On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 6,802 ratings · 489 reviews

"On Writing Well" has been praised for its sound advice, its clarity and the warmth of its style. It is a book for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day, as almost everybody does in the age of e-mail and the Internet. Whether you want to write about people or places, science and technology, business, sports, the ar...more

Hardcover, 308 pages

Published January 28th 2001 by Perfection Learning (first published 1976)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 30, 2012 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

On Writing Well may primarily focus on non-fiction, but parts of it should be required reading for novelists, as well. Though, at first, Zinsser’s advice may seem anal–retentive and persnickety, it is great for keeping your work focused and making your sentences sharper.
The best part of On Writing Well focuses on“trimming the fat in the sentences you write. Zinsser provides a hand-edited page of his own On Writing Well manuscript as an example of how to cut down on useless words, and it is tru...more On Writing Well may primarily focus on non-fiction, but parts of it should be required reading for novelists, as well. Though, at first, Zinsser’s advice may seem anal–retentive and persnickety, it is great for keeping your work focused and making your sentences sharper.
The best part of On Writing Well focuses on“trimming the fat in the sentences you write. Zinsser provides a hand-edited page of his own On Writing Well manuscript as an example of how to cut down on useless words, and it is truly amazing to see how much even an expert writer like him can remove from his work without its losing any meaning or artistic merit. Not only should you eliminate useless words, but, according to Zinsser, you should also avoid using large words when smaller ones will suffice. I think this is especially good advice for fiction because, the easier a novel is to read, the more easily readers can lose themselves in it. I admit to being a fan of Lew Wallace’s Ben-Hur (which Zinsser despises for its verbosity), but I can certainly see his main point, which can be summed up as, “Easy reading is damn hard writing"—to quote Hawthorne. Some writers (i.e. Faulkner, Joyce, etc.) can get away with breaking the rules because, as Zinsser states, they were geniuses. But, for the rest of us, getting the point across succinctly is the best way to satisfy our readers, should we be lucky enough to have any.
Using active sentences as often as possible further helps make our writing more interesting, both in fiction and non-, and, of course, in fiction, you also need to provide readers with a “hook” in order to ensnare them in your narrative. Knowing the exact meanings of words causes readers to put faith in you, and it’s important not to misuse or confuse them. Zinsser recommends keeping a dictionary handy at all times, which is an idea I am trying to take to heart.
Zinsser’s view of writing is that it is hard, arduous work—something the fiction writer should keep in mind because people tend to get the wrong impression that writing fiction amounts to little more than daydreaming at a desk all day. Nothing could be further from the truth: Great writers must be extremely meticulous and precise in their art, both in regard to story and the proper use of the English language. Reading Zinsser’s book is pretty discouraging in that it focuses mostly on the aspects of writing that people find most boring, however important they may be. Serious writers will, however, find it indispensible.

(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Miranda Cary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-list-for-2013, independent-reading-for-school

In my opinion this book, compared to Elements of Style, is like being transported to an entirely different world in itself. No longer is some taut professor (sorry, Mr. White and Mr. Strunk! I still love you.) slapping a ruler against the board, directing you what verbs to use and which tenses sound best, what constitutes as good language compared to language that is gaudy and overrated, only putting the ruler down by the last few minutes of class to speak calmly with you; if White and Strunk tr...more In my opinion this book, compared to Elements of Style, is like being transported to an entirely different world in itself. No longer is some taut professor (sorry, Mr. White and Mr. Strunk! I still love you.) slapping a ruler against the board, directing you what verbs to use and which tenses sound best, what constitutes as good language compared to language that is gaudy and overrated, only putting the ruler down by the last few minutes of class to speak calmly with you; if White and Strunk truly taught that way, then Zinsser's style is simple. Take away the ruler, throw out the board, pull up a chair and get to the point--staying true to yourself and your craft.

Not that Strunk and White weren't already amazing teachers--Elements of Style is a brilliant guide. I just feel more relaxed with Zinsser, as if he's some kindly old professor who's taught the same lesson over and over again and refuses to do it in the same drab style. He doesn't just teach you the steps; Zinsser lets you explore further, allowing yourself to question what you're about to write and how to approach it, whatever the genre may be for your article. Not a word is out of place, and he keeps the definitions and directions fresh in our minds with examples from all sorts of sources.

I may not write a lot of nonfiction in my life, but On Writing Well isn't just for people with a desire to write. It's for anyone who NEEDS to write, and that's practically every person in this whole country, let it be businessman or teacher or whatever other profession that someone can have.

