“There are all kinds of writing and all kinds of methods, and any method that helps you to say what you want to say is the right method for you” (Zinsser 5).
Various people have different ways of doing things. For example, a teenager’s morning routine is different than an elderly person’s. However, the routines are tailored to each person’s needs. As the quote teaches, there is no wrong way to write. As long as it fulfills what you need, the method is useful to the writer.
“Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time…If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard” (Zinsser 9).
Every writer makes mistakes. As the quote states, it is common and normal. Even the most professional writers struggle with their writing. It also conveys how rewriting is an important process in writing. Even if its the third time writing sentences, there could be errors that have been overlooked the first or second time.
“Look for the clutter in your writing and prune it ruthlessly…Re-examine each sentence you put on paper” (Zinsser 16).
It’s easy to get lost in a labyrinth of words. When writing, it’s tempting to add a word that sounds classy or refreshing. Too much of these words, however, could cause the writing to become wordy. This could make the writing too confusing for the reader. This quote conveys the writer to review their work. By reviewing the work, it helps clean and perfect the writing.
“Therefore a fundamental rule is: be yourself” (Zinsser 19).
When writing for someone, there is pressure placed on the writer. This causes the writing to come about tense and robotic. WIthout the human element, the writing seems bland and lacks personality. Therefore, by being yourself and not worrying about the person reading it, it allows personality to mend into your writing.
“You are writing for yourself” (Zinsser 24).
There are a plethora of articles and stories around the world. With many different topics and interests, not everyone is going to enjoy the same writings. If the writer tries to cater to the audience, it will not have the human element of the author. The writing will lose its individuality and be lost in the huge amount of other articles. Writing for yourself will make the writing more personal and cause a connection with the reader.
“Make a habit of reading what is being written today and what was written by earlier masters. Writing is learned by imitation” (Zinsser 34).
We learn something new everyday. By experiencing and looking into the past, we see what other people do. For example, when I was a toddler, I would look at my parents to see how they communicate. This would encourage me to communicate in a similar fashion as them. LIke learning a new language, we have to imitate writing in order to become a writer. That’s how generations of people learned writing.
“All of this confirms what lexicographers have always known: that the laws of usage are relative, bending with the taste of the lawmaker” (Zinsser 40).
As the quote shows, writing is subject to change. If we look back into the past, we see a different way to write. For example, we had different letters, such as thorn. The letters, however, fell out of the alphabet once there was a different way to write them. What once was useful was deemed unfit by writers. Trends come and go and writing shows this on a monumental level through history.
“The only way to learn to write is to force yourself to produce a certain number of words on a regular basis” (Zinsser 50).
Like other skills, writing takes practice. All professional athletes didn’t just magically gain the skills they have. They practiced their sport in order to get where they are. This holds true for writing. This quote shows in order to be a good writer, there needs to be repetition and dedication.
“The most important sentence in any article is the first one” (Zinsser 54).
In today’s society, people are bombarded with ads. Whether it be for the latest product or a calming cruise, these ads try to convince the viewer into getting the desired item. People have short attention-spans. That’s why it’s important to hook them right away. This is why the first sentence is the most important. If the sentence doesn’t hook the reader, the reader will put the article down. This quote emphasizes this notion.
“Forget the competition and go at your own pace. Your only contest is with yourself” (Zinsser 78).
In the fast-paced world that we live in, it can be easy to compare and compete with others. However, each person has their own unique story created for them. Not every person is going to be the valedictorian. However, that is okay. By striving to becoming a better person than your past self, progress has already been made. People don’t develop skills at the same time, therefore comparisons with each other are unrealistic. The only true comparison that can be made is with your past self.
“Bach and Picasso didn’t spring full-blown as Bach and Picasso; they needed models” (Zinsser 236).
“Writers have to jump-start themselves at the moment of performance, no less than actors and dancers” (Zinsser 243).
Like acting or dancing, writing is also an art. We entertain ourselves through viewing or reading. Another thing they have in common is they all face hardships. Whether it be “Writer’s Block” or failing to master a dance move, they all get stuck sometimes.
But even then, they must push forward to get results before the deadline. This quote shows that the writer must overcome their struggles and work hard to get their result.
“Figure out what you want to do and how you want to do it, and work your way with humanity and integrity to be completed article. Then you’ll have something to sell” (Zinsser 260).
“As a nonfiction writer you must get on the plane. If a subject interests you, go after it” (Zinsser 280).
The quote conveys how important is to look around for a subject. Don’t let the location limit you into not traveling. If the subject is intriguing, it is easier and more enjoyable to write. Not only is it more enjoyable, it’s also possible to gain an insight of the world. The writing will also become more personal and human.
“Look for small self-contained incidents that are still vivid in your memory. If you still remember them it’s because they contain a universal truth that your readers will recognize from their own life” (Zinsser 291).
Similar to fables, life has a lot of lessons to learn from. By sharing these lessons, we show a human aspect in our writing. Readers will be able to relate and enjoy the story, due to the fact they also experienced a similar situation. Writing should be personal. That’s what causes readers to be intrigued about writings.
“If you would like to writer better than everybody else, you have to want to write better than somebody else” (Zinsser 298).
Writing words on paper is simple. Anyone can write a story or article by combining different words. However, to become better than anyone else, passion is also needed. Without passion, people find the work needed tedious. This causes the final product to be subpar or even worse. The writing could be good, but never superb. Passion is what drives pieces of work to be the best.