In on writing well the classic guide to nonfiction, william zinsser writes an easytofollow nononsense approach into the core essentials of writing. The classic guide to writing nonfiction, zinsser explains how simplicity, unity, the lead and end, and rewriting are crucial components to good writing. The classic works on the art of nonfiction writing are now in a complete package for your listening pleasure. May, 2015 writing advice from william zinssers classic, on writing well william zinsser died on may 12 in his home in new york city at the age of 92. He describes how he confronted his hangups, got a word processor, taught himself to use it and gradually overcame his sense of. Aug 28, 2012 not long ago i purchased yet another edition of on writing well. He began his career with the new york herald tribune and has long been a freelance writer for leading magazines. From 1979 to 1987 he was general editor of the book ofthemonth club. The book wraps up with the important attitudes that good writers develop. William zinsser, on writing well clear thinking becomes clear writing. On writing well audio collection william zinsser digital.
On memoir, truth and writing well april, 2006 william zinsser, author of the classic guide on writing well, talks to michele norris about the challenges of writing personal history. This is writing, about writing, for writers, by a captain of the craft. May, 2015 william zinsser, a writer, editor and teacher whose book on writing well sold more than 1. On writing well the classic guide to nonfiction william. The tutorial is intended for those who want to improve their nonfiction writing style, and who may be.
William zinsser, on writing well the reader is someone with an attention span of 30 seconds a persona assailed by many forces competing for attention. American author william zinssers on writing well 1976, is a popular. On writing well by william zinsser the classic guide to. William zinsser s on writing well, which first hit the market some 40 years ago, is a classic in the field. On writing well has been praised for its sound advice, its clari.
May 10, 2020 on writing well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. William zinsser, author of the classic guide on writing well. He starts with an overview of the writing craft and moves into specific nonfiction writing forms. A beloved classic, this definitive volume on the art of writing nonfiction celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. It would, he decided, lay out some fundamental principles and illustrate them with 300word examples of good writing. I once told a friend that i try to write lightly and cleanly, expressing the things i want to say in few and pastelcolored words, but i do try to move the reader as well, and add in little things that make it come alive. The classic guide to writing nonfiction by william knowlton zinsser. I once told a friend that i try to write lightly and cleanly, expressing the things i want to say in few and pastelcolored words, but i do try to move the reader as well, and add in little. William knowlton zinsser october 7, 1922 may 12, 2015 was an american writer, editor, literary critic, and teacher. Dec 06, 2017 william zinssers on writing well is an outstanding guide for anyone who writes nonfiction. Apr 05, 2016 on writing well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style.
Zinsser worked at the new york tribune and at yale where he taught students how to write. This expanded cd collection presents william zinsser s on writing well, the classic teaching book that has sold more than 1 million copies, together with a new 90minute section that tells you how to write a memoir. A worthwhile book for any writer or aspiring writer, its advice is most helpful to those who are starting their careers or avocations in writing. Whether students need to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the arts or about themselves, on writing well offers students fundamental principles as. William zinsser adds humor to his writing style, and the book is entertaining and easy to read. May 10, 2015 author william zinsser died at his manhattan home on tuesday, may 12, 2015. Image used with permission by mark ostowyale alumni magazine. Using examples from wellestablished writers, william zinsser drives home his ideas. William zinssers on writing well was a healthy dose of affirmation and my desire, as i write my novel, is to write with simple, clear, effective prose. The book wraps up with the important attitudes that.
It is a book for anybody who wants to learn how to write or who. Before i read william zinsser s book on writing well, i was notaware that any book that deals with such thorny issues as grammar andword choice could be fun and entertaining. William zinsser, on writing well it all begins with intention. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the. His 18 other books range from commentary the writer who stayed, memoir.
The classic guide to writing nonfiction, seventh edition, by william zinsser. Today i often meet young newspaper reporters who were given the book by the editor who hired them, just as those editors were first given the book by the editor who hired them. 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 email and the internet. Zinsser began his career in 1946 at the new york herald tribune, where he was a writer, editor, and critic. William zinsser audio books, best sellers, author bio. But zinssers book destroys the stereotypeit teaches great writing while being humorous. The classic guide to writing nonfiction by william. Not long ago i purchased yet another edition of on writing well. Providing a smattering of meticulous examples, on writing well does a lucid job of clearing up some of the confusion writers might have about style, methods, leads, endings, et al. Zinssers book on writing well provides both a comprehensive guide to writing nonfiction and a useful writers reference. On memoir, truth and writing well april, 2006 william zinsser, author of the classic guide on writing well, talks to michele norris. William zinsser s on writing well was a healthy dose of affirmation and my desire, as i write my novel, is to write with simple, clear, effective prose. William zinsser, on writing well dont be afraid to ask a dumb question. Zinsser was one the best writing teachers i never had thanks to on writing well, his classic guide to writing nonfiction thats also the books tagline.
William zinssers on writing well, which first hit the market some 40 years ago, is a classic in the field. The classic guide to writing nonfiction, written by william knowlton. But zinsser s book destroys the stereotypeit teaches great writing while being humorous. 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.