There are so many quotes from this book that I can rattle on about, but I'll leave you all with the most recent quote that popped into my mind:

"But finally the purposes that writers serve must be their own. What you write is yours and nobody else's. Take your talent as far as you can and guard it with your life. Only you know how far that is; no editor knows. Writing well means believing in your writing and believing in yourself, taking risks, daring to be different, pushing yourself to excel. You will write only as you make yourself write." (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This a clear, thorough guide on writing well and writing authentically. For those who always hesitate to explain the desire to be a writer isn't synonymous with being Hemingway, the author offers a spirited defense of creative nonfiction. He also argues for the interest of the reader, pointing out what may be of interest to you may not translate directly into something someone else wants to read. Reading this in just a few sittings, his strong opinions can grate on ones' nerves at points. His re...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-writing

Every bit as good the second time around.

If someone is going to presume to teach us to write, I think we can all agree that he’d better be pretty darn good at it himself. And in On Writing Well, we’re treated to that kind of a teacher—Zinsser clearly practices, and so we settle down into our pews and let him preach. His writing seems as if it just came gliding out of his pen—effortless and conversational, full of unselfconscious grace and sparkling with wry wit—but lest we stand too much in awe...more Every bit as good the second time around.

If someone is going to presume to teach us to write, I think we can all agree that he’d better be pretty darn good at it himself. And in On Writing Well, we’re treated to that kind of a teacher—Zinsser clearly practices, and so we settle down into our pews and let him preach. His writing seems as if it just came gliding out of his pen—effortless and conversational, full of unselfconscious grace and sparkling with wry wit—but lest we stand too much in awe of his ease with words, he comfortingly takes us aside, pushes back the curtain, and confides that writing is hard work for him too:

“Rewriting is the essence of writing well: it’s where the game is won or lost. That idea is hard to accept. We all have an emotional equity in our first draft; we can’t believe that it wasn’t born perfect. But the odds are close to 100 percent that it wasn’t. … The newly hatched sentence almost always has something wrong with it. …

“Learn to enjoy this tidying process. I don’t like to write; I like to have written. But I love to rewrite. I especially like to cut: to press the DELETE key and see an unnecessary word or phrase or sentence vanish into the electricity. I like to replace a humdrum word with one that has more precision or color. I like to strengthen the transition between one sentence and another. I like to rephrase a drab sentence to give it a more pleasing rhythm or a more graceful musical line. With every small refinement I feel that I’m coming nearer to where I would like to arrive, and when I finally get there I know that it was the rewriting, not the writing, that won the game.”

Who can’t relate to that? I sure can—I don’t particularly like to write either, but like Zinsser, I do love to have written. Rewriting is something he’s helping me to develop a taste for.

And even though On Writing Well is a guide for crafting nonfiction, it strikes me as a very worthwhile read for every type of writer. If there’s an equally outstanding guide out there for fiction, someone please let me know. In the meantime, I’ll keep coming back to Zinsser.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 27, 2008 Steven rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who wants to improve their writing.

Shelves: reference, writing

One of the oldest ways to master a craft is through imitation and writing well is no different. Zinsser's book stands alongside Strunk & White's "Elements of Style" as one of the best guides on how to write clearly and effectively. The book's tone and style is much like a series of lectures from a professor who projects a sense of knowledge, warmth, and passion.

Zinsser illustrates many of his points through the use of personal anecdotes and examples culled from writers of different disciplin...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 27, 2007 Katelyn Beaty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: person who wants to write all good

Shelves: books-on-books, classics

I always thought of the ability to write well as a gift more than a skill--kind of like hand-eye coordination, or rhythm. You either have it or you don't. It's not until I began working in the editorial world that I realized the writing which seems effortless is that which requires the most effort. Part of my training at this job required reading a quintessential work on nonfiction writing, William Zinsser's "On Writing Well" (30th Anniversary edition). I was warned that it's a slow burn--perhap...more

8 likes · like · see review

Jul 16, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like books on writing. I even have a separate shelf for them. My collection of books on writing has been growing steadily even though I don't write at all.
Most books on writing, even when posing as style manuals, represent a way of life, a philosophy on how a soul should read or be read. Reading On Writing Well was more like reading a guide to living than reading a guide to writing nonfiction -- Zinsser does not stop to emphasize how important it is to be yourself, how important it is to see...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 05, 2007 Lis rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

A lot of people like this book, and it is a very cheap book to buy. It is great at teaching you how to cut unnecessary words from your writing, which is something I need to do more often. But that's about the only lesson I learned. One of his pet peeves is nouns used as verbs, which is funny because I now use the word "zinsserize" to mean cutting out unnecessary words. (For eample, "Nice essay, but you need to zinsserize it some".) I enjoy it. But as for the book, the index of most grammar handb...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 James rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-left-unfinished

Finally! A well written book on writing well. Zinsser presents the concepts clearly, concisely and interestingly - the latter of which is something not easily done in instructional books. He is a terrific writer, which one would think would be a criterion for writing this genre of books. But I've found this is not the case.

