Book Summary: On Writing Well

Introduction

• Initial Inspiration:
  • E. B. White's photograph serves as a simple yet powerful reminder of the writer's essential tools and the creative process.
  • White's influence on the author's writing style and teaching methodologies.
  • Author's decision to complement, not compete with, "The Elements of Style" by offering practical application advice for nonfiction writing.
• Evolution of "On Writing Well":
  • Evolving to reflect societal changes, literary trends, technological advancements, and the author's personal experiences with various writing projects.
  • Revisions to address new social interests, diverse writer demographics, technological shifts, and emerging literary genres.
  • Growing popularity and influence of the book across generations and different writing communities.
• Shift in Teaching Focus:
  • Author's transition to focus more on intangible qualities like confidence, enjoyment, intention, and integrity rather than just writing mechanics.
  • Incorporation of new chapters on values and teaching memoir and family history writing.
  • Observations from teaching memoir courses and assisting individuals in navigating the challenges of writing personal narratives.
• Challenges of Modern Writing:
  • The impact of technological advancements like word processors, the Internet, and e-mail on writing habits and quality.
  • The convenience of electronic tools in writing, but the importance of not overlooking the essence of rewriting for quality improvement.
  • The rise of blogging, e-mails, and web content creation in the modern writing landscape.

The Transaction

• Dr. Brock's View on Writing:
  • Believed writing was easy and fun, a way to relax and unwind.
  • Advocated against rewriting, suggesting that natural writing is best.
  • Suggested taking breaks on bad writing days and enjoying the literary world.
  • Enjoyed weaving symbolism in his writing.
• Author's Perspective on Writing:
  • Expressed that writing is hard work, not always enjoyable or easy.
  • Emphasized the importance of rewriting as the essence of writing.
  • Advocated for establishing a daily writing routine and treating writing as a craft.
  • Preferred avoiding symbolism in writing.
• The Writing Process:
  • Highlighted the diversity in writing methods and writers' preferences.
  • Underlined the vulnerability and tension experienced by all writers when putting themselves on paper.
  • Emphasized that the essence of good writing lies in expressing one's true self and generating enthusiasm for the subject matter.
  • Stressed the importance of achieving clarity and strength through language.

Simplicity

• Clutter in Writing:
  • Americans are plagued by unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous language, and jargon.
  • Secret of good writing lies in stripping sentences to essential components.
  • Complexity often correlates with education and rank.
• Clear Thinking for Clear Writing:
  • Clear writing stems from clear thinking; muddy thinking leads to confusing writing.
  • Readers bombarded by distractions need concise and clear writing to hold their attention.
  • Readers blame themselves initially for confusion but will not persist if the writer makes understanding too difficult.
• The Writing Process:
  • Writers must constantly ask: What am I trying to say? Have I said it clearly?
  • Writing clearly is a conscious effort that writers must actively pursue.
  • Good writing requires multiple revisions to eliminate unnecessary elements and ensure precision.

Clutter

• Clutter Defined:
  • Clutter refers to unnecessary words and phrases that bloat writing and hinder clarity.
  • Examples include using verbose expressions like "at this point in time" instead of "now" or adding unnecessary prepositions to verbs.
  • Clutter often comes in the form of pompous phrases, euphemisms, jargon, and unnecessary qualifiers that weaken sentences.
• Identifying and Eliminating Clutter:
  • Authors are advised to examine every word they write and question if it serves a purpose.
  • Bracketing superfluous words and phrases can help writers visually identify clutter in their work.
  • By ruthlessly pruning unnecessary elements and simplifying their writing, authors can improve clarity and effectiveness.
• Professional Impact:
  • Many professional writers have benefitted from the practice of recognizing and eliminating clutter in their writing.
  • Developing an eye for clutter and learning to simplify writing can lead to more impactful and engaging prose.

