As content strategists, we breathe, eat, and sleep content. It’s hard to escape our vocation as content creators and analysts when the world is saturated with content. However, sometimes we need to step outside the ring and look critically at the art and science of content strategy, gathering inspiration from a variety of sources (and not just the internet).
It’s worth noting that people learn and absorb information in a variety of ways – even content experts, who are usually known to be bookworms. But sometimes a book on the nightstand is the only way to go. There’s something special about dog-earing a page with a particularly useful insight, underlining a passage, and even simply cracking open a book at the end of the day (or over your first cup of coffee).
In this spirit, we’re sharing some titles to help you feed the beast. We hope they inspire you the way they’ve inspired us.
Master Content Strategy: How to Maximize Your Reach and Boost Your Bottom Line Every Time You Hit Publish
Author Pamela Wilson addresses content with a richness of perspective, having started out in marketing as a graphic designer. Her practical advice addresses both creation and distribution – the twin pillars of effective content strategy.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
By now, this one can probably be categorized as an “oldie but goodie.” It’s a prime example of how the principles of great fiction can guide nonfiction and business writers without leading them astray. Stephen King provides solid advice for effective prose woven into raw, personal anecdotes – learning and storytelling at their finest.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
Above all, this volume teaches us that excellent writing is agnostic. It transcends subject matter and is the link between individual and shared understanding.
Everybody Writes
If this book title reminds you of a particularly scatological children’s classic … that’s probably not an accident. Ann Handley has an inimitable style, and she uses it to terrific advantage. Her practical insights for communicating effectively are engaging and down to earth, underscoring her main point: that anyone can master writing, and the benefits of doing so pay off in spades.
Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies: A Guide to Language for Fun and Spite
Who says basic writing skills have to be tedious and humorless? We love June Casagrande’s tales from the trenches, which are both witty and memorable.
Getting into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors
As content strategists, we prioritize producing content that is personal, human, empathetic. As such, we can’t afford to leave our audience out of the equation. To better convey who we are – and fully understand who we’re talking to – why not borrow insights from our theater friends?
The Elements of Style
If you read no other book, read this one. It’s the OG guide to writing simply and intelligently. This deceptively slim volume packs in a lot of value in few pages. Although some aspects of it may feel dated, the core principles are timeless and useful for writers and content creators of any skill level. Think of it as the How to Win Friends and Influence People of the content world.
Happy reading!