on writing well book review

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Book Review: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Zinsser was not only someone who taught writing but he also was featured in leading magazines. He also wrote seventeen books.

On Writing Well is a comprehensive guide on writing that is 321 pages long. Zinsser arranged the book in four major parts:

To cover these topics, Zinsser shared his wisdom over 25 chapters.

This is certainly a book that I will share with the learners I work with. It is a book I wish I had read before I wrote my dissertation. There are many nuggets of information found throughout the book. I am going to share some of these nuggets.

When Zinsser discussed principles, he stressed the importance of simplicity and reducing clutter. We have a tendency to try to say too much in a single sentence. I know that I am often guilty of this. I also see a lot of this in academic writing.

Zinsser encouraged writers to break out the thesaurus. He indicated that we can make our writing more interesting by finding stronger words. According to Zinsser, we will also benefit by removing worn-out clichés from our prose. We often try too hard to make our writing interesting. Instead, we need to simplify and strive for accuracy.

When Zinsser wrote about a topic, he used apt examples to highlight his points. It was fascinating to observe how perfectly he crafted his sentences and paragraphs.

Zinsser stated “Rewriting is the essence of writing well: it’s where the game is won or lost” (Zinsser, 2016, p. 83). This I certainly learned while working on my dissertation. But the lesson was driven home while writing my first book. The first draft is only the start of the process. One decides how each sentence fits into the narrative after the draft is written.

While I enjoyed the entire book, in addition to the principles section, I really enjoyed the section on forms. The point Zinsser made was that nonfiction writing does not have to be boring. He demonstrated this through countless examples across a wide range of topics. These topics included: writing about people, writing about place, writing about yourself, science and technology, business writing, sports, writing about the arts, and humor.

According to Zinsser, you write the best when you write from a personal point of view. He pointed out that writing becomes boring when we try to write in the third person. Zinsser noted that we increase interest when we take a point of view. “Remember ‘I’ is the most interesting element in any story” (Zinsser, 2016, p. 175). While writing my book, I remembered having to switch between persons based on the recommendations of different editors. By the time the book was published, I was very comfortable with the results.

I really appreciated the chapter about writing about yourself. Zinsser provided important tips for sharing your past. He encouraged us to simply write a one to three page story about our past and file it away. Over time you will have a collection of interesting stories that you can craft into a larger work once you identify a theme. It is a topic I am interested in but I did not know how to approach it. Now, I do.

On Writing Well provides excellent guidance for crafting interesting works. It is certainly a book that I will have to spend a lot of time with. On a first pass through the book, I picked up many strategies for improving my writing. I now need to spend more time with the book so that I internalize these strategies. If you write as part of your job, I would definitely recommend this book.

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The latest book reviews and book news, on writing well: a book review.

On Writing Well book review

If anyone asked me for writing advice, I would have a hard time not insisting they read On Writing Well by William Zinsser. This book illustrates the hardship and beauty of what its title entails; what I learned from it extends beyond the importance of writing well.

Read well and you will speak well; writing envelops the two: that’s what I gathered.

ON WRITING WELL

Zinsser hits and hints at the fundamentals of writing , why principles like simplicity, decluttering, style development, and clarity greatly matter. He is excellent in associating reading with writing, and writing to speaking. For how one speaks, especially aspiring writers, is a window to one’s relationship with words.

That gives On Writing Well plenty to shoulder in maintaining relevance from its initial publishing year: 1976. A few years short of surviving half a century on the shelves, and exceptionally–for its insights on writing derives strength from the material it uses (words)– it is marked in only graduating.

TRUST THE PROCESS

From its talk and inculcation of choosing the right word, to narrowing down interests to one thing or idea, inviting personal anecdotes, revealing despairs and fears that come in and with writing, On Writing Well remains hot news.

The note taker, shop-goer, or personal assistant, can capture the inspirational touch of this book and see writing differently when they return to their regular doings. For as long as I have trusted the pen…this book reminds me how to revisit writing systematically, yet primitively, and mostly personally.

Indeed, it calls for a classical sensibility with things, and practice patience with writing. With serious practice good writing gets there. Zinsser immediately approaches the new reader of the unrelenting importance of the fundamentals, for example: Clutter; one of my favorite chapters. Similar to a meditation expert, Zinsser reveals how to embrace the basics, to master blueprinting an idea with foremost a clear mind.

Yes, less is more. But Zinsser also guides the reader to see how great storytelling can actualize with “more” and “less” swapping places. He covers both sides of the spectrum, the utility of techniques, the tools and rules and many styles of writing, resources, experience, how the writer takes on writing, and how it traverses into–despite its monotonous phases and pitfalls—something subtly enriching, sublime.

Loosely autobiographical, stern, gentle–a grandparent-like loving energy on self-expression; a profound hall for writers, and everyone is welcome. The book is a cool whisper about the writing life.

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On Writing Well Summary

1-Sentence-Summary: On Writing Well is your guide to becoming a great non-fiction writer that explains why you must learn and practice principles like simplicity, consistency, voice, editing, and enthusiasm if you want to persuade readers and make a difference in their lives.

Favorite quote from the author:

Audio Summary

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In the last 24 months, I’ve written over 500,000 words. On many days, I sat in front of a blank screen, either not knowing what to write or paralyzed by perfectionism. And yet, on all days, I wrote regardless.

I made mistakes, sure, but with each sentence I became a better writer. Best of all, the more I wrote, the more opportunities I seemed to get to become even better.

While I eventually did learn some of the secrets of good writing, it would have been a lot e asier if I’d had a book like William Zinsser ’s On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction to teach me the right skills to practice . With this book in your toolkit, you’ll become a great writer much faster than you think is possible!

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the best tips it teaches:

Simple writing conveys meaning the best, so ruthlessly eliminate unnecessary words and phrases.
Spend a lot of time crafting great beginnings and endings because they count more than you think.
If what you’re writing doesn’t inspire you, it won’t inspire your reader, so make sure your heart is in your typing.

Let’s get right to these lessons and learn how to become better writers!

If you want to save this summary for later, download the free PDF and read it whenever you want.

Lesson 1: Cut out unnecessary words and phrases as much as possible because simple writing is the best at conveying meaning.

Of all the lectures I participated in throughout college, one stands out every time I think about great writing. The professor was telling us that you don’t find good writing in fancy magazines like the New York Times and Time .

She told us the reason for this is that most people retain information best when reading at a fifth-grade reading level, and magazines like these are far above that.

In essence, she was saying that complex writing is bad writing.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of over-complicating your words and phrases when you start out. You want to impress, but what you end up doing is making yourself unintelligable. If you’re hoping to have any kind of impact, you don’t want that.

To write clearly, think clearly. Declutter your mind as you write by focusing on what you’re trying to say. When you’re finished, edit each sentence and word by asking if you’ve said what you wanted to.

If anything you’ve got on the page doesn’t contribute to a clear message, delete it. Instead of writing “in order to” just write “to.” Stop saying verbose phrases like “at this juncture” when people will understand and relate to you better if you just say “now.”

As Stephen King famously said:

“Kill your darlings.”

Lesson 2: Your beginnings and endings make a big difference for reader engagement, so spend time making them great.

One of my high school teachers was well-known for saying “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” The more I thought about it the more I grew to like this piece of wisdom. Especially for how it applies to writing.

If your intro is terrible, nobody will keep reading no matter how brilliant, interesting, or thought-provoking the rest of the piece is. You might as well be a person wearing a fedora in their Tinder profile picture!

Try making the first sentence something that makes people stop and think. Some of my favorite writers like to use statements that contradict widely-held beliefs. Alternatively, you can craft a persuasive story , personal or otherwise, to hook readers.

No matter how you do it, the introduction must show people what’s in it for them. Put yourself in their shoes and consider what would appeal to them the most. What would you want to read? Give them a taste of that right from the start.

Also, make sure to end each paragraph with something interesting to make the reader want to continue. Think of it like the end of an episode of your favorite TV show. When my wife and I were watching Lost , it was hard to stop at just one episode because they always hooked us in at the end! Do the same in your writing.

When it’s time to conclude, don’t summarize too much. Review everything briefly, recap the benefits to the reader, and wrap it up!

Lesson 3: Inspire yourself with your writing and you will inspire those who read it.

You can practice the skills we’ve covered so far and all of the others in this book and you’ll write well. But if you don’t learn to get your heart into it, your readers won’t connect with your words. It takes enjoyment, confidence, and inspiration, but it’s not easy.

Your conditioning from school makes it difficult to be inspired as you write. You were taught to be afraid of writing . That it was something you had to do to get a grade.

And forget about writing what you wanted, you always had to stick to the prompts.

You can unlearn all of this and discover the joy of writing though. Start by remembering that you need to be inspired by life to be inspired as you write. Be adventurous, ask questions, and keep an open mind.

You’ll meet people and have experiences that will light a fire inside that you can share in your work.

Also, remember to follow your passions without worrying about what you or others will think. If you’re passionate about what you’re writing, that will shine through and your readers will feel it. Then it will have an impact on them and they’ll keep coming back for more.

I know I could write a more interesting piece on caterpillars than celebrities, for example, because I love raising caterpillars but don’t care about famous people much.

Write about what you enjoy and enjoy what you write about and others will love reading your work.

On Writing Well Review

I love writing and reading books that help me become a better writer. On Writing Well is refreshing because it goes beyond the typical writing advice you usually hear. It gives tips that will inspire you to do what’s really necessary to become a great writer.

