Perspective

William Zinsser is a highly published freelance writer and teacher of writing. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and columnist in New York City, where he still lives. His mother gave him a love of well-written nonfiction during his youth, and the paper gave him the training he needed to write well.

Zinsser presents a craft book for all those who wish to improve their writing skills. He makes no effort to elevate the writing craft beyond the realities of hard work, constant revision, attention to fine details, the need for high integrity, and the demands on courage. His audience could be executive management or students, professional writers or hobbyists. Many of the principles he brings out also apply to fiction writers, such as using the exact words and reducing clutter. The use of humor translates to a style of fiction writing, as does bringing in...