Style

• Strip Down to Build Up:
  • Emphasizes the importance of simplifying writing before enhancing it.
  • Compares writing to carpentry, highlighting the need for a strong foundation before embellishments.
  • Encourages writers to focus on essential tools like strong verbs and solid syntax.
• Be Yourself:
  • Stresses the significance of authenticity in writing to connect with readers.
  • Urges writers to use first-person narrative to maintain humanity and uniqueness in their writing.
  • Discourages writers from trying to adopt artificial styles that mask their true voice.
• Expressing Identity:
  • Encourages writers to express their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment.
  • Highlights the challenge of relaxing and having confidence while writing.
  • Emphasizes the importance of revealing the true self in writing rather than conforming to impersonal guidelines.
• Avoiding Impersonality:
  • Criticizes the trend of avoiding personal expression in writing, leading to bland and indistinguishable content.
  • Suggests ways to convey a sense of personal identity even in contexts where the use of the first person is restricted.
  • Emphasizes the psychological aspect of writing and the deep roots of style in the psyche.

The Audience

• Writing for Yourself:
  • Encourages focusing on personal enjoyment and expression rather than trying to cater to a broad audience.
  • Emphasizes the importance of being true to your style and personality while writing.
  • Separates the craft of writing, which requires precision, from the attitude of writing, which involves self-expression and creativity.
• Examples of Writing for Oneself:
  • E.B. White's passionate piece about chickens highlights writing with humanity and warmth, expressing personal interests unabashedly.
  • H.L. Mencken's irreverent style demonstrates the courage to express firm opinions and disregard for reader approval.
  • James Herndon's portrayal of a teacher's experience reflects writing authentically for oneself, regardless of the audience.
• The Art of Expressing Yourself:
  • Encourages writers to be true to their unique voice and to enjoy the process of self-expression in writing.
  • Highlights the importance of crafting style over time and continuously evolving as a writer.

Words

• The Problem with "Journalese":
  • "Journalese" is a style of writing filled with clichés, made-up words, and overused phrases common in newspapers and magazines.
  • Using this style can make a writer sound unoriginal and like a "hack."
  • To stand out as a writer, one must have a deep respect for words and choose them carefully.
• The Importance of Avoiding Clichés:
  • Overused phrases like "crashing into his face" or "sending shock waves" make writing banal and predictable.
  • Originality in word choice is key to engaging readers and avoiding clichéd writing.
  • Reading and learning from great writers helps in developing a unique writing style.
• The Value of Using Dictionaries and Thesauruses:
  • Using dictionaries and thesauruses helps writers find the right words, understand their meanings, and explore synonyms to enhance their writing.
  • By delving into the meaning, etymology, and nuances of words, writers can improve their vocabulary and writing style.
  • Roget's Thesaurus is praised for providing a wide range of synonyms and aiding in word choice.
• The Significance of Sound and Rhythm in Writing:
  • Considerations of rhythm, sound, and alliteration are crucial in crafting engaging sentences that resonate with readers.
  • Varying sentence lengths, playing with word order, and reading aloud can help writers identify and address issues like monotony in their writing.
  • Choosing words with originality and paying attention to how they sound when read aloud can make writing more impactful and memorable.

Usage

• Newly Minted Words:
  • Author discusses the acceptance and rejection of new words such as "hassle" and "freak."
  • Expresses willingness to accept certain words while rejecting others based on subjective criteria.
• Language Evolution:
  • Describes language as a changing fabric, with boundaries determined subjectively.
  • Talks about the role of a Usage Panel in determining new word acceptance.
  • Emphasizes the importance of language growth and welcoming new words that bring strength or color.
• Guiding Principles:
  • Panel's tendency to be liberal in accepting new words and conservative in grammar.
  • Highlights the importance of understanding classic distinctions in grammar and rejecting classic errors.
  • Encourages using good words that already exist to express ideas clearly and simply.

