A True Well of Knowledge

A True Well of Knowledge

            When I first picked up On Writing Well by William Zinsser, I thought it was about writing wells – metaphorical wells that delineated the depth of writing.  Although I quickly realized that this guide to writing nonfiction actually focused on distinguishing well-written pieces of writing, analyzing the aspects of well-written writing, and describing how to write well, I discovered that my initial thought was interwoven between the book’s pages.  Slowly, I learned that the book was a well of knowledge itself.  

 On Writing Well is split into four distinct parts: the principles, the methods, the forms, and the attitudes.  I thought that making separate parts was a practical idea because readers are first exposed to the content that makes up each section and can make connections between each section afterwards.  These four parts are further divided into twenty-four chapters, each covering a subtopic of nonfiction writing, including “Simplicity,” “Nonfiction as Literature,” and “A Writer’s Decisions.”  One thing I enjoyed about the book’s structure was that the chapters weren’t too long.  Although most of the chapters were less than ten pages each, they were all extensive in their content.  Zinsser compressed his knowledge about varying topics into concise yet clear chapters.  He adeptly provided detailed descriptions of ideas he wanted to convey without continuously rambling on a subject.  By keeping his chapters short, readers are less likely to lose their attention and get distracted.  I was able to take away a significant amount of his knowledge from the succinct chapters, as well as a large number of writing tips I can apply to my writing in the future.

Another standout quality of this nonfiction writing guide is Zinsser’s voice, which can be heard throughout every paragraph of every chapter.  Zinsser is a well-seasoned writer: he has written for over five magazines and has written over ten books.  Zinsser’s website, William Zinsser, states that he has also had experience being a feature writer, drama editor, film critic, and editorial writer.  In addition, he taught nonfiction and humor fiction at Yale University and was a knowledgeable lyricist. 

Even though Zinsser has a myriad of achievements scattered throughout his writing career, his voice comes through as being genuine and honest – most of the time.  There are several instances where he sounds condescending or conceited, however.  For example, he comments that the concept “readers read with their eyes” (Zinsser On Writing Well 36) may seem absurd to us, as readers of his book.  By explicitly telling us that people use their eyes to read, he creates a sense that we are inferior to him for not recognizing an undeniable observation.  Later in the book, he makes a sweeping, general statement that his readers enjoy his arrangement of words, as well as the effort he makes to entertain them.  With the exception of these parts that might be perceived as a little pretentious, Zinsser discusses nonfiction writing very clearly throughout the guide.  For example, he minimizes the ideas he is trying to explain to concise sentences, and he also devotes chapters, such as “Simplicity” and “Clutter,” to discussing succinct writing.  Furthermore, he uses relatable analogies to get his ideas across.  Zinsser points out that “fighting clutter is like fighting weeds” (Zinsser On Writing Well 13) and that “memoir is a window into a life” (Zinsser On Writing Well 136).  These interesting comparisons simultaneously allow readers to make connections to the larger world and foster deeper analysis of nonfiction writing among a broader community of writers.  

In addition to his own commentary on certain topics, such as words and usage, Zinsser provides a multitude of writing samples from many authors.  These examples give Zinsser’s ideas substance, providing tangible excerpts rather than paragraphs explaining abstract concepts.  By including a multitude of writers in his nonfiction guide, Zinsser provides readers with different approaches to the many techniques of writing nonfiction he describes.  Readers are also exposed to various styles of nonfiction writing and a wide range of topics on which nonfiction writers write.  Although I liked that he incorporated different authors and numerous pieces of writing throughout the book, it seemed that some chapters, such as “Science and Technology,” had too many example passages.  After reading several pages of sample after sample, the ideas blurred together and became redundant.       

Despite a few shortcomings, Zinsser’s nonfiction writing guide is well-structured and well-written.  It’s organized in a clear and pragmatic manner.  The brief chapters hold readers’ attention while offering an abundance of experiences, information, and advice.  Because it contains such a wide range of knowledge, I think writers at any level can benefit from reading this book.  If On Writing Well were an actual well, it would be overflowing.  It would be one with a constant supply of substantial writing instruction. 

Works Cited

            Zinsser, William K. On Writing Well. 25th ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2001. Print.

            Zinsser, William K. "William Knowlton Zinsser." William Zinsser. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.