Zissner doesn't waste time with schmaltzy examples of how to formulate plots and manufacture characters, but instead focuses on clarity, grammar, story structure and how to ho...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Bob Nichols rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The author makes some good points. It's o.k., he says, to use "I" in writing a narrative. It displays ownership and a clear actor. "Who is the audience?" he asks. In the end he says it's the writer who must write for the writer's self. Zinsser advises us to be picky on the words we use as they have emotional weight and shades of meaning and tells us to keep our paragraphs short as they have a visual presentation as well as information for the brain. He provides two pages of self-editing to illus...more

like · see review

Apr 19, 2013 Farnoosh Brock rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: art-of-writing

I love William Zinsser’s writing style. He writes about the English language and yet it reads like poetry in several parts. While he is certainly not one with a small vocabulary and knowledge of the language, he writes ever so clearly. With his writing, less is really more and right delivery of the words on paper lies at the heart of all writing.

According to Zinsser, and perhaps countless writers, writing is hard work. It is no easy task to produce good and original content regularly. It takes d...more I love William Zinsser’s writing style. He writes about the English language and yet it reads like poetry in several parts. While he is certainly not one with a small vocabulary and knowledge of the language, he writes ever so clearly. With his writing, less is really more and right delivery of the words on paper lies at the heart of all writing.

According to Zinsser, and perhaps countless writers, writing is hard work. It is no easy task to produce good and original content regularly. It takes discipline, determination, practice, daily effort, and countless reviews of what you have written, including a read out loud, for the result to become polished and worthwhile. The room to grow and improve is large, and our efforts should be to fill that room someday.

Zinsser is commanding, bold and brazen in giving advice and delivering his points for the sake of better use of the English Language. He wants us to simplify, and to have a purpose for each word we use. He wants us to use far less clutter. The secret, he says, is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. His fabulous example of our freedom from clutter is a beautiful piece from the Walden, which I must repeat for your sake:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach me, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Clutter takes away from the strength of our message and adds an air of pomposity to our writing. The chapter on Clutter is my favorite. He entertains while berates us for letting the American language become so infested by clutter and redundancy.

What then would be our style, if all of us strip all our sentences to their bare bones? In response, Zinsser tells us to first strip and simplify, and understand what is clutter and what is essential. Then build your style around that correct foundation.

I love how well William Zinsser can articulate any abstract concept in the realm of writing. In The Sound of your Voice chapter, he articulates style for us. Whatever our style, he tells us not to be crude, verbose, corny, and hence contemptuous of the English language. Stay away from cliches, and be fresh and original, he repeats over and over.

The last pages of the book are some of the best and most inspiring for the English Language lover. Zinsser reminds us that verbs have more vigor than nouns, that active verbs are better than passive verbs, that short words are easier to read than long ones, and that if you would like to write better than every one else, you have to want to write better more than everybody else.(less)

like · see review

Apr 15, 2013 PriscillaC rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"On Writing Well" by William Zinsser was a great book for me to read. Because all of my previous teachers at school have told me that I need to read more to improve my writing and expressions, and standardized tests like the MAP test and the ERB test, the Terra Nova test, etc. had similar results, I went to the bookstore and tried to find a good book that would help me improve my writing. And this book just caught my eye. At first, I picked this book from the bookshelf because it had a pretty co...more

like · see review

Jun 27, 2012 Michael Spotts rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Writers trapped in jungles

