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William Zinsser

William Zinsser Quotes

Writer

William Zinsser was an American writer renowned for his concise, clear, and humorous writing style. His works spanned a variety of fields including literature, history, and practical writing, with his most famous titles being 'On Writing Well' and 'American Writing'. Zinsser's writing style has had a profound impact on modern writing.

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All Writing Ifs Reader Want Sentences Thinking People Written Knows Trying Write Writer Writing Well Hard On Writing Writes Art On Writing Well Reading Subjects

Famous William Zinsser Quotes

“No one has something original or important to say will willing we run the risk of being misunderstood; people who write obscurely are either unskilled in writing or up to mischief”

People Writing Important Running Risk Willing Originals Misunderstood Mischief Being Misunderstood

Author:William Zinsser

“A writer is obviously at his most natural and relaxed when he writes in the first person. Writing is a personal transaction between two people, conducted on paper, and the transaction will go well to the extent that it retains its humanity.”

People Writing Firsts Wells Persons Two Humanity Natural Paper Relaxed First Person Transactions

Author:William Zinsser

“Get people talking. Learn to ask questions that will elicit answers about what is most interesting or vivid in their lives. Nothing so animates writing as someone telling what he thinks or what he does - in his own words. His own words will always be better than your words, even if you are the most elegant stylist in the land.”

People Ifs Thinking Writing Doe Asks Answers Interesting Talking Land Elegant Vivid Most Interesting Stylist People Talking

Author:William Zinsser

“If you write for yourself, you'll reach all the people you want to write for.”

People Ifs Want Writing

Author:William Zinsser

“People and places are the twin pillars on which most nonfiction is built. Every human event happens somewhere, and the reader wants to know what that somewhere was like.”

People Knows Want Humans Happens Events Reader Built Nonfiction Twins Pillars

Author:William Zinsser

“Writing is such lonely work that I try to keep myself cheered up. If something strikes me as funny in the act of writing, I throw it in just to amuse myself. If I think it's funny I assume a few other people will find it funny, and that seems to me to be a good day's work.”

People Ifs Thinking Writing Trying Seems Lonely Assuming Strikes Good Day

Author:William Zinsser

“Few people realize how badly they write. Nobody has shown them how much excess or murkiness has crept into their style.”

People Writing Realizing Style Excess

Book:On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Source: On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

“If writing seems hard, it's because it is hard. It's one of the hardest things people do.”

People Ifs Writing Hard Seems Perfection Hardest Hardest Thing Writers And Writing

Author:William Zinsser

“I almost always urge people to write in the first person. ... Writing is an act of ego and you might as well admit it.”

People Writing Firsts Wells Persons Might Ego Urges First Person

Author:William Zinsser

“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”

People Ifs Writing Firsts Hard Moments Remember Clear Hard Work Despair First Time Thirds Sentences Accidents Hardest Hardest Thing Third Time Writing Well

Book:On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Source: On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

“But nothing has replaced the writer. He or she is still stuck with the same old job of saying something that other people will want to read.”

People Want Stills Jobs Stuck Replaced Old Job

Author:William Zinsser

“People read with their ears, whether they know it or not.”

People Knows Ears

Author:William Zinsser

“What I want to do is to make people laugh so that they'll see things seriously.”

People Want Humor Funny Work Laughing Making People Laugh

Author:William Zinsser

About the Author

Born: October 7, 1922
Died: May 12, 2015
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 150

Related Topics

Writing Ifs Reader Want Sentences Thinking People Written Knows Trying Write Writer Writing Well Hard On Writing Writes Art On Writing Well Reading Subjects

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing NonfictionRelated source material

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing NonfictionRelated source material

On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing NonfictionRelated source material

Writing about Your Life: A Journey Into the PastRelated source material

The Writer Who StayedRelated source material

ON WRITING WELL : THE CLASSIC GUIDE TO WRITING NONFICTIONRelated source material

Spring TrainingRelated source material

Worlds of Childhood: The Art and Craft of Writing for ChildrenRelated source material

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