William Zinsser
William Zinsser
William Knowlton Zinsserwas an American writer, editor, literary critic, 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. He was a longtime contributor to leading magazines...
William Zinsser quotes about
writing thinking paper
Writing is thinking on paper.
writing hard-work people
Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it's because it is hard. It's one of the hardest things that people do
writing thinking soul
Writing is not a special language that belongs to a few sensitive souls who have a 'gift for words'. Writing is the logical arrangement of thought. Anyone who thinks clearly should be able to write clearly---about any subject at all.
confused writing tired
Don’t say you were a bit confused and sort of tired and a little depressed and somewhat annoyed. Be tired. Be confused. Be depressed. Be annoyed. Don’t hedge your prose with little timidities. Good writing is lean and confident.
writing people ego
I almost always urge people to write in the first person. ... Writing is an act of ego and you might as well admit it.
editors want strive
All writers should strive to deliver something fresh-something editors or readers won't know they want until they see it.
writing simplicity humanity
Four basic premises of writing: clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity.
reading writing easy
Hard writing makes easy reading. Easy writing makes hard reading.
writing jargon disease
Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills, and meaningless jargon.
writing thinking clear
Clear thinking becomes clear writing; one can't exist without the other.
inspirational art writing
Writing is a craft not an art.
writing alive written
To defend what you've written is a sign that you are alive.
writing clear sentences
A clear sentence is no accident.
writing people hardest
If writing seems hard, it's because it is hard. It's one of the hardest things people do.