Zinsser

Zinsser

ZinsserOn Writing Well New York: HarperCollins, 2001.The DebateZinsser was asked to speak alongside another author. The audience asked questions. These are the responses.What is it like to be a writer?

Dr. Brock: Tremendous fun! Write my tension of the day away! The words just flow! It is easy!

Zinsser: Writing is hard. Writing is lonely. It isnt fun, and the words seldom just flow.The DebateIs it important to rewrite?

Dr. Brock: Absolutely not! Let it all hang out! Whatever form the sentences take will reflect the writer at his most natural.

Zinsser: Rewriting is the essence of writing. Professional writers rewrite over and over and then rewrite what they have rewritten.

What do you do on days when it isnt going well?

Dr. Brock: Stop. Put it down. Walk away. Wait until another day.

Zinsser: Professional writers write every day. Writing is a craft, not an art. If you stop, you go broke.The DebateIf you are feeling depressed, will it affect your writing?

Dr. Brock: Probably. Go fishing. Take a walk.

Zinsser: It wont. If it is your job, you do it whatever your mood.

Do you put symbolism in your writing?

Dr. Brock: I love symbols! I weave them through everything I write.

Zinsser: Not if I can help it! I have an unbroken record of missing the meaning in any story, play, movie, dance, mimeWho is right?Neither.There isnt any right way to do such personal work.

There are all kinds of writers and all kinds of methods:by dayby nightin complete silencein complete chaoswith musicby handtypewrittentalking into a microphone attached to a computer program The Problem with TensionWriters are nervous. This vulnerability translates to stiffness on the page. The writing doesnt reflect the interesting person who wrote it.

Good writing has HUMANITY and WARMTH, not gimmicks.

Use the English language in a way that will achieve the greatest clarity and strength.CH 2 - SimplicityClutter is the disease of American Writing.

Strip every sentence to its cleanest components.

Take out: words with no functionlong words that could be shortadverbs that dont clarify meaning, only repeat itpassive construction where you cant tell who is doing whatEX: Such preparations shall be made as will completely obscure all Federal buildings and non-federal buildings occupied by the Federal government duringan air raid for any period of time from visibility by reason of internal or external illumination.SimplicityRoosevelt interpreted that government memo: Tell them, in buildings where they have to keep the work going to put something across the windows.Clear thinking becomes clear writing. Muddy thinkers cant write effectively.Who is the reader?He has an attention span of 30 seconds on a good day. Many things are competing for his time.The number one distraction? SLEEP.Who is the reader?The reader is too dumb, lazy, etc. to understand what I am writing.

Nope.

The writer hasnt been careful.

-verbage, too long, switched pronouns, tenses are incorrect, not logical, big words no one but the writer knows, not human and not warm.

The reader can only infer what the writer is trying to imply.Who is the Reader?ObstaclesWhen readers encounter obstacles, first they blame themselves.- I must have missed something- I need to go back and look for it- Im distracted or something

Readers then make guesses (infer) and move on.

If the writer makes them work too hard, its over.- Constantly askWhat am I trying to say?

Have I said it?

Is it clear to someone encountering the subject for the first time?If the answer is I dont know, or, No, revise. fuzzWhen writing isnt doing the job intended. (Not achieving its purpose with the audience)

Clear writers recognize fuzz.

Thinking clearly is a conscious act that all writers must force themselves to do.

Good writing doesnt come naturally.

If you find writing hard, its because it is hard.Ch 3: clutterFighting clutter is like fighting weedsthe writer is always slightly behind.

New words sprout every day.

Writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it that shouldnt be there.Clutter examplesWe dont face problems anymore, we face up to them.

The word up shouldnt be there. It is doing no valuable work.

We dont converse with our neighbor, we conversate.Conversate is not a word. The ate ending is added and serves no purpose.

Why ruin perfectly good words by adding extra nonsense? Its not logical.clutterExamine every word.

--laborious phrases at the present time - now--euphemisims depressed socioeconomic area-slumwaste disposal area = dumppolitical correctness gone amok--official language verbal camouflageused by corporations or governments to cover mistakesUSAF missile impacted with the ground prematurely= the missile crashed--political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible~George Orwell, Politics and the English Language- euphemism, cloudy, vague, begs the question (fallacy)ClutterExamine every word

--jargon using words no one else understands (slang, professional)EX: Educational jargon, ELPS, BICS, CALPS, TEKS, STAAR

--Beware the long word that is no better than the short one.assistance v. helpwith the possible exception of v. excepthe totally lacked the ability to v. he couldntI might add, It should be pointed out, It is interesting to note If you might add it, add it. If it should be pointed out, then point at it.If it is interesting to note, then make it interesting to read.Dont inflate what needs no inflation.clutterExamine every word

--word clusters I believe thatI think that for the purpose ofOf course you believe it or think it, you are the one writing it.For the purpose of is a long way of saying for

Use brackets to identify clutter when revising. EX: [I believe that] Zinssers ideas are innovative.Ch 4: StyleIf I strip every sentence, wont it be boring? Run, Jane.

Fuzz prevents you from communicating.

Strip down the fuzz, then build your writing with humanity and warmth that can only come from your experience.styleWriters are most natural when they write in 1st person.

Writing is intimate, human.

There is only one you.

Nobody else thinks like you.styleYou might think, Nobody cares.They will if you make them care.

Who am I to say what I think?You are unique. You are valuable. Your experience is appreciated.styleExceptions: college term papers, dissertations, research, news articles

Why?

These types of writings are supposed to be completely objective.

But there are exceptions to even those exceptions, especially when the research is driven by personal interest.

Just be careful not to slip into opinion when fact is required.styleWhy people dont use I

You are unwilling to be responsible for your ideas.

Believe in yourself and your opinions.Interest and entertain yourself with your writing, and others will be interested and entertained, even though they may not agree.

Dont cheapen your thoughts with cheap words, made-up words, or clich.EX: Thinking outside of the box is not.Ch 14: Writing about yourselfYou know this subject best.

No teacher wants 150 copies of the same person or the same essay.

Individuality What makes your thoughts unique?Your life is valid.What can you give that no one else can?Memory is a deep well of material.Writing about yourselfEgo vs. Egotism

Ego is healthy, interesting, confident and pleasurable to hear.

Egotism is a drag. Your writing is not a therapy session. Prattle.

Writing about yourselfAutobiography vs. Memoir

Autobiography spans your entire life.

Memoir focuses on a particular time and focuses on its importance.

Give yourself permission to have a good time writing about you.

The best gift in your writing is YOU!

Write with humanity and warmth.

Master the tools, and write as well as you can.