Unity

• The Importance of Writing Regularly:
  • Writing regularly is essential to becoming a better writer.
  • Even if your style is not perfect, consistent writing helps exercise language skills and identify common issues.
  • Writing helps in solving various writing problems faced, improving over time with consistent practice.
• Anchor of Good Writing: Unity:
  • Unity is crucial in keeping readers engaged and satisfied, providing order and reassurance.
  • Choices like unity of pronoun, tense, and mood help maintain consistency in writing.
  • Establishing unities before writing assists in controlling the material and maintaining a coherent narrative.
• Making Definitive Decisions:
  • Decide on the approach, pronoun, tense, style, mood, and point to convey before starting to write.
  • Focus on a specific aspect of the subject to cover it well instead of trying to encompass too much.
  • Ensure the writing leaves the reader with one thought they didn't have before, guiding the tone and style of the piece.
• Adapting and Adjusting:
  • It is natural for the material to lead in unexpected directions; adjust the tone and style accordingly if it feels right.
  • Revisions may be needed to ensure consistency and coherence throughout the piece, adapting to the evolving content.
  • Utilize editing tools to fit all unities into the final writing structure for a cohesive and impactful piece.

The Lead and the Ending

• Importance of the Lead:
  • The first sentence crucial to hook the reader; subsequent sentences must maintain interest.
  • Length of the lead varies, with the key test being its effectiveness in engaging the audience.
  • Lead must capture attention immediately with freshness, humor, or curiosity to keep the reader engaged.
• Ending a Piece:
  • A good ending is as vital as a strong lead, prompting the reader to remember the article.
  • Endings should surprise, offer a sense of completion, and avoid unnecessary repetition or summary.
  • Bringing the story full circle or concluding with a memorable quotation can leave a lasting impact on the reader.

Bits & Pieces

• Verbs:
  • Active verbs vital for clarity and energy in writing.
  • Use of active verbs helps in visualizing activities and maintaining momentum in sentences.
  • Importance of selecting vibrant verbs to enhance writing.
• Adverbs:
  • Most adverbs are unnecessary and can clutter sentences.
  • Avoid using adverbs that duplicate the meaning of the verb.
  • Effortlessly easy, slightly spartan, and totally flabbergasted are examples of redundant adverbs.
• Adjectives:
  • Many adjectives are unnecessary and should be used sparingly.
  • Adjectives should add value and not just repeat information already conveyed by the noun.
  • Adjectives solely for decoration burden the reader and should be avoided.
• Little Qualifiers:
  • Avoid using small words like "a bit," "sort of," and "rather" that dilute your writing's impact.
  • Eliminate qualifiers to maintain a confident and assertive writing style.
  • Trim superfluous words to enhance the persuasiveness of your writing.
• Punctuation:
  • Period usage is crucial for maintaining clarity and breaking long sentences for better comprehension.
  • Exclamation points should be used sparingly to achieve specific effects and not to overemphasize emotions.
  • Proper use of semicolons, dashes, and colons can enhance the flow and structure of sentences.

Nonfiction as Literature

• Shift from Fiction to Nonfiction:
  • Historically, literature was mainly novels, short stories, and poems.
  • Post-World War II and rise of television led to a shift towards fact-minded nonfiction.
  • Book-of-the-Month Club and magazines saw a surge in demand for nonfiction.
• Rise of Nonfiction Writers:
  • Nonfiction became the new American literature, encompassing various disciplines and genres.
  • High seriousness and grace in nonfiction writing attracting broad curious readers.
  • Examples include works by David McCullough, Robert A. Caro, Taylor Branch, and many others.
• Redefining Literature and Journalism:
  • Nonfiction offers a path for writers to write about what they know or observe.
  • Historically, good journalism has transformed into good literature in American letters.
  • Emphasis on the importance of good writing, regardless of the form it takes.

The Interview

• Importance of Interviewing:
  • Essential role of interviews in enlivening writing with authentic voices and stories.
  • Quotes from interviews bring direct, personal connection to the readers.
  • Human element and anecdotes from interviews can transform seemingly dull topics into engaging narratives.
• Practical Tips for Conducting Interviews:
  • Choose interview subjects with compelling stories to capture reader interest.
  • Prepare questions beforehand, take notes, and maintain a balance between direct quotes and writer's narrative.
  • Be empathetic, make interviewees comfortable, and aim for brevity and fair representation in quoting them.
  • Use verbatim quotes when essential, but edit for clarity and relevance to enhance readability.
• Handling Quotations Ethically:
  • Importance of accuracy and fairness in representing interviewees' words and viewpoints.
  • Distinction between editing quotes for readability without distorting meaning and fabricating or altering quotes.
  • Emphasis on upholding journalistic integrity by presenting an interviewee's position accurately to maintain trust and respect.

