5 Timeless Writing Secrets From Best Book On Nonfiction Writing by William Zinsser

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser was first published in 1976. He was a writer and professor of creative nonfiction. It has sold almost 1.5 million copies. It breaks down the principles of good writing & common problems writers encounter.

Whether you aspire to be a professional writer, want to gain the attention of your audience, or want to improve your writing skills, you've come to the right place. Here are five timeless writing secrets from William Zinsser.

1. Clear Thinking Is Clear Writing: Clear thinking becomes clear writing; one can't exist without the other. Writers must therefore constantly ask: what am I trying to say? Surprisingly often they don't know. Then they must look at what they've written and ask: have I said it?

Thinking clearly is a conscious act that writers must force on themselves as if they were working on any other project that requires logic. Good writing doesn’t come naturally, though most people seem to think it does. Thinking clearly is hard therefore writing is hard.

2. Writing is Rewriting: A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time or even the third time. With each rewrite try to make what you've written tighter, stronger, and more precise, eliminating every element that's not doing useful work.

The act of putting your thoughts into words is merely the starting point. True magic happens when you devote yourself to refining and enhancing your work until it reaches its full potential. Only then can your words truly inspire and captivate your audience.

3. Reader's Attention Is Your Responsibility: A reader is someone with an attention span of 30 seconds, and lots of interesting things are competing for his attention. Respect your reader's time and reduce the friction between what you write and what your readers understand.

Writers must ensure that their words are understandable to their audience, while also ensuring that their words captivate and maintain the attention of their readers. By doing so, writers can effectively convey their message and make a lasting impact on their readers.

4. Find Your Style: Good writers are visible just behind their words. Be yourself and express your thoughts, emotions, and opinions confidently. Believe in your own identity. A unique style turns your readers into loyal fans. Embrace your style no matter how weird it is.

5. Focus On Yourself, Not The Audience: Editors and readers don’t know what they want to read until they read it. Besides, they’re always looking for something new. When you write for yourself it comes from within and brings raw emotion into your writing.