The Craft of Writing

Writing well is sometimes considered a talent and even an art, but Zinsser thinks of writing as a craft that should be practiced and perfected. Everybody has the ability to write well enough to produce clear prose without useless words or words that carry little, if any, meaning. Still, without clear thinking, clear writing cannot result. The act of writing can help organize thoughts on a subject, with the end result being clarity in both the thinking and writing.

Performing research on a subject is usually the first stage of writing, and the writer often conducts interviews during this stage. Mastering the interview is a major part of the writing craft and can only be learned by doing. Although the writer may be anxious about conducting interviews, most people like to talk about what they do for a living, for enjoyment, where they live, and...