The Travel Article

• The Importance of Writing About a Place:
  • Writing about places is essential as every human event occurs somewhere, and readers want to understand the setting.
  • Descriptive detail is crucial in creating the mood and texture of a location, especially in travel articles.
  • Writing about a place requires selectivity in details and avoiding clichés to keep the reader engaged.
• Challenges in Describing a Place:
  • Travelers often struggle to balance enthusiasm with meaningful details, producing uninteresting work.
  • Avoiding syrupy or clichéd language is necessary to maintain authenticity in describing a place.
  • The writer should aim for fresh words, significant details, and a distinct writing style to captivate the reader.
• Crafting Memorable Descriptions:
  • Focus on selecting unique and significant details rather than stating generic attributes of a location.
  • Effective travel writing involves finding the central idea of a place and conveying it in a compelling manner.
  • Utilize concrete details, precise imagery, and specific anecdotes to bring a location to life for the reader.

The Memoir

• Writing with Individuality:
  • Encouraging writers to embrace their uniqueness and write about what they know and think.
  • Highlighting the importance of permission to write about personal experiences and feelings.
  • Emphasizing the value of self-expression and originality in writing.
• The Power of Personal Detail:
  • Detail plays a crucial role in memoirs, capturing significant sensory experiences and fostering connections to past memories.
  • Examples of authors using details like sounds, smells, and objects to evoke specific moments or emotions from their lives.
  • Detail adds depth and authenticity to memoirs, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the writer's world.
• The Significance of People in Memoirs:
  • People are essential in memoirs, providing memorable interactions and shaping the writer's experiences.
  • Illustrations of intriguing characters, like John Mortimer's blind barrister father, adding humor and depth to memoirs.
  • Memoirs should not only capture personal stories but also reflect on the lessons and growth derived from life's experiences.

Science and Technology

• Overcoming Fear of Science and Writing:
  • Writing is thinking on paper; anyone who thinks clearly can write clearly, demystifying science as another nonfiction subject.
  • Describing how something works is a valuable writing exercise that clarifies your understanding and helps communicate complex ideas.
  • Scientific and technical writing principles apply to all nonfiction writing, leading readers step by step to grasp subjects they may find challenging.
• Making Scientific Writing Accessible:
  • Relate science to common experiences or visuals to help readers understand unfamiliar facts.
  • Weave in personal experiences or stories to humanize scientific topics and engage readers.
  • Write in a clear and engaging manner, using fresh English, avoiding technical jargon, and imitating successful writers in the field.
• Linear Style of Writing:
  • Use a sequential writing style, presenting ideas logically, leading readers step by step through complex topics with clarity and enjoyment.
  • Break down complex processes into understandable steps, providing explanations and examples to guide readers throughout the narrative.
  • Humanize scientific subjects, focusing on the people behind the science and telling a story rather than presenting dry facts.

Writing in Your Job

• Importance of Writing in Every Job:
  • Principles of writing apply to all who write in their jobs.
  • Various forms of workplace writing play crucial roles in careers.
  • Anxiety in writing can be overcome by clear thinking and humanity in writing.
• Humanity in Institutional Writing:
  • Institutions often produce impersonal and jargon-filled communication.
  • Encouragement to warm up institutional language and convey information clearly and humanely.
  • George Orwell's critique on bureaucratic language highlighted to promote clarity and humanity in writing.
• Writing Workshop for Principals:
  • School principals urged to humanize their communication.
  • Examples of bureaucratic and warm communication compared and discussed.
  • Principals encouraged to use simple, clear language and avoid educational jargon.
• Challenges in Corporate Writing:
  • Corporate language often lacks humanity, filled with technical jargon and pompous language.
  • Writers urged to find the human stories behind technical achievements.
  • Struggle to balance corporate expectations and writing with clarity and humanity.
• Encouraging Authenticity in Writing:
  • Emphasis on being oneself when writing, standing out in a sea of impersonal corporate communication.
  • Pressure for executives to sound important, often resulting in inflated and detached language.
  • Call to use language that is clear, personal, and relatable in all forms of professional communication.

