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

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

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

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No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” —Robert Frost 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.

On Writing Well by William Zinsser is an excellent book for anybody who wants to learn how to write, whether about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, or about yourself. For coverage of the arts, Zinsser encourages students not to be intimidated by their impressions of an artwork, but also to only declaim a judgment once they have absorbed as much information about the artist and the work as possible.All stories have to at least try to explain some small portion of the meaning of life.” — Gene Weingarten I do not over-intellectualise the production process. I try to keep it simple: Tell the damned story.” — Tom Clancy 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. Reaching for “gaudy similes and tinseled adjectives” does not create style, Zinsser writes. Style comes from your authenticity and uniqueness.

After 2006, Zinsser added a section called “Writing Family History and Memoir.” It is the penultimate chapter in most editions of On Writing Well, and it was inspired by Zinsser’s decade plus experience of teaching memoir and family writing to students at the New School in Manhattan. Zinsser tells students to, “Be yourself and your readers will follow you anywhere.” He discusses how writing about one’s family or one’s own development can be an act of healing and forgiveness. Good fiction’s job is to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” — David Foster Wallace The race in writing is not to the swift but to the original. Make a habit of reading what is being written today and what was written by earlier masters. Writing is learned by imitation. The difference between the almost right word and the right word is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” — Mark Twain As any writer knows, there are no actual “rules” in this craft. That said, these writing quotes reveal some famous principles in writing that won’t let you down.The personal transaction is the connection you make with the reader. The best ones occur when your enthusiasm, your history with a subject matter, or your connection to the topic comes through in your writing. Ultimately, Zinsser writes, the product that you must sell is not the subject you’re writing about, but who you are. 2. Simplicity is king. I think that you have to believe in your destiny; that you will succeed, you will meet a lot of rejection and it is not always a straight path, there will be detours — so enjoy the view.” — Michael York Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.” — Natalie Goldberg Reviewing the book again, I remember why I liked it. It’s (unsurprisingly) written well and is full of useful tips. I’m through re-reading “Part I: Principles” and I can't not share its best tips: 1. The heart of good non-fiction writing is the “personal transaction.”

When I sit down to write a book, I do not say to myself, ‘I am going to produce a work of art.’ I write it because there is some lie that I want to expose, some fact to which I want to draw attention, and my initial concern is to get a hearing.” — George Orwell Now it often happens that you’ll make these prior decisions and then discover that they weren’t the right ones. Don’t fight such a current if it feels right. Adjust your style accordingly and proceed to whatever destination you reach. The Lead and the Ending What’s in a Name. Zinsser originally wanted to call his book Writing Well. But his editor, Buz Wyeth, noted that the poet Donald Hall had already published a book by that name, so he suggested that Zinsser add “On” to the title. You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” — Madeleine L'Engle Never say anything in writing that you wouldn’t comfortably say in conversation. If you’re not a person who says “indeed” or “moreover,” or who calls someone an individual (“he’s a fine individual”), please don’t write it. WordsEditing might be a bloody trade, but knives aren’t the exclusive property of butchers. Surgeons use them too.” — Blake Morrison 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. William Zinsser has been a mentor for countless people who want to write with clarity and confidence. His eighteen books include the classic On Writing Well, which has sold almost 1.5 million copies. He now teaches at the New School and at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

Wondering what the difference is between alright and all right? Or which spelling is correct? This posts breaks it down using plenty of examples. I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.” — Louise Brown Editors and readers don’t know what they want to read until they read it. Besides, they’re always looking for something new.” 7. Dictionaries and thesauruses are your friends.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.”



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