Shelves: non-fiction-writing-skills

Turning the last page of On Writing Well, by William Zinsser, I compulsively kissed the cover—an act of grateful reverence bestowed on few books in the Spotts library, effectively Knighthood in the realm of my reading. This distinction was earned by Zinsser’s incomparable usefulness to the Writer that Would Be. Many “accomplished authors” have assumed the task of sharpening our nibs, and showed themselves little more than grammarians, or seized the chance to flaunt their cloying style and terrib...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Shanae rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book may have a few valuable suggestions throughout, but it is difficult to reap Zinsser's lessons through his sexism and eurocentrism. He uses his own work (Haircurl) in the "Humor" chapter for no good reason because he really doesn't do anything with it except to show that it is funny. Unfortunately, it is not funny, and it is actually quite offensively mocking women. In "A Writer's Decisions" he describes a piece he wrote with thickly layered romanticism about a desert tribe that exotici...more

like · see review

Apr 07, 2012 Nikole Hahn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“This fixation on the finished article causes writers a lot of trouble, deflecting them from all the earlier decisions that have to be made to determine its shape and voice and content. It’s a very American kind of troulbe. We are a culture that worships the winning result: the league championship, the high test score. Coaches are paid to win, teachers are valued for getting students into the best colleges. Less glamorous gains made along the way–learning, wisdom, growth, confidence, dealing wit...more

like · see review

Mar 16, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can only assume that Stephen King pilfered and edited this book’s title for his own guide to writing and crusade against the adverb, “On Writing.” If this is true, then I agree with Mr. King and his heist illustrates much of my experience with “On Writing Well”—for a book that emphasizes efficient writing above all, it could be trimmed down to half its size without losing much.

The true value is in the first 6 chapters, which as a stand-alone merit a 5 star rating. While there is more ‘tell’ t...more

like · see review

Jan 31, 2011 Viviana D. Otero rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-top-twenty

I first read On Writing Well years ago when I was assigned to co-teach a writing course for Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) the summer of 2000. I thought then, I was prepared to teach a bunch of highly intelligent teens about the elements in writing great nonfiction. It turned out, however, that I learned much more about the writing process thanks to Zinsser. The head instructor for the course had read the book and informed me that our classes would be doing so as well. On...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 28, 2011 Austin James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: writing-books

Yesterday I wrote a post on "How Writing Fiction and Writing Non-Fiction are Different." I started thinking about this subject after reading William Zinsser's "On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Non-Fiction." This is one of those books that has sold over a million copies (Sorry Snooki, it looks like your book hasn't hit 9,000 yet). It's a must read for anyone who writes - especially the non-fiction writer.

The book is divided into four parts...

1. The Principles of Writing: If you can m...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 04, 2009 Stidmama rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not sure how much I can say about this book, other than it is a great text for people struggling with using grammar rules, and a sort of "storybook" for people who just want to brush up on their writing skills. Zinsser is a much-published author of non-fiction (newspapers, magazines, books), and draws on his many decades and types of experiences to guide other writers in matters of style and substance. His main focus is on helping writers develop "voice" -- the nearly indescribable style that ma...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2013 Wayne Groner rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Zinsser says that at the heart of good nonfiction writing is the personal transaction between writer and reader, “an aliveness that keeps the reader reading from one paragraph to the next” without gimmicks. The transaction is cemented when the writer honestly communicates “humanity and warmth . . . clarity and strength.”

His updates to this edition include changes in social and literary trends, demographic patterns, new technologies, new words and usages, and lessons learned in wrestling with th...more

like · see review

Aug 23, 2012 Eric Chappell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My notes: On Writing Well

1. The Transaction
-rewriting is the essence of writing
-all kinds of writers and all kinds of methods--whatever works is right for you
-good writing communicates: humanity & warmth
-great writing needs to be personalized

2. Simplicity
-"Clutter is the disease of American writing" (6)
-secret of good writing is to strip away the unnecessary
-Simplify. Simplify.
-clear thinking becomes clear writing
-Who is the Reader? The person with 30 second attention span
-Writing is Hard Wo...more

like · see review

Mar 23, 2013 Annie McCall rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, writing, top-favorites

This book does what Annie Dillard's The Writing Life totally failed in. I think that her book was more like a memoir with a few sentences about how to be a writer whereas Zinsser clearly demonstrates - using examples of good writing of his own and of others - how to truly write well in nonfiction, no matter what subgenre of nonfiction you're aiming for.

A superb guidebook that I will probably come back to repeatedly; it has such great information. This book is a very enjoyable read, too, unlike...more

like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

first read this book in the mid-1970's in a college class. It was one of our texts. I remember thinking even then that the book was readable and interesting, and that it focused my attention on writing as a craft. Often I find myself thinking about the creative and artistic aspects of writing but forgetting that, as a craft, writing can also be a disciplined activity. For this reason, I am glad to take the time to reread this classic guide to writing.

