Book Review: On Writing Well

Kristen King

www.inkthinkerblog.com — By William Zinsser

Collins, 2006

336 pages, $14.95

reviewed by Terrisa Meeks

Within the first 10 pages of William Zinsser’s On Writing Well, he tells us that the most important thing a writer brings to her work is herself. “Ultimately, the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is,” he says. For the rest of On Writing, he encourages writers to be genuine, accurate, and skilled with the English language.

On Writing Well feels like a text book, probably because it’s loaded with instructions and examples. The chapters can stand alone, so if you’re fascinated with sports writing, turn directly to Chapter 17. Chapter 10, “Bits and Pieces,” encapsulates most of the material in On Writingand is so thorough that it could have been titled “Nuts and Bolts.” He instructs us to read, read, read—and to embrace the rewriting process, which he describes as “the essence of writing well: it’s where the game is won or lost.”

The degradation of the English language annoys him, and he singles out repeat offenders: government documents, “journalese,” and pompous businesses. Zinsser wants verbs to remain verbs and nouns to remain nouns. Nonfiction writing is his focus, and he makes a good argument that fiction shouldn’t have a monopoly on the literature label. Using examples like Joan Didion and H.L. Mencken, he makes a point that’s hard to dispute.

“The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components,” Zinsser tells us. He does his best to give us the tools we need to remove junky adverbs, imprecise nouns, and fuzzy organization. He also explains how to focus a story. When one of his students tells him that she wants to write an article about the decline of Iowa farms, Zinsser helps her distill the idea into one small town, one farm, one family. Readers have to connect with a story, he explains, and a close-up on people and places is the best way to hold their attention.

Zinsser is a precise writer who admits that he protects his work “fiercely,” even buying back his pieces from publications that want to make changes he feels are unacceptable. For most writers, this isn’t an option, but it’s refreshing to hear a different point of view on this topic. Most advice to writers encourages more flexibility, not less.

On Writing Well concludes on the same note it began: “When we say we like the style of certain writers, what we mean is that we like their personality as they express it on paper.” Follow Zinsser’s advice, and your readers will find you articulate and clear. What else could a writer ask for?

****

Terrisa Meeks is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit her on the web at Just Write or Vegas Girl.

Although this article was published by Kristen King, the original author retains all copyright and should be contacted for reprint requests.