Comments on: Review: On Writing Well

By: typome

typome — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:22:00 +0000

Thanks for reviewing this book! I just placed a hold for it in my library. All this writing talk has inspired me to start a writing blog. =)

By: Iris Hood

Iris Hood — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:05:14 +0000

Trent,
Thanks for featuring On Writing Well. I just got my hands on a copy and plan to start reading today.
Have a good one,
Iris

By: Daniel E. Friedman

Daniel E. Friedman — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:08:34 +0000

As a composer of music, I find this review and the outline of the book fascinating and practical. What a great resource for a writer.

By: taitong

taitong — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:50:46 +0000

Hi Trent,

I’m glad you reviewed this book concisely, for this is one of my favorite books on writing.

However, the summary for chapter 5: The audience completely misrepresents the point Zinsser was making.

” ‘Who am I writing for?’ is a fundamental question,” says Zinsser, “and it has a fundamental answer: You are writing for yourself.”

I wanted to point out that Zinsser does not believe in an audience the way you have mentioned in your review, but you are right, in that a suitable definition of the audience should be between what Zinsser believes, and what goes on in mainstream blogs nowadays: writing for a specific audience.

By: David Szpunar

David Szpunar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:20:28 +0000

Thank you for the excellent review. I’m sure I have this book tucked away somewhere (if not, library here I come!). My wife and I are moving into our new house this weekend but I’ll have to remember to dig it out very soon and finish it, because I believe I only got started years ago (likely when I was close to twelve myself!).

Thanks for the reminder! I’m writing enough now (between blog and school) that it should come in very handy! And your review was a good overview of things to work on.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:51:38 +0000

Great review! You have a way with words.

By: sfgal

sfgal — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:18:23 +0000

That’s a classic book on writing and a wonderful gem. It’s helped me craft stories when I’m suck with writer’s block.

I’d also like to suggest another good book “writing tools: 50 essential strategies for every writer” by Roy Peter Clark. It’s an all-purpose book that teaches simple and easy to use techniques such as tucking in the weaker elements into the middle of the sentence. The techniques can be used in writing reports, emails and letters. Roy Peter Clark who teaches at the Poynter Institute is a legend in journalism for his wonderful writing tips.

His columns updated weekly I think are good supplements in addition to the book – http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=78&aid=129389

By: Faisca

Faisca — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:15:41 +0000

I’ve never had to read this for any school classes, but I picked it up the other day because I heard about it somewhere. Along with The Elements of Style, this is supposed to be the writer’s Bible.

I haven’t cracked it open yet, but I’m itching to. I just have too many other things to read first. Argh.

By: Madame X

Madame X — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:20:20 +0000

I had to read this for a non-fiction writing class in college, and you’re right, it’s a classic, and I should probably be re-reading it!

ps. you’ve been tagged:
http://www.myopenwallet.net/2007/09/frugal-subversive.html

By: Grace

Grace — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:38:50 +0000

You’ve only been journaling since age 12? I’ve got you beat. I started in fourth grade. Looking back, I state clearly (if ungrammatically)that I want to become a “techer and tech redding and writing.”

This book was one of the best on “redding and writing,” if not spelling.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:39:17 +0000

Oh, I had to read this book in college! What a fun walk down memory lane.

Some people will always believe that the longer it is, the better it is, but really, it’s the skill of the short sentence that packs a bigger punch.

Oh, and use more commas!

By: Lynnae @ Being Frugal

Lynnae @ Being Frugal — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:01:40 +0000

I’m reading this one right now, and I have a lot to learn. I love that it’s an “easy read”. I was surprised to find that it wasn’t a dry textbook-like read.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:06:41 +0000

I was assigned to read this book before senior year’s AP Language & Composition…and after years of required summer reading, it’s the one I still find to be the most useful.

By: J.D.

J.D. — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 05:57:34 +0000

This is one of the books that I read repeatedly. I apply its principles constantly. In fact, I’ve used them three times while writing this comment. (Most notably, “again and again” became “repeatedly”.)

It’s been too long since I read On Writing Well, and I can tell that my writing has begun to suffer for it…

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:34:30 +0000

Hi Trent,

That’s a great summary of many of the parts of the book. Someday I’ll get around to the book itself, for now your summary has provided another kick in the head of what to (and what not to) do when writing.

By: Randy Peterman

Randy Peterman — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:09:11 +0000

Wow, thanks for this summary of the contents of the book. As a reflection I think its also important as a reader to keep some of these elements in mind as you read. Number five particularly stands out. Sometimes you get to read things that weren’t directed to you (forwarded emails, etc) and you need to keep that in mind before you get upset or confused.

By: FIRE Finance

FIRE Finance — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:16:00 +0000

Great review. We shall go for this book!