The World's Best Book Summaries
How are memoirs different from autobiographies? What is the main focus of a memoir? In his book On Writing Well, William Zinsser discusses how to write a memoir. He says that memoirs, in contrast to autobiographies, should have a narrow focus on a specific event in one’s life. Here are some memoir writing tips from William Zinsser.
What are the three points of view in writing? Which point of view should you choose? There are three common points of view in writing: first person, second person, and third person. The first thing you should decide when writing a narrative piece is which point of view you are going to use. Here are some things to consider when choosing which point of view to use.
Do you struggle to get your point across in your writing? Do you want to learn to write clearly and concisely? The two most important rules for clear writing are to follow a logical sequence and to be consistent. And, of course, you need to thoroughly understand the material you are writing about. Here’s how to write clearly, according to journalist William Zinsser.
Do you often write for business? What are some things to keep in mind when writing a professional e-mail, memo, or report? If you want to improve your business writing skills, the number one thing to keep in mind is simplicity. And don’t be afraid to add some personality rather than sounding like a robot. Here are some tips on how to improve your business writing.
Do you want to improve your writing skills? What does taste have to do with writing? In his book On Writing Well, American writer, journalist, and teacher William Zinsser explains how to improve your writing. The key, he says, is to develop a taste for good writing. Zinsser believes that you should choose authors whose style you admire, then try to emulate their style until you develop your own voice. Here’s why developing good taste is the first step to improving your writing.
What exactly is cluttered writing? How does unnecessary wordiness compromise your writing? In his book On Writing Well, William Zinsser points out five common types of clutter: wordy phrases, euphemisms, adverbs, too many adjectives, and qualifiers. By reducing or eliminating these types of clutter in your writing, you will write more clearly and communicate your point more effectively. Let’s look at a few common types of cluttered writing and how to avoid them.
What makes a good story ending? What are some things you should consider when writing the ending for a nonfiction piece? Beginning and ending stories are some of the hardest things to do for a writer. A good ending should leave the reader feeling satisfied and give them something to think about. An ending shouldn’t simply summarize what a reader has already read. Here’s how to end a story right, according to writer and literary critic William Zinsser.
Do you write about science and technology? How can you make your writing sound less robotic? When people write about science and technology, they tend to lack humanity, making the piece too boring and matter-of-fact. To make your technical writing more interesting, focus on humanity first and incorporate facts and statistics only if they add to the story. Here’s how to make your technical writing more interesting.
Do you want to know how to begin a story? What kinds of story leads should you avoid? Opening a story can be the most intimidating part. The first line of a story is what sets the scene in the readers’ minds, so it should be compelling. However, many writers fall into the same traps. Here’s how to begin a story without being cliché.
What makes a good story? What are the key elements of a story that’s enticing and compelling to read? It’s one thing to be a good writer, but it’s another thing to know how to write a good story. To keep your readers’ attention throughout the piece, the beginning, middle, and end of a story should flow together logically and coherently. Here are some tips from writer and journalist William Zinsser.