Summary of William Zinsser's On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview: #1 A school in Connecticut held a panel discussion about writing as a vocation and avocation. Dr. Brock, a surgeon, was going to talk about writing as an avocation. I told him that writing was not easy and not fun, but it was hard and lonely.

#2 The writing process is a personal one, and it’s difficult to find the real person behind the tension. But ultimately, the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who they are.

#3 Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon. To clear our heads of clutter, we must practice clear thinking and clear writing.

#4 The reader is someone with an attention span of about 30 seconds. They are constantly being attacked by many forces competing for their attention. The writer must ask: What am I trying to say. Very few sentences come out right the first time or even the third time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Mar 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669355557

IRB Media

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Insights on William Zinsser's On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

A school in Connecticut held a panel discussion about writing as a vocation and avocation. Dr. Brock, a surgeon, was going to talk about writing as an avocation. I told him that writing was not easy and not fun, but it was hard and lonely.

#2

The writing process is a personal one, and it’s difficult to find the real person behind the tension. But ultimately, the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who they are.

#3

Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon. To clear our heads of clutter, we must practice clear thinking and clear writing.

#4

The reader is someone with an attention span of about 30 seconds. They are constantly being attacked by many forces competing for their attention. The writer must ask: What am I trying to say. Very few sentences come out right the first time or even the third time.

#5

Clutter is the laborious phrase that has pushed out the short word that means the same thing. It is typical of hundreds of words that can be eliminated. The personal friend has come into the language to distinguish him or her from the business friend, thereby debasing both language and friendship.

#6

The language of clutter is used by corporations to hide their mistakes. It is the official language of the Pentagon, and it is used to justify the vast budgets needed to fight wars.

#7

You can develop the same eye to recognize clutter in your writing. Look for the clutter, and prune it ruthlessly. Be grateful for everything you can throw away.

#8

The writer must be himself. If he tries to add style, he will lose what makes him unique. The reader wants the person talking to them to sound genuine, so a fundamental rule is to be yourself.

#9

Relaxing is difficult, and