On Writing Well: Notes From The Book

Dan Pedersen
Personal Growth
Published in
2 min readSep 6, 2024
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Here are the key points that jumped out at me while recently reading William Zinsser’s book On Writing Well. Zinsser taught writing at Yale.

  • Let go of thoughts of the finished article.
  • Ask yourself, “What am I trying to say? Is it clear for someone encountering the subject for the first time?”
  • Use the English language in a way that achieves the great clarity and strength.
  • What point do you want to make? Not two or five, but what single point do you want to convey?
  • If the reader is lost, it’s probably the writer’s fault.
  • Any method that helps you say what you want to say is the right method for you.
  • Write for yourself, not for someone in mind — especially the masses or an editor.
  • You’ll write better about subjects you care about.
  • Don’t write what you wouldn’t say in a conversation.
  • Avoid using clichés. Be fresh.
  • Don’t use jargon. Just because a journalist, or a lawyer, or a politician uses a fancy term doesn’t mean you should. Especially if it’s not a word you would normally use in a conversation and likely don’t understand the meaning of.
  • Get the meaning of words right. Including the ones that seem closely related.
  • Don’t mix tense.
  • Don’t mix tones or attitude in the same piece.
  • Be precise and be bold. Don’t hide behind adverbs. Specific actions by specific people.
  • Don’t use a long word when a shorter one is available. Don’t use long sentences when you can break it up into two or three separate sentences. Don’t use long paragraphs when shorter ones will do.
  • Don’t use semi-colons. Use a period or a dash instead.
  • Don’t hang onto something useless just because you think it’s beautiful.
  • Writing improves as you remove words that shouldn’t be there.
  • Don’t tell people why it’s interesting, or unusual. Make the point, don’t try to explain the point. Make the point self-sufficient.
  • Quotes are fresher than paraphrases. Strike a balance between quotes and you.
  • Look for the human element in everything you write about.
  • The use of “I” is neglected too much. Don’t be afraid to write in the first person.
  • You get a broader understanding of the writing process when you listen to different writers talk about their process.
  • Read the writers you want to learn from.
  • Remember these four rules: clarity, simplicity, brevity, and humanity.
  • The main rule is to relax and be yourself.

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Personal Growth
Personal Growth

Published in Personal Growth

Practical wisdom for life drawn from philosophy, psychology, spirituality and personal experiences.

Dan Pedersen
Dan Pedersen

Written by Dan Pedersen

Writing mostly to myself. Sharing some of it with you. Hope it helps. Find more at www.livingwithconfidence.net

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