On Writing Well: The Zinsser Way

"Four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity."
William Zinsser

In 1922 the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C. as thousands of people gathered to watch. Archaeologists also discovered the tomb of the Egyptian King Tutankhamun. And in that same year, William Zinsser was born while actors like Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford enjoyed their popularity and lucrative work.

Although Zinsser began his career as a journalist for the New York Herald Tribune, and went on to write more than a dozen books, he is most well known for his book entitled On Writing Well now in its 30th edition. Today, the legendary William Zinsser lives in New York City and teaches as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of Journalism. Even in his eighties, Zinsser continues to contribute to the writing world. In 2006, The American Scholar published an essay by William Zinsser entitled How to Write a Memoir: Be yourself, speak freely, and think small and just recently in 2008, The American Scholar published The Daily Miracle: Life with the mavericks and oddballs at the Herald Tribune where Zinsser writes about his days as a writer and teacher.

I began reading On Writing Well (fourth edition) by William Zinsser a few weeks ago and as usual I took notes, reread pages and contemplated his message. I reflected on my own writing, my style, tone and use of language. While some people believe that a "simple style reflects a simple mind," Zinsser on the other hand believes that a simple style "is the result of hard work and hard thinking." (106)

Every chapter of his book contains specific evidence of his immense knowledge and experience. He is a skillful mind reader and quickly predicts my moments of skepticism as he provides concrete and vivid examples to support his points. If that is insufficient, then he provides short excerpts from an array of noteworthy writers. When faced with such compelling evidence I find it difficult to reject what some might call daring assertions.

I have always enjoyed simple, clear and passionate writing that says something, means something and has value and significance. I am drawn to the writings of Robert Frost, Emily Bronte, Jane Austen, and Walt Whitman. Simple writing pleases me. Zinsser asks writers to remove pretentious, flowery and pompous language, keep sentences and words short while remaining true to individual style, tone and message. In addition, he recommends that a writer please himself or herself first and then the reader. Although this may sound somewhat contradictory and difficult to accomplish, Zinsser believes “hard writing makes easy reading. Easy writing makes hard reading.” In the end, what do we really want? Something for someone to read, enjoy and remember? Or do we want something "strictly" for our own enjoyment? Perhaps, the word "strictly" is the key.

If I don't enjoy reading my own words, why would anyone else enjoy my words. As writer I must remain loyal to myself but I must also remember my reader. Of course I want to write "my" way, but I also want to write something that someone else enjoys and understands. So how can writers best serve their readers, according to Zinsser? The answer is quite simple; write clearly and without clutter. Unity, according to Zinsser, is "the anchor of good writing" and "good writing is lean and confident." (60, 111)

On Writing Well

• Highly recommended for all writers
• Less than 300 pages of clear and easy reading
  
• Plethora of examples
• other links *photo taken by Skip Weisenburger(NPR) and NPR Audio

Do you write to please yourself first?
As you write, do you consider your reader?
Do you feel confident about your writing?