Who would I recommend the On Writing Well summary to?

The 28-year-old that is just getting started on their writing journey, the 45-year-old blogger who is looking to write their first book, and anyone that wants to become a master at communicating with words on a page.

Last Updated on July 27, 2023

Luke Rowley

With over 450 summaries that he contributed to Four Minute Books, first as a part-time writer, then as our full-time Managing Editor until late 2021, Luke is our second-most prolific writer. He's also a professional, licensed engineer, working in the solar industry. Next to his day job, he also runs Goal Engineering, a website dedicated to achieving your goals with a unique, 4-4-4 system. Luke is also a husband, father, 75 Hard finisher, and lover of the outdoors. He lives in Utah with his wife and 3 kids.

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On Writing Well: Review & Critical Reception

This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.

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Are you thinking of reading On Writing Well by William Zinsser? Can the book help you improve your nonfiction writing skills?

No matter your current skill level, William Zinsser believes anyone can practice the craft of writing. On Writing Well offers a back-to-basics approach, focusing on honing essential writing skills rather than trying to employ complex stylistic techniques.

Here’s our On Writing Well review, including the book’s approach, critical reception, and impact.

Book Overview

In On Writing Well , William Zinsser argues that, like any craft, good writing can be learned. Writing is a form of communication, and most of us have to communicate via writing in our lives or jobs. If you want to write an intelligent email, a best-selling novel, or an instruction manual, Zinsser’s principles of writing will help you communicate effectively.

After years of writing professionally and teaching writing courses, Zinsser distilled his main ideas about good writing into On Writing Well . In this guide, we’ll break down Zinsser’s principles of writing: simplicity, clarity, and identity. We’ll also explore his advice on constructing good writing and on common challenges of different nonfiction genres. In addition, we’ll examine how his principles align with or differ from other writing experts, and we’ll explore how his ideas can play out in specific examples.

About the Author

William Zinsser was an American writer, journalist, and teacher. He wrote 19 books, including On Writing Well , Writing to Learn , and Writing About Your Life . He frequently contributed articles to Life and The American Scholar magazine.

Zinsser taught writing classes at Yale University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. This book distills much of the information he taught in his lectures on creative nonfiction.

After losing his eyesight, Zinsser began one-on-one coaching for aspiring and professional writers. Writers would read him their work, and he’d critique it— for the small price of a sandwich . In 2015, he passed away at the age of 92 .

Connect with William Zinsser:

The Book’s Publication

On Writing Well was originally published in 1976 by HarperCollins . The book is now in its 30th edition. In 2004, Zinsser published a book called Writing About Your Life , which expands on his advice on writing memoirs.

Historical Context

Zinsser initially published On Writing Well in response to the popularization of nonfiction as a genre throughout the 20th century . Zinsser explains that World War II exposed people to the harsh realities of life, making Americans more fact-minded. People became disinterested in the slower pace and long-winded descriptions found in fiction novels. This shift was reflected in the popular works of the time, such as Silent Spring (which launched the environmental movement) and In Cold Blood (a true crime story about the murder of a Kansas family). Both books shifted away from the flowery, detailed language of the 19th and early 20th centuries toward a more direct and journalistic style of writing.

Because of this genre shift, demand for both nonfiction writing and writers increased, encouraging new forms of writing, such as blogs and email. Zinsser notes that more people became writers—whether as a profession, hobby, or necessity—and he wanted to share the fundamentals for good nonfiction writing.

After publishing the first edition, Zinsser also frequently updated the book to account for cultural changes and new insights on writing. For example, in response to more women exploring writing in the 20th century, Zinsser updated the book to warn writers against sexist pronoun usage in their writing. As he continued teaching nonfiction courses to students, he learned about new problems writers faced that would be beneficial in On Writing Well . For example, he included a section about enjoying the process of writing, since he noticed his students worrying about the finished product.

Intellectual Context

Zinsser explains that he wrote On Writing Well as a nonfiction-focused follow up to The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. Some of Strunk and White’s elements of style are clarity, conciseness, coherence, unity, correctness (grammar), precision (word choice), and taste (style). Zinsser explores many of these same principles. Zinsser also follows a similar organization to Strunk and White’s structure, discussing usage and various writing forms.

The Book’s Impact

On Writing Well is a popular writing reference for all disciplines of nonfiction. Many readers appreciate the book’s practical advice and back-to-basics approach and have found the book helpful for writers of all skill levels.

Critical Reception

On Writing Well has sold more than 1.5 million copies and is widely regarded as an essential guide for writers . On Writing Well ‘s reviews are generally positive. Many writers note that the book is one of the best references for nonfiction writing , and they cite Zinsser’s advice to simplify writing and eliminate clutter as particularly helpful. Reviewers agree that On Writing Well is most effective as a general guide to writing, rather than as a comprehensive guide to learning specific techniques such as humor or grammar rules.

Commentary on the Book’s Approach

Zinsser follows his own advice and writes with simplicity and clarity, making his writing accessible and enjoyable to read. He describes important elements of writing using his own writing background, examining work from other good writers, and discussing his experiences teaching students how to write.

Zinsser also takes a conversational approach to discussing writing. He doesn’t talk down to writers, taking the role of a supportive mentor or professor instead. He describes a back-to-basics approach, which focuses on honing essential skills rather than trying to employ complex stylistic techniques.

Commentary on the Book’s Organization

Zinsser organizes his book into four main sections: Principles, Methods, Forms, and Attitudes. The first discusses general concepts of writing, such as simplicity and style. The second part discusses specific pieces of advice, such as the functions of different word types. The third part explores the different types of nonfiction writing and the common problems writers encounter in those genres. The final section discusses a writer’s identity, how to approach writing, and creative decisions.

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A back-to-basics approach to the craft of writing
How to practice simple, clear, and engaging writing—even if you're not a writer
How to effectively put your ideas into words
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Hannah Aster

Hannah graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English and double minors in Professional Writing and Creative Writing. She grew up reading books like Harry Potter and His Dark Materials and has always carried a passion for fiction. However, Hannah transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018 and now enjoys sharing travel guides and trying to inspire others to see the world.

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Book review: On Writing Well by William Zinsser

Published: 2021.09.11 · 1 minute read

Some time ago, I discovered Seth’s Godin’s blog (thanks Basia for the recommendation), and since then, I have read every single article by him. There is something about his writing style that I admire a lot. It is concise and keeps me reading even if the subject is not in the scope of my interests. The Akimbo Podcast is another masterpiece produced by Seth that I can’t stop listening to.

People like Seth inspired me to invest some time in my writing skills. “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser is one of the positions that I can’t recommend enough to every content creator.

This short book is about four core principles of good writing: clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity. It emphasizes the fact that writing is a skill that can be learned and improved. It also changed how I think about writing and my audience — you should write for yourself, not for others.

If you create any form of writing content daily (yes, emails as well), this book is a must-read for you. So let me leave you with one of my favourite quotes from this book.

When you write, don’t worry about what other people write. Writing is a transaction between you, the writer, and your readers.

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On Writing Well Review: 6 Mistakes I Never Knew I Was Making

If you think your writing’s any good, this book will cut you down to size…

I used to think that I could write well enough…

See William.

See William run.

See William write a 300-page book which taught me how to correct the mistakes I never knew I was making.

That’s what this book is; a display of how bad both you and I are at writing. As such, this On Writing Well review is as much to show the key points to William Zinsser’s thoughts as it is a review of the past year of my own work here at Process Street .

Here’s to improving our writing and avoiding common content writing mistakes , all whilst making an ass of myself.

After all, it’s hard enough to build a blog when your writing game is on point, let alone when you’re making mistakes that are next to impossible to spot on your own.

By taking Zinsser’s lessons on writing well, I’m going to assess my own method for:

Making a good lead
Stripping all clutter
Finding the humanity in writing
Having a smooth flow
Checking the sound of my writing
Surprising the reader

And now, the main event.

A good “lead” is vital

The “lead” is the time it takes for the reader to be hooked, and in this age of on-demand entertainment and social media, it needs to be priority number one.

The reader’s eye must be caught and kept hostage until the end of the piece – it’s not good providing value later on if 32% of your audience has left before the 150 word mark. As Zinsser puts it;

“Your lead must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading. It must cajole him with freshness, or novelty, or paradox, or humor, or surprise, or with an unusual idea, or an interesting fact, or a question. Anything will do, as long as it nudges his curiosity and tugs at his sleeve.”

There isn’t a set length for leads, but for articles like this one the reader should be hooked before your “more” tag – that is, the preview of the post on the blog’s main page.

So, for this step, you need to focus on writing better headlines , getting better featured images, and making high quality introductions.

To show this in action, let’s compare my last article with that of a far better copywriter; Brian Dean.

on-writing-well-review-productivity-quotes-lead

My productivity quotes article has a mediocre lead, at best. A bland statement linking productivity to motivation, a tie back to the quotes to follow, and an unnecessary article link – how does surrounding yourself with successful people relate to productivity quotes?

It doesn’t.

The only redeeming elements of this lead are its brevity and slight hints towards humanity in the second sentence.

Brian Dean’s lead is far more effective.

“Today I’m going to show you a new strategy that boosted my organic traffic by 260.7%”

Wow, how long did that take?

“(In 14 days)”

Fantastic, but what about social content?

“This strategy also led to a flood of visitors from Twitter, Facebook and blogs.”

Sounds too good to be true – I don’t want to flood my blog with extra content for a brief spike in traffic.