This expanded audio collection presents william zinssers on writing well, the classic teaching book that has sold more than 1 million copies, together with a new 90minute section that tells you how to write a memoir. William zinsser, a journalist whose perennially popular book on writing well became an indispensable classroom and newsroom guide, making its author one of the most influential writing. Whether you write emails or opeds, family histories or scientific papers, reading and integrating zinssers classic guide to writing nonfiction is sure to prove of immense value. The classic guide to writing nonfiction 1976 is a collection of guiding principles that can help aspiring writers craft captivating works of professionalquality nonfiction in a variety of genres. His 18 books, which range in subject from music to baseball to american travel, include several widely read books about writing. Whether you write emails or opeds, family histories or scientific papers, reading and integrating zinssers classic. On writing well, a classic guide to writing nonfiction, has been praised by educators and students for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. The first of four parts, principles, discusses matters such as word choice and. Among its topics are simplicity, clutter, style, audience, the lead, the ending, the interview, professional and business writing, humor, and sports. So on writing well was born, in 1976, and its now in its third generation of readers, its sales well over a million. In 1974, at the urging of his wife, zinsser sat down to write a book about how to write. William zinsser, on writing well writers who write interestingly tend to be men and women who keep themselves interested.
May, 2015 william zinsser, a journalist whose perennially popular book on writing well became an indispensable classroom and newsroom guide, making its author one of the most influential writing. Why william zinssers writing book is still number one poynter. Oct 20, 2008 it was nearly two years after i had received on writing well that i started to read it. 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. On writing well, 3rd ed the classic guide to writing. Zinsser s book on writing well provides both a comprehensive guide to writing nonfiction and a useful writer s reference.
During the 1970s he taught writing at yale, where he was master of branford college. On writing well has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. A concise, free and complete summary of on writing well william zinssers classic guide to mastering the craft and the art of writing. From 1979 to 1987 he was general editor of the bookofthemonth club. Since its first printing in 1976, the book has sold 1. William zinsser was a lifelong journalist and nonfiction writerhe began his career on the new york herald tribune in 1946and was also a teacher, best known for his book on writing well, a companion held in affection by three generations of writers, reporters, editors, teachers and students. Author william zinsser argues that all writing can be improved by committing to clear, simple prose. This expanded cd collection presents william zinssers on writing well, the classic teaching book that has sold more than 1 million copies, together with a new 90minute section that tells you how to write a memoir based on a course that zinsser taught at. Writing advice from william zinssers classic, on writing well william zinsser died on may 12 in his home in new york city at the age of 92.
On writing well the classic guide to nonfiction william zinsser. This is a guide on how to improve your nonfiction writing. This expanded audio collection presents william zinssers on writing well, the classic teaching book that has sold more than 1 million copies, together with a new 90minute section that tells you how. Before i read william zinssers book on writing well, i was notaware that any book that deals with such thorny issues as grammar andword choice could be fun and entertaining. William zinssers on writing well is an outstanding guide for anyone who writes nonfiction. Why william zinssers writing book is still number one. I had then been teaching my nonfiction writing course at yale for. It was nearly two years after i had received on writing well that i started to read it.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. He began his career as a journalist for the new york herald tribune, where he worked as a feature writer, drama editor, film critic and editorial writer. American author william zinssers on writing well 1976, is a popular writing manual for high school and college students. On writing well by william zinsser a classic guide to writing nonfiction. William zinsser, a writer, editor and teacher whose book on writing well sold more than 1. William zinsser is not just writing a book on writing well. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of on writing well by william zinsser. Thats the point of the photograph, and its still the point30 years laterof this book.
William zinsser, a writer, editor, and teacher, is a fourthgeneration new yorker, born in 1922. This is what william zinsser teaches in his book on writing well, which has sold millions of copies. Article pdf available september 1998 with 11,361 reads how we measure reads. William zinsser, on writing well writing is hard work. He was a longtime contributor to leading magazines. Which whether your medium is books, articles, reports, emails, messages, or status updates makes on writing well a book for us all but it isnt william zinssers 70 years of journalism.
On writing well, 3rd ed the classic guide to writing nonfiction. On writing well is a book so brimming with wisdom that reading it feels like youre clutching a living brain. Zinsser, who died in 2015, was a longtime features writer for the new york herald tribune and other popular publications. It is a book for anybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to. William zinsser, author of on writing well died yesterday. The 92yearold left behind one of the classics of writing instruction manuals as his legacy, on writing well. William zinsser, author of the classic guide on writing. This passion comes through clearly in every page and invites the reader to ride along. The title of this book is on writing well and it was written by william zinsser. My tools were a dangling lightbulb, an underwood standard typewriter, a ream of yellow copy paper and a wire wastebasket. I first wrote on writing well in an outbuilding in connecticut that was as small and as crude as whites boathouse. The classic guide to writing nonfiction, written by william knowlton zinsser, that prolific author, editor, and teacher who. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Author william zinsser died at his manhattan home on tuesday, may 12, 2015.
Writing advice from william zinssers classic, on writing well. The classic guide to writing nonfiction 25th anniversary ed non fiction guide by zinsser, william isbn. Zinssers tone and sense of humour made reading the book fun and interesting. 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. In this helpful and entertaining book the author of the classic on writing well explains that he has always had a love of paper and a fear of mechanical objects.
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