bad: The Most Common Writing Problems and the Best Ways to Avoid Them

"A little book that will have a big impact on policy. Imagine a whole generation who can clearly communicate great ideas!"

"Discover a treasure trove of practical writing wisdom in The Little Guide. This engaging and delightful read is a must-have for anyone seeking to improve their written communication skills. Keep it on your desk for quick access to expert advice on how to write for impact."

"I recommend The Little Guide to aspiring writers and communicators at any point in their careers. The Little Guide is full of practical tips and incisive examples. Leveraging their expansive experience and sharp sense of humor, the authors present concrete, accessible tools to strengthen written communications of all kinds."

"If you read it carefully and take its lessons to heart, this little book can have a big impact on the quality of your writing. Useful, readable, and above all sensible, it's pitched to scholars and policy wonks who want to reach a broad audience, but it will be helpful to anyone who puts words on paper and wants them to be read, understood, and to matter."

"If you want to author a classic book, have your research published in a premier academic journal, complete an award-winning dissertation, or simply write better, consult The Little Guide to Writing for Impact. This quick read is chock-full of golden nuggets that, if engaged, will boost your influence on people and policy through your writing."

"With notes of Strunk and White's Elements of Style," Barrett, Greene, and Kettl have gifted us a highly practical guide for communicating in a hyper-distracted world. Even with an array of new digital tools and artificial intelligence, at core communicating involves crafting a clear, concise, and compelling message. Barrett, Greene, and Kettl gives us the tools to do so."

About the Author

Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene are senior advisors and columnists for Route Fifty, senior advisors to the American Society for Public Administration, visiting fellows at the IBM Center for the Business of Government, special project consultants to the Volcker Alliance, editors at the International Journal of Public Administration, senior advisors with the Government Finance Research Center at the University of Illinois, Chicago, fellows in the National Academy of Public Administration and more.
Donald F. Kettl is professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. He is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Volcker Alliance and the Brookings Institution. Kettl is the author or editor of numerous books, including Bridgebuilders: How Government Can Transcend Boundaries to Solve Problems (2023) and Experts in Government: The Deep State from Caligula to Donald Trump and Beyond (2023).