“The best part? I didn’t need to publish any new content.”

Strip the clutter

While it’s tempting to show off with big words and complex language, the first step to writing well is cutting the clutter. This means removing:

Words that serve no purpose (filler words)
Most adjectives
Most adverbs
Long words (if they can be replaced with short ones)

It’s not easy – my old History papers swam with fluff I felt gave weight to the facts – but it’s satisfying. Stripping clutter improves your content quickly, leaving you with a condensed article which has power behind the prose.

Take the first paragraph of my article on how to improve productivity , for example.

“Two weeks ago I had a brainstorm with my team to think of how to improve productivity; the 4 ideas we came up with increased my output by 375% and ensured that I no longer resort to 70 hour work weeks. Obviously, this was just too good to keep to the Process Street team alone, so stick around if you want to find out how I did it!”

The time scale is important to show how fast these tips work, so that stays.
“Brainstorm” means nothing and is practically a cliche – drop it.
The percentage stands out and is a good show of the article’s value

So we’re left with:

“I recently increased my productivity by 375%. How recently? Over the last two weeks . You can do the same using these four free and easy ideas.”

It still needs tweaking and putting in context, but if I’d done this in the first place my page-long introduction wouldn’t be there.

Find the humanity

Whether you’re writing about business process automation or the ultimate Sunday, the reader should always be able to find humanity in your writing. If your piece reads as if it was spat out by an emotionless husk, no-one will stick around.

There are three ways to do this. First, you can put the article in a context they understand. Nobody relates to Zapier vs IFTTT , but the lead starts with a jab at Hawaiian pizza, making a tech review into a rivalry.

on-writing-well-review-zapier-vs-ifttt-2

Second, you can find the humans in your topic and bring them to the fore. Blogging tips from the ether hold no weight, but back it up with examples from the masters and you have yourself a case study.

Take this very On Writing Well review, for example – just reviewing the book serves little to no purpose, but tearing myself a new one while doing so gives it more draw.

The final (and easiest) way to bring humanity to your piece is to write with enthusiasm. Yes, it sounds corny, but I guarantee that your reader will notice the difference between an article you blasted out on the back of a great idea, and one you slogged out to say “we have new content”.

Enthusiasm brings out the best in writers – not only do your articles form faster, but your writing flows naturally from topic to topic. You’ll still need to cut and rewrite a lot, considering enthusiasm can lead to getting carried away, but the finished product will still benefit greatly.

Check your flow

If the reader stalls or loses interest then the writer’s flow wasn’t good enough to get them to the next sentence. One point must feed into another, one sentence into the next, from the lead until the close.

My flow used to be very academic – I was writing in the style of essays more concerned with facts and arguments than being interesting or easy to read. The content was interesting (if too flowery) but the standard block-paragraph flow made it nigh-impossible to be enthusiastic.

It was only after reading William Zinsser that the message truly stuck with me.

To that end, shorten any sentences you can. Writing more than is needed to make a point dilutes your argument with unnecessary fluff.

However, don’t write only short sentences.

You need to be able to make your point before the end of a sentence or paragraph.

Otherwise your article (and argument) turns into a disjointed, ugly mess.

After a while the reader just stops putting your points together and everything loses meaning.

Like right now.

Long sentences and paragraphs have their place, but balance them between shorter segments, along with images, bullet points, headings, quotes, etc. Doing so makes the piece interesting to the eye rather than just the mind.

The best way I’ve found to help with this is to treat your writing flow as an extension of your regular workflow management . Spend too long doing the same thing and you’ll only drive yourself crazy – variety needs to be plentiful if you want to keep the interest of both yourself and the reader.

Know the sound of your writing

Words are not just read – they are spoken internally in the reader’s voice. Go ahead, try and read this sentence without hearing a voice narrating it.

It’s impossible.

As such, if a writer doesn’t account for the sound of their writing, they won’t keep their audience for long. You need to be aware of the rhythm of your sentences and the appeal of your wording.

A good writer is part poet, and I fully admit that I’m lacking in this aspect. I know the sound of my writing (I’m speaking this sentence aloud as I type), but I am still inexperienced in rhythm. My arguments are sound and clutter rounded up, but ringmaster I am not.

However, this is a great way to start training – by reading aloud. Read your article to a friend and see if they wince. Hell, read your article to yourself and make note of the stutters – these are your starting points.

Surprise the reader

The final tip I picked up when doing this On Writing Well review is to entertain the reader by surprising them. Whether it’s by using humor or choosing unusual (yet fitting) words, if your work is surprising, it’s both more interesting and memorable.

Unknowingly, I’d already started doing this long ago. I’ve always tried to inject a bit of humor into my articles, mainly for my own enjoyment, but it turns out I was onto something.

Don’t be afraid of cracking a joke, or worrying whether your audience will “get it”. If you make even one person chuckle then you’ve succeeded – if not, it’ll be skimmed over and forgotten, with no loss either way.

Dictionaries are another great source for surprising the reader, purely through your choice of words. Never stop searching for synonyms, and if you don’t know the subtle differences between “cajole” and “coax”, look them up.

Above all else, avoid cliches like the plague .

They are the death of expectation, the sign of a writer who’s satisfied repeating what others have written a thousand-fold before them.

Never be satisfied with the humdrum of common knowledge. Writing, like any other craft, takes care and practice to perform well – without that care and individuality your hand carved piece of art is reduced to naught but an IKEA cabinet.

Have any words of wisdom to add to this On Writing Well review? Got your very own productivity system for your writing? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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Ben Mulholland

Ben Mulholland is an Editor at Process Street , and winds down with a casual article or two on Mulholland Writing . Find him on Twitter here .

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On Writing Well: Theme Summaries and Review

Do you want to communicate more effectively using the written word? This post is for you.

I’ll begin with a general summary of On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser. Next up, I’ll summarize the most important themes with some supporting examples. To finish off, I’ll share my overall view of the book.

On Writing Well – General Summary

Just as you’d expect from the book title, Zinsser shares with us the things he feels are required to become a good writer. It’s not a grammar book, although it’s mentioned on occasion. Zinsser explains with broad strokes how to write for a variety of non-fiction niches. He provides practical advice that you can apply immediately. There are a few themes emphasized throughout the book:

Simplify your writing.
Share your personality.
Enjoy learning.
View writing as a craft, not an art.

The book is sprinkled with excerpts that support each of these points. These are drawn from a mixture of classical books, his students’ work, and his own writing.

Simplify Your Writing

“The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components.”

If I had to select just one takeaway from the book, it would be this; simplicity in writing is the essence of Zinsser’s message. It’s reiterated in a variety of forms throughout the book.

“Examine every word you put on paper. You’ll find a surprising number that don’t serve any purpose.”

He explains that writing isn’t a fast process. After you’ve written the words, you have to go back through and remove everything unnecessary. Adding this stripping process is challenging for some writers as they feel they’re undoing all their work. He claims that this process is part of what distinguishes good and bad writers.

“Beware, then, of the long word that’s no better than the short word: ‘assistance’ (help), ‘numerous’ (many), ‘facilitate’ (ease), ‘Individual’ (man or woman), ‘remainder’ (rest), ‘initial’ (first), ‘implement’ (do), ‘sufficient’ (enough), ‘attempt’ (try), ‘referred to as’ (called), and hundreds more.”

Not only does he advocate removing unnecessary words, but he also rants about sesquipedalian writers – writers who like using big words. In case you think I ignored his advice, his suggestion isn’t to remove all large words. Rather, he wants us to write simply for the most part and occasionally use longer words as a tasteful garnish that will amuse the reader.

“Clear thinking becomes clear writing; one can’t exist without the other.”

It’s not just the vocabulary that he wants us to simplify. The overall structure of your writing can be improved too. If you present an argument in a disjointed way, your reader will understandably feel lost. Take the time to think things through before you begin; this will improve your writing overnight.

Share Your Personality

“You are writing for yourself. Don’t try to visualize the great mass audience. There is no such audience—every reader is a different person.”

Throughout the book, Zinsser makes clear that writing is an act of ego. He claims that trying to write for a particular reader will strip your personality from the writing. To write engagingly you need to share your personality. This means writing things the way you think is best.

“Ultimately the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is.”

He talks about how he’s read books on topics he has zero interest in. Why? Purely because he found the personality of the author interesting. Their style came through and he was engaged by what they were saying. They made themselves stand out from the crowd by sharing their personality.

“Never say anything in writing that you wouldn’t comfortably say in conversation.”

As he thinks your writing should reflect your personality, he stresses the importance of writing using the same vocabulary you would in conversation. This makes sense; if your writing has been churned through a thesaurus it’s no longer a reflection of your personality.

“Your style will be warmer and truer to your personality if you use contractions.”

Simple, yet immediately practical. Very few people talk without using contractions. Choosing to avoid them makes your writing sound stilted and overly formal. This is a common issue in business communications. If you doubt this advice, he gives the following two sentences and asks you to read them aloud:

“ I’ll be glad to see them if they don’t get mad. ”

“ I will be glad to see them if they do not get mad .”

Enjoy Learning

“Writers who write interestingly tend to be men and women who keep themselves interested. That’s almost the whole point of becoming a writer.”

The author claims that boring people won’t be able to make a topic interesting; their writing will inevitably be dull. Approaching new experiences with curiosity will allow you to share those feelings in your writing. If true, this means being a good writer is more than just writing, it’s also an approach to life.