Though the book is not a typical how-to-text...more

like · see review

Jan 13, 2013 sla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

p 16

Look for the clutter in your writing and prune it ruthlessly. Be grateful for everything you can throw away. Reexamine each sentence you put on paper. Is every word doing new work? Can any thought be expressed with more economy? Is anything pompous or pretentious or faddish? Are you hanging on to something useless just because you think it’s beautiful?

Simplify, simplify.

p 91

[R]eaders can do their own marveling. They will also enjoy being allowed to think for themselves. The reader plays a m

...more

like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Julie Luekenga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's hard not to give high ratings to the classic of writing books, "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. Like any book on writing, it's not complete by itself, but add it to a collection of other books on writing ("Bird by Bird"- Anne Lamott, "The Writing Life" - Annie Dillard, and others) and you begin to have a vision of the hard work, satisfaction and process of being a writer. Zinsser is unique in the emphasis he places on good writing, accurate use and application of the English language a...more

like · see review

Sep 07, 2010 Alissa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: manuals

Zinsser's first few chapters talk solely about eliminating clutter and simplifying your work... yet his book is more than 300 pages of repetitive, hypocritical and lengthy sentences. This book could have been easily shortened to 50-100 pages. I was not a fan of his many examples (quite frankly, I skipped over most of them). Most of all, I wish Zinsser followed his own advice - simplify, and trust your material (don't feel the need to explain almost every single principle; we get it). The book, h...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 09, 2009 M.C. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-2010

William Zinsser did not sell more than a million copies of On Writing Well by writing for the APA only. Zinsser was successful because he wrote for the average reader by writing for himself. He conveyed his identity in his work by writing from his perspective. The uniqueness of Zinsser's voice and ideas are fresh to the reader, who wants to read anything but a 300-paged address about grammar's conventional rules. Zinsser also avoided condescension in his tone by writing for himself. Who would co...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 13, 2013 John Mlinar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me steal from Hamlet to summarize the book as follows:

POLONIUS [personified as rambling bad writing]
This business is well ended.
My liege and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad.
Mad call I it, for, to define true madness,
What is ’t but to be nothing e...more

like · see review

Aug 04, 2011 Xiaomin Zu rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: howtowrite

I cannot believe I finished reading this book while taking intensive Japanese classes and going through volunteer training at the same time. Somehow this book kept dragging me back to it and I have to say that it changed my life. While reading it, I could see my inner critical reader emerging and feel my inner writer growing.
For years, I struggled with reading, because I don't feel confident enough to say I like this book or dislike that book. I feel "unqualified" to comment on others writings....more

like · see review

Apr 09, 2010 Taka rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: japan_jul07-aug10, writing_reference

Read the first two parts--

Witty, concise, and informative, the first two parts on "Principles" and "Methods" are brilliant. These parts, however, constitute 30% of the book. The rest of the book - that is, 70% - is uneven and can be skipped without missing out on anything important.

The only chapters I found worth reading are those on "Science and Technology," "Business Writing," and "Writing About Arts," all of which are in Part III. Other than these, none of the chapters say anything that hasn'...more

2 likes · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (26)

More editions...

Genres

Language > Writing

504 users

Non Fiction

239 users

Reference

90 users

Business

28 users

Humanities > Language

19 users

Education

15 users

Self Help

15 users

How To

13 users

Academic > School

9 users

Classics

9 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About William Knowlton Zinsser

William Knowlton Zinsser (born October 7, 1922) is a writer, editor, and teacher. He began his career as a journalist for the New York Herald Tribune, where he worked as a feature writer, drama editor, film critic, and editorial writer, and has been a longtime contributor to leading magazines.

In his books, Zinsser emphasizes word economy. Author James J. Kilpatrick, in his book The Writer's Art sa...more

More about William Knowlton Zinsser...

Books by William Knowlton Zinsser

Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir

Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past

Writing to Learn: How to Write--And Think--Clearly about Any Subject at All

Writing Places: The Life Journey of a Writer and Teacher

Worlds of Childhood: The Art and Craft of Writing for Children

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About On Writing Well: ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from On Writing Well: The C...

“Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it.” — 5 people liked it

“Less is more.” — 5 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
avg rating	preview: On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction Goodreads rating: 4.15 (6802 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6482491-on-writing-well?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347366419l/6482491.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6482491-on-writing-well?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Knowlton Zinsser[/url]

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website