Sports

• The Richness of Sports Lingo:
  • Describes the colorful and unique language in sports journalism.
  • Discusses the weariness of overused sports-related idioms and the importance of freshness in writing.
  • Highlights the skill of sportswriters like Red Smith in using fresh language and imagery.
• Evolution of Women in Sports:
  • Reflects on the progress of women in sports from being discouraged in the past to excelling at the highest levels today.
  • References milestones like the inclusion of women's marathon in the Olympics and Billie Jean King's victory over Bobby Riggs.
  • Shows how women's involvement in sports has shattered stereotypes and pushed for equality and recognition in the field.
• Challenges in Modern Sports Journalism:
  • Critiques the modern focus on gossip, statistics, and self-importance in sports reporting.
  • Emphasizes the importance of reporting the game and the players over personal narratives or sensationalism.
  • Encourages writers to focus on capturing the essence of sports, the athletes, and the societal aspects intertwined with sports.
• The Intersection of Sports and Social Issues:
  • Portrays how sports reflect and influence social changes and issues in society.
  • Illustrates various societal themes like economics, gender equality, and values playing out in the realm of sports.
  • Emphasizes the role of sportswriters in addressing broader social issues entwined with sports performance and culture.

Writing About the Arts

• Critics and Columnists:
  • Writing about the arts involves various forms, from journalistic to critique.
  • Being a critic requires special skills and knowledge to appraise new works and performances.
  • Humor, detail, and a love for the medium are essential in good criticism.
• The Role of Critics:
  • Depth of knowledge and passion are crucial for effective art criticism.
  • Exposing readers to the world of arts with specific details and engaging writing is vital.
  • Criticism should provoke thought, evoke emotion, and offer fresh perspectives on art forms.
• Good Reviewing and Criticism:
  • Reviewers need to inform readers about various art forms without giving away too much.
  • Critics should love the medium they review and approach each work with an open mind.
  • Using specific details, avoiding generalities, and maintaining a lean and vivid writing style are key in criticism.

Humor

• The Power of Humor in Nonfiction Writing:
  • Humor is a valuable tool for writers to make important points.
  • Humorous writers like George Ade, H. L. Mencken, and Woody Allen play a vital role in society by shedding light on important issues in a unique way.
  • Humor serves as a means to convey serious messages in a way that engages readers and prompts them to reevaluate familiar situations.
• The Seriousness of Humor:
  • Humorists are as serious in their purpose as more traditional literary figures.
  • Using various forms of humor such as parody, satire, and lampoon, humorists strive to highlight the absurdities and truths in society.
  • Humorists must master the craft of writing and surprise readers with unexpected twists to effectively convey their message.
• Learning from Humorists:
  • By studying humorists like S. J. Perelman, Donald Ogden Stewart, and John Updike, writers can learn to blend intellect, humor, and social commentary effectively.
  • Humor can be used to address serious and current topics creatively, offering readers a fresh perspective and highlighting societal issues.
  • Humor writing can convey wisdom, engage readers, and provide a unique lens through which to view the world.

The Sound of Your Voice

• The Effortless Style:
  • Effortless style in writing is actually achieved through strenuous effort and constant refining.
  • Good writing is disciplined, using formal grammar and precise language, like E. B. White's style in storytelling.
  • Readers appreciate a confident voice in writing without condescension or trying too hard to be casual.
• The Breezy Style:
  • Breezy writing tries to sound casual but often ends up crude, corny, and condescending.
  • Attempts at being "just folks" can result in verbose and contemptuous writing, full of clichés and slang.
  • Good writing respects the language and the reader, not patronizing or talking down to the audience.
• Developing Taste and Avoiding Clichés:
  • Taste in writing involves knowing what not to do, using fresh language, and avoiding clichés that weaken the writing.
  • Words with surprise, strength, and precision are crucial in maintaining taste and engaging readers.
  • Imitating successful writers, studying language, and practicing refinement can help in developing one's taste in writing.