“I’ve used writing to give myself an interesting life and a continuing education.”

This has parallels with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s approach of cultivating flow states in order to live a fulfilled life. It’s easy to apply the model to what Zinsser says. If you’re interested in learning more about Flow states, check out our summary of the book here: ‘Optimize Your Life With Flow.’

Writing as a Craft

“If your job is to write every day, you learn to do it like any other job.”

As someone who makes a living as a writer, this resonated with me. Some days I’m not in the mood for writing. But, it’s my job, and I have to be able to switch on regardless of how I feel. Writing is often romanticized. However, it’s not always a labor of love – sometimes it’s just hard work. This is often overlooked by new writers and it’s refreshing to see it acknowledged by Zinsser.

“He knows that the tools of grammar haven’t survived for so many centuries by chance; they are props the reader needs and subconsciously wants.”

All the earlier talk about sharing your personality doesn’t mean you can ignore the established conventions of good writing. This is overlooked by some writers who feel that being understood is the end goal. Make it easy for your reader to follow your train of thought; don’t force them to decode the language you’re using.

On Writing Well – Review and Final Thoughts

Overall I enjoyed this. It contained actionable advice and was easy to read. My only issue with the book is that at times Zinsser can come across as hypocritical:

“Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon.”

This seems somewhat ironic when he’s written a book preaching the importance of succinct and clear prose. When he’s verbose it’s a style choice; in anyone else it’s a flaw. Drawing attention to this is useful, as it lets writers see they don’t need to prune their writing as aggressively as he suggests.

If you want a deeper look at the themes discussed you should read the book, the examples he shares showcase the themes in a very compelling way. If you only write occasionally, you won’t gain much reading it. Apply everything we’ve discussed and you’ll see a huge improvement in your writing.

In today’s world, writing is more important than ever. We’re constantly connected via the internet. Whether you’re communicating for business or pleasure, your views will be better received if you write well.

Taking Zinsser’s principles to the extreme we can condense his book to the following takeaway: Share your personality and write with simplicity.

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On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Description.

" On Writing Well is a bible for a generation of writers looking for clues to clean, compelling prose." – New York Times

A beloved classic, this definitive volume on the art of writing nonfiction celebrates its thirtieth anniversary.

On Writing Well , which grew out of a course that William Zinsser taught at Yale, has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity, and for the warmth of its style. It is a book for anybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day, as almost everybody does. Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts, or about yourself in the increasingly popular memoir genre, On Writing Well offers you both fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished practitioner. With over a million copies in print, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valued resource for writers and would-be writers.

About the Author

William Zinsser is a writer, editor and teacher. He began his career on the New York Herald Tribune and has since written regularly for leading magazines. During the 1970s he was master of Branford College at Yale. His 17 books, ranging from baseball to music to American travel, include the influential Writing to Learn and Writing About Your Life . He teaches at the New School in New York.

Praise for On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

“ On Writing Well belongs on any shelf of serious reference works for writers.” — New York Times

“Not since The Elements of Style has there been a guide to writing as well presented and readable as this one. A love and respect for the language is evident on every page.” — Library Journal

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Thoughts, Conversations, Ideas

On Writing Well – Book Review

When I asked caddy-turned-ghostwriter, Mark Eglington , what I could do to write better, he told me to read On Writing Well , by William Zinsser. I’d read it about ten years ago, but I took Eglington’s advice and reread it.

Zinsser’s advice on writing well is simple: be clear, be concise, be human.

Simple advice.

Simple , but not easy .

Be clear. Be simple. Be brief. But overall be true to yourself. Make that your credo. If you’re true to your humanity, there’s no way you won’t write well. William Zinser

Zinser says writing is just thinking on paper. If done well, you can make any subject clear. If you’re not going to be clear, why even bother?

Use simple words. Never write anything you wouldn’t say in conversation.

Most of your writing could be cut in half and still get your point across. In fact, it will probably be better. Cut the fat.

Take the reader on a trip. Use humor. Tell a funny story. If you find it funny, someone else might too.

Practice Often

Make writing a habit. The only way to get better at writing is to do it often. Any method you use to write more is okay. Write by dictation. Write from your phone. The important thing is to set aside time to write.

What Should You Write About?

Write for yourself. You’ll draw readers in if you write about things you are interested in. If you try to write for others, your writing will suffer.

Write what you know. Write about your hobbies. Write about hunting, fishing, sewing, running, cooking, or cars. It doesn’t matter what you write about. What matters is that you add your humanity and enthusiasm to it.

Get Your Writing Out There

I hope these tips help you get started writing. If you’re looking to get your ideas out there to the world, check out my post on how to start a blog .

Published by Aaron

I write books, a blog, and produce a podcast about entrepreneurship, health, fitness, nutrition, philosophy, stoicism, existentialism, and self-improvement. View all posts by Aaron

On Writing Well | Book Review

I came upon On Writing Well by William Zinsser early in my writing career but only read it recently. It is mostly a guide to writing nonfiction but was also recommended for people who wrote fiction. Books about writing are intimidating sometimes but I thought I'd give this one a try.

On Writing Well is one of the best books I have ever read. I know I must have said the same thing about a number of books in the past, but Zinsser writes in style. Not only is his book informative, but it is also flowing nicely and smoothly. I have never read anything that felt as if I wasn't reading at all. And this makes it even more intimidating to do a written review about, because, well, let's be honest, no one can write that well.

The key takeaway from On Writing Well is that writing should not lack the human element, which is what gives text its life (of course there's more to it, this is just one of the takeaways).

I always wondered why academic writing felt so estranged and awkward and now I know it's because it is. Zinsser has opened my eyes in a way that what has been seen cannot be unseen.

I'd like to believe this book made me a better writer, but I'm afraid it made me an even harsher critical reader. Ever since I read this book, I can hardly read scientific papers anymore with those unnecessarily long, third-person sentences in the passive voice. Reading anything scientific that wasn't written by a native speaker who is also an author and knows how to write well has become a nightmare. I cringe when I see something like, "the project aims at..." or "graphs were created..."

The project cannot aim, and graphs cannot create themselves. They do not have a will of their own. It is the team behind the project that aims and creates the graphs.

But that's just one of the things that stayed with me after reading this book.

On Writing Well may primarily focus on non-fiction, but contains knowledge that would prove useful to anyone who writes in English. Even if that's just emails at work. And it is definitely a must-read for those whose work relates to writing: students, teachers, businessmen, reporters, and of course, writers.

On Writing Well Book Summary, Review, Notes

On Writing Well by William Zinsser is a book that shows you how to think about writing, how to edit, how to properly practice your writing, when to end a piece, how to start your article, what your sentence structure should be (and why), and how to write in different kinds of voices and styles. If you’re a writer and haven’t read this, you’re sabotaging yourself.

Book Title : On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction Author : William Zinsser Date of Reading : June, 2018 Rating : 9/10

What is being said in detail:.

On Writing Well is divided into four major parts:

Principles. Here, Zinsser talks about simplicity, style, removing clutter, target audience, and the usage of words (short, concise, clear, and humane)
Methods. Methods is about unity (unity of tenses and pronouns), composing a great lead and realizing when you need to end the piece.
Forms. Forms deals with writing people, places, and yourself. Also in forms, Zinsser tells us about business writing, sports, and humor.
Attitudes. The last part of the book explains how to craft your voice, how to craft the perfect piece, and how to write as well as you can.

Most Important Keywords, Sentences, Quotes:

Introduction.

“Writing is talking to someone else on paper.”

“The word processor made good writers better and bad writers worse.”

PART I Principles

“The words just flowed. It was easy. I then said that writing wasn’t easy and wasn’t fun . It was hard and lonely, and the words seldom just flowed.”

“Absolutely not, he said. “Let it all hang out,” he told us, and whatever form the sentences take will reflect the writer at his most natural. I then said that rewriting is the essence of writing. I pointed out that professional writers rewrite their sentences over and over and then rewrite what they have rewritten.”

“I then said that the professional writer must establish a daily schedule and stick to it . I said that writing is a craft, not an art, and that the man who runs away from his craft because he lacks inspiration is fooling himself. He is also going broke.”

“I said that professional writers are solitary drudges who seldom see other writers.”

“writing could be easy. Maybe I should take up surgery on the side.”

“It’s not necessary to want to spend a year alone at Walden Pond to become involved with a writer who did.”

“Can such principles be taught? Maybe not. But most of them can be learned.”

“But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word that could be a short word, every adverb that carries the same meaning that’s already in the verb, every passive construction that leaves the reader unsure of who is doing what— these are the thousand and one adulterants that weaken the strength of a sentence. And they usually occur in proportion to education and rank”

“Franklin D. Roosevelt when he tried to convert into English his own governments memos, such as this blackout order of 1942: Such preparations shall be made as will completely obscure all Federal buildings and non-Federal buildings occupied by the Federal government during an air raid for any period of time from visibility by reason of internal or external illumination . “Tell them,” Roosevelt said, “that in buildings where they have to keep the work going to put something across the windows.”

“Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.”

“Clutter is the laborious phrase that has pushed out the short word that means the same thing. Even before John Dean, people and businesses had stopped saying “now.” They were saying ”currently” (“all our operators are currently busy”), or “at the present time,” or “presently” (which means “soon”). Yet the idea can always be expressed by “now” to mean the immediate moment (“Now I can see him”), or by “today” to mean the historical present (“Today prices are high”), or simply by the verb “to be” (“It is raining”). There’s no need to say, “At the present time we are experiencing precipitation. “

“Clutter is the ponderous euphemism that turns a slum into a depressed socioeconomic area, garbage collectors into waste disposal personnel and the town dump into the volume reduction unit.”

