A Guide to Non-Fiction Writing: From conception, pen writing to writing style, spanning two centuries, a writing bible that has influenced millions of people
A Guide to Non-Fiction Writing: From conception, pen writing to writing style, spanning two centuries, a writing bible that has influenced millions of people
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What is good writing? Good writing is lively, and its two most important qualities are "humanity" and "warmth."
"Who am I writing for?" The answer is: you are writing for yourself. Never imagine that you have a vast audience; every reader is a different person.
An imposed style is like a bald man wearing a wig; readers will immediately see through your pretense—readers want someone who speaks to them sincerely.
Most first drafts can be cut in half without diminishing any message or losing the author's voice.
How an article ends is far more important than most writers realize. A perfect conclusion must surprise the reader yet still be logical.
Humor is the secret weapon of non-fiction writers; few writers know that humor is often their best—and sometimes only—tool when making important points. …
No matter the era, medium, or language, good writing shares common characteristics, and there are rules to follow to write well. Through this book, William Zinsser, a master of non-fiction writing in America, aims to share these fundamental keys to writing with you.
William Zinsser taught at Yale University and Columbia University for many years, served as an editor for America's largest book club, and contributed to top magazines. He possessed extensive experience in writing, editing, criticism, and teaching, enabling him to accurately guide writers across various fields, from beginners to advanced, in producing authentic and moving non-fiction works. This book, hailed by The New York Times as "the writer's bible" and a bestseller for forty years, "On Writing Well," is a compilation of his years of experience and insights.
In the book, he divides the essentials of writing into four main parts: "Principles," "Methods," "Forms," and "Attitude," dissecting the tricks to writing well. He further provides practical explanations of writing techniques for seven major non-fiction writing areas and analyzes what makes classic articles good and how they can be emulated—
When writing about technology, "linear structure" sentences are king, and you should imagine it as an inverted pyramid, starting with narrow facts.
Business writing can also have some warmth: use more first-person and active verbs. Remember that readers identify with people, not abstract nouns like "profitability" or lifeless sentence structures.
The most important thing in art criticism is to present a personal viewpoint and firmly express a stance. Do not suddenly evade the issue at the last moment, weakening the article's impact. …
In the book, Zinsser shares all his insights on writing with clear and warm prose, holding nothing back. If you want to learn to write, whether you want to write about people, places, technology, business, sports, art, or yourself, this book will give you practical guidance and teach you how to write good articles with humanity, warmth, and a unique style.
