On Writing Well, 25th Anniversary : The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction (On Writing Well) (book)

William Zinsser is the master of placing your derailed writing back on the track. Our culture seems to demand haughty language intended more to impress than to communicate. Zinsser reminds us to simplify our writing, drop the clichés and improve through revision.

Zinsser is an accomplished writer and I thoroughly enjoyed On Writing Well. I can imagine reading this book once a year to improve my writing fitness.

Good book on writing technique. I'm not too sure why it's considered a classic though.

I was disappointed with this book, because it failed to teach me anything that will help me write better. It is actually two books in one, neither of which works well. The first is a "nuts & bolts" discussion of the mechanics of writing, but Zinsser's presentation falls far short of other books that discuss this subject. The second explains how to write for various genres, such as sports writing, travelogues, business writing, and so on. Since only one or two of these sections will appeal to the typical reader, the others are a total waste, or nearly so. Frankly I doubt that anyone who is serious about writing will find much in this book to help them. In seems more like the paperback equivalent of a literary cocktail party - an opportunity for people who identify with writers and other artists to experience the ambience that surrounds the craft without becoming trapped by the practical details of the creative process. In my opinion, serious writers have better choices. Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style" is an exceptionally fine book that provides a very solid foundation for basic skills, and it is a superb example of good writing. The "Chicago Manual of Style" picks up where Strunk & White stop, offering a thorough treatment of grammar and an exhaustive discussion of citations and related practical matters. Finally, Stephen King's "On Writing" is an utterly superb description of the creative process by one of America's most successful writers. It is absolutely without peer, and anyone who is serious about writing in any genre would be foolish to ignore it. Having said these things, I must admit that Zinsser's book is not without some charm. It is easy to read and completely harmless - roughly equivalent to a good article in the Sunday Magazine of your local newspaper. For people who truly mean to write, however, I believe the other books I suggested are better choices.

I came to read this book not intending to write for publication but just to improve my writing skills. I must admit that it had a good effect on it. If you were to write many types of non-fiction then this book is for you. There are sections devoted to many types of non-fiction such as memoirs, travel books, sports and a few more. Mr Zinssers' consistent theme is that all types of gendres that are not fiction is legitimately a work of literature. Another is the correct argument that the writer should have confidence provided the writer has done the necessary work. Being a business school student I found the chapter on business writing very useful. Mr Zinsser's point on business writing is that it should be written by a warm body and not write confusing and fancy words. 'On Writing Well' dispels my habit of not editing my work when I should have the many papers I've written.

'On Writing Well' should not be the only book all writers should read. Mr Zinsser references Strunk's 'Elements of Style' and regards it an important work. Syntopically 'On Writing Well' should be on the top five of any must read list in the art of writing well.

I have written magazine articles and books for over forty years. Recently, I noticed that editors were getting more "picky" about what they published. I needed a wake-up call, since I had been "retired" for 13 years. "On Writing Well", the 25th anniversary edition was that rude awakening and sage advice that brought me into the 21st century style of writing.
Any writer, beginning or well-seasoned, will benefit from reading this book and incorporating the advice offered into his or her non-fiction manuscripts. Editors will take notice and readers will become enthralled.
This is, in my opinion, the most important book on writing by a writer for writers currently in print.