”political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible . …”

“The point of raising it now is to serve notice that clutter is the enemy. Beware, then, of the long word that’s no better than the short word: “assistance” (help), “numerous” (many), “facilitate” (ease), “individual” (man or woman), “remainder ” (rest), “initial” (first), “implement” (do), “sufficient” (enough), “attempt ” (try), “referred to as” (called) and hundreds more.”

“Don’t inflate what needs no inflating: “with the possible exception of” (except), “due to the fact that” (because), “he totally lacked the ability to” (he couldn’t), “until such time as” (until), “for the purpose of” (for).”

“Often just one word got bracketed: the unnecessary preposition appended to a verb (“order up”), or the adverb that carries the same meaning as the verb (“smile happily”), or the adjective that states a known fact (“tall skyscraper”) .”

“Entire paragraphs were bracketed. But soon the students learned to put mental brackets around their own clutter, and by the end of the term their papers were almost clean. Today Many of those students are professional writers, and they tell me, “I still see your brackets—they’re following me through life.”

“If you give me an eight-page article and I tell you to cut it to four pages, you’ll howl and say it can’t be done. Then you’ll go home and do it, and it will be much better. After that comes the hard part: cutting it to three.”

“The reader will notice if you are putting on airs. Readers want the person who is talking to them to sound genuine. Therefore a fundamental rule is: be yourself.”

“have a somewhat human quality, and by Paragraph 4 you begin to sound like yourself. You’ve started to relax. It’s amazing how often an editor can throw away the first three or four paragraphs of an article, or even the first few pages, and start with the paragraph where the writer begins to sound like himself or herself.”

”I’ll never forget the day when I…” I think, “Aha! A person!”

“I also sympathize with teachers who don’t want to give students an easy escape into opinion—” I think Hamlet was stupid”—before they have grappled with the discipline of assessing a work on its merits and on external sources. “I” can be a self-indulgence and a cop-out.”

“Sell yourself, and your subject will exert its own appeal. Believe in your own identity and your own opinions. Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it. Use its energy to keep yourself going.”

“ You are writing primarily to please yourself , and if you go about it with enjoyment you will also entertain the readers who are worth writing for. If you lose the dullards back in the dust, you don’t want them anyway.”

“I’m talking about two different issues. One is craft, the other is attitude . The first is a question of mastering a precise skill. The second is a question of how you use that skill to express your personality.”

“Obviously I enjoyed making a certain arrangement of my ruffians and riff raff, my hooligans and hoodlums, and my readers enjoyed it too—far more than if I had provided a mere list. They enjoyed not only the arrangement but the effort to entertain them. They weren’ t enjoying it, however, with their eyes. They were hearing the words in their inner ear.”

PART II Methods

“You learn to write by writing. It’s a truism, but what makes it a truism is that it’s true. The only way to learn to write is to force yourself to produce a certain number of words on a regular basis.”

“If you went to work for a newspaper that required you to write two or three articles every day, you would be a better writer after six months.”

“One choice is unity of pronoun. Are you going to write in the first person, as a participant, or in the third person, as an observer?”

“Unity of tense is another choice. Most people write mainly in the past tense”

“What is not agreeable is to switch back and forth.”

“But you must choose the tense in which you are principally going to address the reader, no matter how many glances you may take backward or forward along the way.”

“Both tones are acceptable. In fact, any tone is acceptable. But don’t mix two or three.”

“For example: “In what capacity am I going to address the reader?” (Reporter? Provider of information? Average man or woman?) “What pronoun and tense am I going to use?” “What style?” (Impersonal reportorial? Personal but formal? Personal and casual?) “What attitude am I going to take toward the material?” (Involved? Detached? Judgmental? Ironic? Amused?) “How much do I want to cover?” “What one point do I want to make?”

“writing—to make their article the last word. It’s a commendable impulse, but there is no last word. What you think is definitive today will turn undefinitive by tonight, and writers who doggedly pursue every last fact will find themselves pursuing the rainbow and never settling down to write.”

“every successful piece of nonfiction should leave the reader with one provocative thought that he or she didn’t have before.”

“The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn’t induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead.”

“Therefore your lead must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading. It must cajole him with freshness, or novelty, or paradox, or humor, or surprise, or with an unusual idea, or an interesting fact, or a question. Anything will do, as long as it nudges his curiosity and tugs at his sleeve.”

“I’ve often wondered what goes into a hot dog. Now I know and I wish I didn’t.”

“One reason for citing this lead is to note that salvation often lies not in the writer’s style but in some odd fact he or she was able to discover.”

“But narrative is the oldest and most compelling method of holding someone’s attention; everybody wants to be told a story.”

“Sometimes you can tell your whole story in the first sentence .”

“Like the minister’s sermon that builds to a series of perfect conclusions that never conclude, an article that doesn’t stop where it should stop becomes a drag and therefore a failure.”

“The perfect ending should take your readers slightly by surprise and yet seem exactly right. They didn’t expect the article to end so soon, or so abruptly, or to say what it said. But they know it when they see it.”

“Something I often do in my own work is to bring the story full circle—to strike at the end an echo of a note that was sounded at the beginning .”

”Joe saw him” is strong. “He was seen by Joe” is weak. The first is short and precise; it leaves no doubt about who did what.”

“Of the 701 words in Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, a marvel of economy in itself, 505 are words of one syllable and 122 are words of two syllables.”

“Make active verbs activate your sentences, and try to avoid the kind that need an appended preposition to complete their work.”

“Don’t say that the president of the company stepped down. Did he resign? Did he retire? Did he get fired? Be precise. Use precise verbs.”

“don’t just go back to Hemingway or Thurber or Thoreau. I commend the King James Bible and William Shakespeare.”

“Don’t write that someone clenched his teeth tightly; there’s no other way to clench teeth .”

“Most adjectives are also unnecessary. Like adverbs, they are sprinkled into sentences by writers who don’t stop to think that the concept is already in the noun.”

“Prune out the small words that qualify how you feel and how you think and what you saw: “a bit,” “a little,” “sort of,” “kind of,” “rather,” “quite,” “very,” “too,” “pretty much,” “in a sense” and dozens more. They dilute your style and your persuasiveness.”

“Don’ t say you were a bit confused and sort of tired and a little depressed and somewhat annoyed. Be confused. Be tired. Be depressed. Be annoyed. Don’t hedge your prose with little timidities. Good writing is lean and confident.”

“Don’t tell us you were quite fortunate. How fortunate is that?”

“that predominates, and don’t tell me about Norman Mailer—he’s a genius. If you want to write long sentences, be a genius.”

“ Humor is best achieved by understatement , and there’s nothing subtle about an exclamation point.”

“MOOD CHANGERS. Learn to alert the reader as soon as possible to any change in mood from the previous sentence. At least a dozen words will do this job for you: “but, ” “yet,” “however,” “nevertheless, ” “still,” “instead,” “thus,” “therefore, ” “meanwhile, ” “now,” “later,” “today,” “subsequently ” and several more.”

“Many of us were taught that no sentence should begin with “but.” If that’s what you learned, unlearn it—there’s no stronger word at the start.”

”Instead I took the train.” “Still I had to admire him.” “Thus I learned how to smoke.” “It was therefore easy to meet him.” “Meanwhile I had talked to John.”

“I only suggest avoiding one form—”I’d, ” “he’d,” “we’d,” etc.—because “I’d” can mean both “I had” and “I would,”

“Always use “that” unless it makes your meaning ambiguous. Notice that in carefully edited magazines, such as The New Yorker, “that” is by far the predominant usage. I mention this because it is still widely believed—a residue from school and college—that “which” is more correct, more acceptable, more literary. It’s not. In most situations, “that” is what you would naturally say and therefore what you should write.”

””Which” serves a particular identifying function, different from “that. ”

“Take the shoes that are in the closet.” This means: take the shoes that are in the closet, not the ones under the bed. (B) “Take the shoes, which are in the closet.” Only one pair of shoes is under discussion; the “which” usage tells you where they are. Note that the comma is necessary in B, but not in A.”

“Don’t overstate. You didn’t really consider jumping out the window. Life has more than enough truly horrible funny situations . Let the humor sneak up so we hardly hear it coming.”

“The same fear hobbles freelance writers, who see the work of other writers appearing in magazines while their own keeps returning in the mail. Forget the competition and go at your own pace. Your only contest is with yourself.”

“But don’t go berserk. A succession of tiny paragraphs is as annoying as a paragraph that’s too long.”

“You’ll find that almost all of them think in paragraph units, not in sentence units. Each paragraph has its own integrity of content and structure .”

”We ” is a handy replacement for “he.” “Our” and “the” can often replace “his.”

“One other pronoun that helped me in my repairs was “you.” Instead of talking about what “the writer” does and the trouble he gets into, I found more places where I could address the writer directly (“You’ll often find… “).”

“Many people assume that professional writers don’t need to rewrite; the words just fall into place. On the contrary, careful writers can’t stop fiddling .”

“Please—if you’re such a student—think of it as a gift. You won’t write well until you understand that writing is an evolving process, not a product. Nobody expects you to get it right the first time, or even the second time.”

“I don’t mean writing one draft and then writing a different second version, and then a third. Most rewriting consists of reshaping and tightening and refining the raw material you wrote on your first try.”

