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

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.