The Craft of Nonfiction: On Writing Well by William Zinsser
12 Tips from a Master of the Craft
William Zinsser was a journalist, writer, traveler, and teacher who produced decades’ worth of wonderful nonfiction writing during his lifetime. His most popular book is On Writing Well, which has sold over 1.5 million copies since its publication in the 1970s. This book is a goldmine of advice to writers of nonfiction, born out of Zinsser’s own impressive experience.
Here are 12 pieces of advice from Zinsser’s treasure trove of a book:
Remember that writing is a transaction between you and your reader! Not all writers are the same, so find your style and stick to it!
Simplify your writing. Remove unnecessary words, use simple vocabulary, and make sure you are understood.
Be yourself. Readers want to learn from a genuine person. Keep “I” in mind even if you don’t write in the first person!
Understand that you will have good days and bad days. Keep writing even when it seems like a disaster.
Balance the reader and yourself. Care about what your audience might like, but not too much. Mainly, write what you’d like to read. (Yes, it’s a paradox!)
You can write well at any age. It’s never too late to begin.
Break the “rules” if it fits your style! Use “ain’t” if it’s a common word for you and avoid stuffy language like “moreover” if you don’t use it daily.
Read, read, read. Great writers learn by imitating those they find great. Read what you like and learn from those pieces of writing!
Keep an open dictionary nearby. Look up any words you don’t understand and find new words to use.
Use a thesaurus. Study the etymology of words and learn the subtle differences between synonyms. For instance, what’s the difference between “scary” and “macabre”?
Be aware of how words sound together. Since some readers “hear” your writing in their mind, incorporate an entertaining rhythm and sound patterns in your writing!
Vary sentence lengths. Mix short and long sentences. “An occasional short sentence can carry a tremendous punch. It stays in the reader’s ear.”
The main message of Zinsser’s book seems to be finding authenticity and communicating yourself clearly and interestingly. Go forth, find your voice, and write!