“I don’t like to write (I like to have written). But I love to rewrite. I especially like to cut: to press the DELETE key and see an unnecessary word or phrase or sentence vanish into the electricity.”

“TRUST YOUR MATERIAL. The longer I work at the craft of writing, the more I realize that there’s nothing more interesting than the truth. What people do—and what people say—continues to take me by surprise with its wonderfulness, or its quirkiness, or its drama, or its humor, or its pain”

“People of every age will write better and with more enjoyment if they write about what they care about.”

“No area of life is stupid to someone who takes it seriously. If you follow your affections you will write well and will engage your readers.”

PART III Forms

“But in fact the great preponderance of what writers now write and sell, what book and magazine publishers publish and what readers demand is nonfiction.”

“The only important distinction is between good writing and bad writing. Good writing is good writing, whatever form it takes and whatever we call it.”

“The article that records everything you did on your trip will fascinate you because it was your trip. Will it fascinate the reader?”

“Find details that are significant. They may be important to your narrative; they may be unusual, or colorful, or comic, or entertaining. But make sure they do useful work.”

“One of the richest travel books written by an American is Walden, though Thoreau only went a mile out of town.”

“ Ego is healthy ; no writer can go far without it. Egotism, however, is a drag, and this chapter is not intended as a license to prattle just for therapy.”

“Thoreau wrote seven different drafts of Walden in eight years; no American memoir was more painstakingly pieced together. To write a good memoir you must become the editor of your own life, imposing on an untidy sprawl of half-remembered events a narrative shape and an organizing idea. Memoir is the art of inventing the truth .”

“Some bats are sensitive enough to register a beetle walking on sand, and some can detect the movement of a moth flexing its wings as it sits on a leaf. That’s my idea of sensitive; I couldn’t ask a writer to give me two more wonderful examples. But there’s more to my admiration than gratitude. I also wonder: how many other examples of bat sensitivity did she collect—dozens? hundreds?—to be able to choose those two? Always start with too much material. Then give your reader just enough .”

“Only through clear writing by experts can the rest of us make educated choices as citizens in these areas where we have little or no education.”

“If you have to do any writing in your job, this chapter is for you.”

“my four articles of faith: clarity, simplicity, brevity, and humanity .”

“He says: “A computer is like a sophisticated pencil. You don’t care how it works, but if it breaks you want someone there to fix it.”

“The way to warm up any institution is to locate the missing “I.” Remember: “I” is the most interesting element in any story .”

“If you want to write about sports, remember that the men and women you’re writing about are doing something immensely difficult, and they have their pride. You, too, are doing a job that has its codes of honor. One of them is that you are not the story.”

“Those are the values to look for when you write about sport: people and places, time and transition.”

“Finally, don’t strain for laughs; humor is built on surprise, and you can surprise the reader only so often.”

”Humor can be dissected, as a frog can,” E. B. White once wrote, “but the thing dies in the process and the innards are discouraging to any but the pure scientific mind.”

”All humor must be about something—it must touch concretely on life,”

PART IV Attitudes

“Don’t alter your voice to fit your subject.”

“The common assumption is that the style is effortless. In fact the opposite is true: the effortless style is achieved by strenuous effort and constant refining”

“It’s a disciplined act of writing. The grammar is formal, the words are plain and precise, and the cadences are those of a poet”

“It’s condescending. (I stop reading writers who say “You see.”)”

“But readers will stop reading you if they think you are talking down to them. Nobody wants to be patronized .”

“For writers and other creative artists, knowing what not to do is a major component of taste.”

“ Never hesitate to imitate another writer . Imitation is part of the creative process for anyone learning an art or a craft.”

“After verbs, plain nouns are your strongest tools; they resonate with emotion.”

“There are some writers who sweep us along so strongly in the current of their energy—Norman Mailer, Tom Wolfe, Toni Morrison, William F. Buckley, Jr., Hunter Thompson, David Foster Wallace—that we assume that when they go to work the words just flow. Nobody thinks of the effort they make every morning to turn on the switch. You also have to turn on the switch. Nobody is going to do it for you.”

” Dying is no big deal. Living is the trick. ”

“If you want your writing to convey enjoyment, write about people you respect.”

”How can I sell my writing? ” It’s the only question I won’t try to answer, partly because I’m not qualified—I have no idea what editors in today’s market are looking for; I wish I did. But mainly it’s because I have no interest in teaching writers how to sell. I want to teach them how to write. If the process is sound, the product will take care of itself, and sales are likely to follow.”

“But nobody can write an article about the disappearance of small towns in Iowa; it would be all generalization and no humanity. The writer would have to write about one small town in Iowa and thereby tell her larger story, and even within that one town she would have to reduce her story still further: to one store, or one family, or one farmer. We talked about different approaches, and the writer gradually thought her story down to human scale.”

“A man would say that he wanted to try a piece about the town where he lived and would venture a possible approach: “I could write about X.” X, however, was uninteresting, even to him, lacking any distinctiveness, and so were Y and Z, and so were P and Ç and R, the writer continuing to dredge up fragments of his life, when, almost accidentally, he stumbled into M, a long-forgotten memory, seemingly unimportant but unassailable true, compressing into one incident everything that had made him want to write about the town in the first place. “There’s your story,” several people in the class would say, and it was. The student had been given time to find it.”

“Figure out what you want to do and how you want to do it, and work your way with humanity and integrity to the completed article. Then you’ll have something to sell.”

“When we say we like a writer’s style, what we mean is that we like his personality as he expresses it on paper.”

“We know that verbs have more vigor than nouns, that active verbs are better than passive verbs, that short words and sentences are easier to read than long ones, that concrete details are easier to process than vague abstractions.”

“Add a few points for such natural gifts as a good musical ear, a sense of rhythm and a feeling for words.”

“If you would like to write better than everybody else, you have to want to write better than everybody else. You must take an obsessive pride in the smallest details of your craft. And you must be willing to defend what you’ve written against the various middlemen—editors, agents and publishers—whose sights may be different from yours, whose standards not as high.”

“Yet to defend what you’ve written is a sign that you are alive. I’m a known crank on this issue—I fight over every semicolon. But editors put up with me because they can see that I’m serious.”

“But finally the purposes that writers serve must be their own. What you write is yours and nobody else’s. Take your talent as far as you can and guard it with your life. Only you know how far that is; no editor knows. Writing well means believing in your writing and believing in yourself, taking risks, daring to be different, pushing yourself to excel. You will write only as well as you make yourself write.”

Book Review (Personal Opinion):

This is a phenomenal book and the one I recommend to all writers. War of Art is about the mental state of every writer; On Writing is about the narrative you create about you as a writer, and On Writing Well is about the technicalities of the craft. The only book I haven’t read on writing that’s highly recommended is Strunk’s Elements of Style.

Rating : 9/10

This Book Is For (Recommend):

A young professional who just got a job at a content marketing agency or a newspaper
A freelancer who wants to start their blog
A marketing manager who wants to learn to write better emails, sales letters, and articles

If You Want To Learn More

Here’s an interesting discussion on research on writing. 50 Years of Research on Writing: What Have We Learned?

How I’ve Implemented The Ideas From The Book

This is a difficult book to implement because you need to [really] deliberate in its implementation. The one thing I found out is to read the draft out loud and notice how it sounds. You can spot clutter easily when you read it out loud and then remove the clutter from your writing.

One Small Actionable Step You Can Do

Go over your writings and exchange the big words for small words that have the same meaning: “assistance” (help), “numerous” (many), “facilitate” (ease), “individual” (man or woman), “remainder ” (rest), “initial” (first), “implement” (do), “sufficient” (enough), “attempt ” (try), “referred to as” (called) and hundreds more.”

Bruno Boksic

On Writing Well

William zinsser, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

In On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction , journalist and writing professor William Zinsser argues that good writing boils down to a few essential principles. The best writers use clear and precise language, show warmth and personality, and work hard to entertain the reader. These key elements are the same for everyone, regardless of their age, experience, or field. And everyone can benefit from improving their writing. For instance, businesspeople can communicate more effectively with their teams, scientists can better explain their work, and elders can leave memoirs for their descendants. The fundamentals of good writing never change because all writers have the same goal: “saying something that other people will want to read.” Zinsser organizes his book into four parts: “Principles,” “Methods,” “Forms,” and “Attitudes.”

Zinsser starts the “Principles” section by admitting that every writer finds their own process: there’s no right or wrong way to put words on paper. But all writing processes require vulnerability and tension, because all writers are trying to tell a basic truth that they’re holding inside. So, all writing is really a “personal transaction” between the writer and reader.

To actually reach their readers, writers should try to be clear and direct. But first, they have to learn to think clearly. This can be hard, because many people think that they should use complex language to sound more sophisticated. But actually, they use cluttered language and end up sounding confused. Poor writers replace short words with long ones, single words with phrases, and common terms with popular jargon. They say things like “at the present time” instead of “now,” or they stick “I might add” or “it is interesting to note” at the end of every sentence.

Many writers confuse this kind of clutter for style, but the first step to developing a true style is actually learning to eliminate clutter. Only later can writers find their authentic voices. To do this, they should write for themselves, rather than trying to satisfy any specific audience. In particular, they should be obsessive about choosing the right words. The range of acceptable usages changes over time, but jargon is never good taste.

In the “Methods” section, Zinsser argues that writing is really about problem-solving: writers have to decide what material to include and how to organize it. First, they should create unity in their work by sticking to the same pronouns, tense, mood, and voice throughout each piece. Next, the most important part of an article is the very beginning, or the lead , which has to grab and hold the reader’s attention. But Zinsser uses examples to show that many different kinds of leads can work, depending on the story and the writer’s style. Similarly, instead of trying to conclude their articles with a summary, writers should just end when they run out of fresh, relevant material—and preferably on an entertaining note.

The next chapter, “Bits & Pieces,” covers tips that don’t fit elsewhere in the book. Zinsser starts with basic mechanics: writers should use active verbs, avoid unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, and choose gender-neutral terms. Then, he turns to more general principles. For instance, writing well is mostly about rewriting, and the best writers let their most interesting details speak for themselves, rather than putting spin on them.

In the “Forms” section of On Writing Well , Zinsser advises his readers on how to approach all the major forms of nonfiction writing. He starts by defending the controversial idea that nonfiction counts as literature, just like fiction and poetry. He points out that many of the most influential American writers after World War II, like Joan Didion and Tom Wolfe , mix traditional reporting, personal narrative, and literary techniques to tell compelling true stories. Most of these stories are about people and places, so Zinsser’s next two chapters focus on effective interviewing and travel writing skills. Writers should learn to draw “the human element” out of interviews, take useful notes, and arrange people’s quotes without misrepresenting their views. Next, travel writing is often unfocused and full of clichés, so travel writers should learn to be extremely selective with both their language and the scope of their work. Similarly, the best memoirists focus on compelling characters and specific details, which let them give readers new perspectives on life and identity.

Science and technology assignments tend to scare new writers, but they actually depend on the same basic skill as all other nonfiction: clear, logical thinking. Good science writers shape complex information into an accessible, relatable story about how specific discoveries shape people’s lives. Next, Zinsser turns to business writing, which tends to be artificial, cluttered, and uninspiring. Businesspeople should cut out the jargon and write in their own voices. This is the best way to connect with colleagues and customers, who want to hear from real people, not faceless institutions.

Like travel writing, sports writing is full of tired clichés. The best sportswriters know how to cut them out and tell compelling stories that connect sports to universal human experiences. Art and entertainment writers get the luxury of presenting their opinions to the public, but they also have an important responsibility to help readers understand the context and history of certain art forms. Finally, humor is writers’ “secret weapon,” because it lets them say things that they wouldn’t be able to publish otherwise. Whether humorists are making serious political arguments or just entertaining, Zinsser argues, they have a responsibility to speak the truth.

Finally, in the “Attitudes” section of his book, Zinsser gives aspiring writers more general advice on how to approach the craft. The best way to develop a distinctive voice is by studying and imitating other writers. The most successful writers are enthusiastic about their work because they write about what interests them.

Aspiring writers should also focus more on the writing process and less on the final product. Zinsser explains how he trains students to tackle the “big decisions” in writing, like how widely to research and how to structure long pieces. And he walks the reader through his article “The News from Timbuktu ” to show how he makes the countless “little decisions,” like what words to use and how to hold the reader’s attention.

In his second-to-last chapter, Zinsser explains how elders should approach writing family histories and memoirs, to create a valuable record for future generations. He concludes On Writing Well by imploring writers to take accountability for their work. They’re responsible for maintaining high standards, defending their style against unruly editors, and preserving their own moral integrity.

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On Writing Well Hardcover – January 16, 2013

Part of series On Writing Well
Print length 336 pages
Language English
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date January 16, 2013
ISBN-10 1435145453
ISBN-13 978-1435145450
See all details

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On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; 30th anniversary edition (January 16, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1435145453
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1435145450
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Best Sellers Rank: #858,605 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books )

About the author

William zinsser.

William Zinsser, a writer, editor, and teacher, is a fourth-generation New Yorker, born in 1922. His 18 books, which range in subject from music to baseball to American travel, include several widely read books about writing.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, first published in 1976, has sold almost 1.5 million copies to three generations of writers, editors, journalists, teachers and students.

Writing to Learn which uses examples of good writing in science, medicine and technology to demonstrate that writing is a powerful component of learning in every subject.

Writing Places, a memoir recalling the enjoyment and gratitude the places where William Zinsser has done his writing and his teaching and the unusual people he encountered on that life journey.

Mr. Zinsser began his career in 1946 at the New York Herald Tribune, where he was a writer, editor, and critic. In 1959 he left to become a freelance writer and has since written regularly for leading magazines. From 1968 to 1972 he was a columnist for Life. During the 1970s he was at Yale, where, besides teaching nonfiction writing and humor writing, he was master of Branford College. In 1979 he returned to New York and was a senior editor at the Book-of-the-Month Club until 1987, when he went back to freelance writing. He teaches at the New School and at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is an adviser on writing to schools, colleges, and other organizations. He holds honorary degrees from Wesleyan University, Rollins College, and the University of Southern Indian and is a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library.

William Zinsser's other books include Mitchell & Ruff, a profile of jazz musicians Dwike Mitchell and Willie Ruff; American Places, a pilgrimage to 16 iconic American sites; Spring Training, about the spring training camp of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1988; and Easy to Remember: The Great American Songwriters and Their Songs; and he is the Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir. A jazz pianist and songwriter, he wrote a musical revue, What's the Point, which was performed off Broadway in 2003.

Mr. Zinsser lives in his home town with his wife, the educator and historian Caroline Zinsser. They have two children, Amy Zinsser, a business executive, and John Zinsser, a painter and teacher.

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Calling All Bookworms: 11 Ways To Make Money Reading Books

Posted: May 15, 2023 | Last updated: July 15, 2023

Do you have an appreciation for the written word? Does your bibliomania border on addiction? Well, it turns out you can get paid to read books. That said, you can’t just sit on the beach, read, and wait for the money to roll in (if you can, please let us know how). But with a little extra effort, some talent, and the help of this guide, it won’t be too hard for avid readers to transform their hobby into a lucrative pastime.

How to Get Paid to Read

This long-running New York City-based magazine publishes over 10,000 book reviews a year. According to Kirkus’ website, they’re currently looking for experienced reviewers to <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/about/careers/">write for the publication’s self-published section</a>. Applications require a resume, writing samples, and a list of your reviewing specialties.

Write Book Reviews for Kirkus Reviews

Put your social media-addled brain to good use and craft a tweet-length review for this well-known industry magazine. Besides some writing talent and/or skill, all they ask is that you <a href="https://www.booklistonline.com/writing-for-booklist">“are familiar with both books and libraries.”</a>

Write Book Reviews for Booklist

Think of VoiceBunny like Upwork or Fiverr but exclusively for voice actors and other audio professionals. Although <a href="https://bunnystudio.com/freelancers/">talent applications are closed right now</a>, you can follow VoiceBunny on social media to receive updates on availability.

Narrate Audiobooks for VoiceBunny

<p>Most social media-savvy book lovers are aware of TikTok’s literary community, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/BookTok">BookTok</a>. While establishing a following in the community won’t be easy — there are plenty of reviewers, tastemakers, etc. already — you can <a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-make-money-on-tiktok">make good money from sponsorships</a> if you earn enough followers.</p>

Join BookTok

Most social media-savvy book lovers are aware of TikTok’s literary community, BookTok . While establishing a following in the community won’t be easy — there are plenty of reviewers, tastemakers, etc. already — you can make good money from sponsorships if you earn enough followers.

While some love the feel of a novel in their hands (and the freedom to throw a frustrating book across the room), others prefer the dulcet tones of an anonymous voiceover. If you count yourself among the latter group, you can join the community of freelance audiobook reviewers on AudioFile’s website. <a href="https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/contact/">Details about the application process</a> remain sparse, though others report that the magazine pays $10 a review.

Write Book Reviews for AudioFile Magazine

As a Reedsy reviewer, you’ll gain access to a pool of forthcoming indie books. You won’t be compensated for your work, but you will receive free books and tips from the website’s readers (so generous). Surprisingly, Reedsy is somewhat selective when it comes to reviewers — some nerve given the lack of pay — <a href="https://reedsy.com/discovery/reviewers">requiring several examples of previous book criticism</a>.

Write Book Reviews for Reedsy Discovery

With patience, time, and a knack for editing, you can make a career out of reading manuscripts on <a href="https://www.fiverr.com/">Fiverr</a> and <a href="https://www.upwork.com/">Upwork</a>. But since both are freelance platforms, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get clients, especially if you don’t have previous experience or examples of your work.

Proofread Books on Fiverr and Upwork

In the age of Patreon, Discord, and Reddit, it doesn’t take much to create and monetize a book club. Just be prepared to do everything yourself (and potentially fail), as you won’t have the support of a publication behind you.

Run a Book Club

Despite Publisher Weekly’s renown in the literary world — it’s been around since 1872 — the publication asks very little of prospective writers, <a href="https://jobzone.publishersweekly.com/job/freelance-book-reviewers/66174847/">requiring only a 200-word sample review and a resume</a>.

Write Book Reviews for Publishers Weekly

The U.S. Review of Books has <a href="https://www.theusreview.com/USRreviewer.html">one of the most involved application processes</a>, asking for two references on top of writing samples and a resume. That said, at least they pay their writers (an admittedly low bar) and let you submit a list of preferred books you’d like to review.

Write Book Reviews for The U.S. Review of Books

Write Book Reviews for Online Book Club

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The book writing process Wild and Well

Have you ever thought about writing a book? So many people have told me that they want to write a book. But it seems overwhelming, too big a project or they just don’t know where to start. In this episode, my book editor, Laura Benn from Gooseberry Studios and I go in depth on the book writing process including all the insecurities that will inevitably come up. Even if book writing isn’t on your agenda, mamas, you’ll get a lot out of this raw conversation. “The mother is the centre of a family and if she is in a good space, everything is easier. Everything is better is the family because she is in a better space.” Laura and I chat about: Why I thought motherhood and postnatal depletion were so important to write about How I worked through self-doubt and perfectionism during the writing process My book writing process Why accountability is so key to getting a book or any project done The importance of story and story telling A similarity between writing and motherhood (hint: everything is a process and we are always learning) “It feels good to not let fear or self-doubt paralyze you or stop you from doing meaningful work or doing whatever it is that you want to do.” Episode Links: Come say hello to me over on Instagram Grab a copy of my book, The Motherhood Reset Start thriving in motherhood with my online program Say hi to Laura on Instagram Check out her photography and branding services at LauraLBenn.com Listen and Subscribe to Wild + Well on: Apple Podcast | Spotify | Google Podcast

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On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Non-Fiction by William
On Writing Well
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
Book Review: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
BOOK REVIEW: On Writing well by William Zinsser
On Writing Well: Theme Summaries and Review

VIDEO

Print and Cursive Capital Handwriting for Beginners
How to tell whether your writing is good . . . or not
morning routine, book club picks, and MARCH BOOK HAUL!
Why is Writing Well So Important
Do I Make Myself Clear?
On Writing Well: Audio Collection

COMMENTS

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
William Zinsser. 4.24. 28,297 ratings2,295 reviews. On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day, as almost everybody does in the age of e-mail and the Internet.
Book Review: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
As a result, the experience turned me off to writing. I struggle to write well but I continue to try and I have come to enjoy the writing experience. In an effort to improve my writing, I picked up On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser. After reading it, I would concur that this book will help you write better.
On Writing Well: A Book Review
On Writing Well book review That gives On Writing Well plenty to shoulder in maintaining relevance from its initial publishing year: 1976. A few years short of surviving half a century on the shelves, and exceptionally-for its insights on writing derives strength from the material it uses (words)- it is marked in only graduating.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
The second time I bought this book, have to leave a review with 5 stars. I bought tow of it one for my friend and the other for myself. On Writing Well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. ... If you desire to write well, the book "Writing Well" by William Zinsser is a must-have at your fingertips. It ...
Book Review: "On Writing Well"
Answer: William Zinsser's On Writing Well. If you're searching for a motivational manifesto and how-to manual in one, this is it. Zinsser, a veteran writer and writing teacher with numerous books and magazine articles to his credit, lays it out straight in a refreshingly no-nonsense tone. In the first part of the book, which covers ...
On Writing Well Summary and Review
On Writing Well Summary. 1-Sentence-Summary: On Writing Well is your guide to becoming a great non-fiction writer that explains why you must learn and practice principles like simplicity, consistency, voice, editing, and enthusiasm if you want to persuade readers and make a difference in their lives. Read in: 4 minutes.
On Writing Well: Review & Critical Reception
Book Overview. In On Writing Well, William Zinsser argues that, like any craft, good writing can be learned. Writing is a form of communication, and most of us have to communicate via writing in our lives or jobs. If you want to write an intelligent email, a best-selling novel, or an instruction manual, Zinsser's principles of writing will ...
Book review: On Writing Well by William Zinsser
People like Seth inspired me to invest some time in my writing skills. "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser is one of the positions that I can't recommend enough to every content creator. This short book is about four core principles of good writing: clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity. It emphasizes the fact that writing is a skill ...
On Writing Well Study Guide
William Zinsser's wrote 19 books and countless magazine pieces during his lengthy career as a writer, which lasted from 1946 to 2012. On Writing Well is still by far his most popular work, but Mitchell & Ruff: An American Profile in Jazz was his favorite to write. Zinsser's other major nonfiction books include Spring Training: The Unique American Story of Baseball's Annual Season of ...
On Writing Well Review: 6 Mistakes I Never Knew I Was Making
If you think your writing's any good, this book will cut you down to size… I used to think that I could write well enough… See William. See William run. See William write a 300-page book which taught me how to correct the mistakes I never knew I was making. That's what this book is; a display of how bad both you and I are at writing.
On Writing Well: Theme Summaries and Review
On Writing Well - General Summary. Just as you'd expect from the book title, Zinsser shares with us the things he feels are required to become a good writer. It's not a grammar book, although it's mentioned on occasion. Zinsser explains with broad strokes how to write for a variety of non-fiction niches.
On Writing Well, 25th Anniversary: The Classic Guide to Writing
His 18 books, which range in subject from music to baseball to American travel, include several widely read books about writing. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, first published in 1976, has sold almost 1.5 million copies to three generations of writers, editors, journalists, teachers and students.
On Writing Well The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
His 18 books, which range in subject from music to baseball to American travel, include several widely read books about writing. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, first published in 1976, has sold almost 1.5 million copies to three generations of writers, editors, journalists, teachers and students.
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
"On Writing Well is a bible for a generation of writers looking for clues to clean, compelling prose." -New York Times A beloved classic, this definitive volume on the art of writing nonfiction celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. On Writing Well, which grew out of a course that William Zinsser taught at Yale, has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity, and for the warmth of its style.
On Writing Well
On Writing Well - Book Review. Aaron Self-improvement May 17, 2022 1 Minute. When I asked caddy-turned-ghostwriter, Mark Eglington, what I could do to write better, he told me to read On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. I'd read it about ten years ago, but I took Eglington's advice and reread it. Zinsser's advice on writing well is ...
On Writing Well [Full Summary] of Key Ideas and Review
About the Author. William Zinsser, an acclaimed journalist and essayist, authored 19 books on topics ranging from baseball to jazz. In the 1970s, Zinsser was head of Yale University's influential writing workshop. His craft books, including On Writing Well and Writing to Learn, are regarded as classics in the genre.
On Writing Well
I came upon On Writing Well by William Zinsser early in my writing career but only read it recently. It is mostly a guide to writing nonfiction but was also recommended for people who wrote fiction. Books about writing are intimidating sometimes but I thought I'd give this one a try.On Writing Well is one of the best books I have ever read. I know I must have said the same thing about a number ...
On Writing Well Book Summary, Review, Notes
On Writing Well is divided into four major parts: Principles. Here, Zinsser talks about simplicity, style, removing clutter, target audience, and the usage of words (short, concise, clear, and humane) Methods. Methods is about unity (unity of tenses and pronouns), composing a great lead and realizing when you need to end the piece.
On Writing Well by William Zinsser Plot Summary
In On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, journalist and writing professor William Zinsser argues that good writing boils down to a few essential principles. The best writers use clear and precise language, show warmth and personality, and work hard to entertain the reader. These key elements are the same for everyone ...
Book Review: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
As a result, the experience turned me off to writing. I struggle to write well but I continue to try and I have come to enjoy the writing experience. In an effort to improve my writing, I picked up On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser. After reading it, I would concur that this book will help you write better.
On Writing Well By William Zinsser
Book Review of The Week: On Writing Well By William ZinsserIn today's video, I'll share with you some tips on writing well (non-fiction writing) which I read...
On Writing Well by William Zinsser
The Amazon Book Review Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. ... His 18 books, which range in subject from music to baseball to American travel, include several widely read books about writing. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, first published in 1976, has sold almost 1.5 million copies to ...
PDF On Writing Well
On Writing Well Writing With a Word Processor Willie and Dwike (republished as Mitchell and Ruff) ... of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information ad-dress HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022. ... On Writing Well is a craft book. That's what I set out to write
Calling All Bookworms: 11 Ways To Make Money Reading Books
1 / 23. Get Paid to Read Books Aloud: (20 Legit Sites for Audiobook Gigs) ©Provided by Kinda Frugal. If you can bring a book to life with your enchanting voice, you can get paid to read books ...
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by David Bianculli. See Fresh Air sponsors and promo codes. Hear the Fresh Air program for April 10, 2024.
‎Wild and Well: The book writing process on Apple Podcasts
How I worked through self-doubt and perfectionism during the writing process My book writing process Why accountability is so key to getting a book or any project done The importance of story and story telling A similarity between writing and motherhood (hint: everything is a process and we are always learning)

Book Review: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

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On Writing Well Summary

Audio Summary

Lesson 1: Cut out unnecessary words and phrases as much as possible because simple writing is the best at conveying meaning.

Lesson 2: Your beginnings and endings make a big difference for reader engagement, so spend time making them great.

Lesson 3: Inspire yourself with your writing and you will inspire those who read it.

On Writing Well Review

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On Writing Well: Review & Critical Reception

Book Overview

About the Author

The Book’s Publication

Historical Context

Intellectual Context

The Book’s Impact

Critical Reception

Commentary on the Book’s Approach

Commentary on the Book’s Organization

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Book review: On Writing Well by William Zinsser

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On Writing Well Review: 6 Mistakes I Never Knew I Was Making

A good “lead” is vital

Strip the clutter

Find the humanity

Check your flow

Know the sound of your writing

Surprise the reader

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On Writing Well: Theme Summaries and Review

On Writing Well – General Summary

Simplify Your Writing

Share Your Personality

Enjoy Learning

Writing as a Craft

On Writing Well – Review and Final Thoughts

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On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

About the Author

Praise for On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

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