Enjoyment, Fear and Confidence

• Finding Enjoyment in Writing:
  • The author's childhood dream was to work for the New York Herald Tribune where the staff enjoyed their work and conveyed a sense of enjoyment to the readers.
  • He emphasizes the importance of finding joy in writing, injecting humor to amuse himself and his readers.
  • Sharing humorous anecdotes and stories can make the writing process more enjoyable for both the writer and the audience.
• Dealing with Fear:
  • Many people have a fear of writing instilled in them from an early age, resulting in writer's block or producing lackluster content.
  • The author stresses the importance of pushing through fear and turning on the switch to start writing, acknowledging the effort required to overcome obstacles.
  • The fear of disapproval and failure can be combatted by writing about subjects you care about and finding confidence in your own interests and experiences.
• Embracing Confidence:
  • Generating confidence in writing comes from choosing topics of personal interest and using sincerity and humanity as credentials.
  • Expanding the scope of assignments, asking experts for clarification, and finding enjoyment in the process helps build confidence as a writer.
  • By mastering the fundamentals of writing and bringing personal insights to the table, nonfiction writers can tackle any subject effectively and lead an interesting writing life.

The Tyranny of the Final Product

• The Impact of Fixation on the Finished Article:
  • Focus on the end product hinders the necessary decisions in shaping writing such as structure, voice, and content.
  • American culture values the end result over the learning process or personal growth.
  • Professional writers often prioritize selling their work, missing the essence of the writing process.
• Teaching the Process Over the Product:
  • Course at the New School emphasizes learning to write by understanding one's connections to people and places.
  • Encourages writers to think deeply about their subjects and gradually find a narrative structure that fits.
  • Emphasizes the journey of writing rather than just the final output, liberating writers from market-driven pressures.
• The Writer's Journey:
  • Students explore personal experiences and memories to find the essence of their stories.
  • Highlight the struggle of distilling a coherent story from complex experiences.
  • Encourages writers to focus on intention and humanity in their writing, leading to a meaningful and authentic finished piece.

A Writer’s Decisions

• Beginning an Article:
  • The lead must captivate the reader with a provocative idea and gradually provide more information to maintain interest.
  • The first paragraph should contain a surprising notion to engage the reader immediately.
  • The lead can be short or long, as needed to establish the necessary groundwork for the article.
• Decision-Making in Writing:
  • Organizing a long article is crucial and involves choosing each word carefully to maintain coherence and interest.
  • Deciding on the structure of the piece and what information to include or exclude is essential to keep the reader engaged.
  • Small decisions, such as choosing specific words and crafting sentences, contribute to the overall effectiveness of the writing.
• Importance of Endings:
  • Choosing the right moment to end a piece is crucial; let the story guide you to its natural conclusion.
  • Deciding on the climax of the story is essential to evoke the desired emotional response from the reader.
  • Ending the piece at the right point can leave a lasting impression and bring a sense of completion to the narrative.
• Nonfiction Writing and Taking Risks:
  • Nonfiction writers must be willing to take risks, explore new topics, and pursue interesting stories even if uncertain of the outcome.
  • Getting on the plane metaphorically represents seizing opportunities, pursuing intriguing subjects, and making one's luck as a writer.
  • Venturing into unknown territories, whether physical or intellectual, can lead to compelling narratives and rewarding experiences.

Writing Family History and Memoir

• The Power of Family Memories:
  • Expresses regret at not capturing family stories before they are lost.
  • Highlights the importance of leaving a record of family history for future generations.
  • Emphasizes the different forms family history can take, from memoirs to oral histories.
• Lessons from Personal Experience:
  • Shares the author's father's approach to writing family histories simply for family members.
  • Stresses the significance of personal voice and honesty in writing family stories.
  • Encourages writers to record family history honestly, even if it may not please all relatives.
• Guidance on Writing Memoirs:
  • Advises writers to focus on small, vivid memories instead of grand overarching narratives.
  • Suggests a method of writing episodically before organizing and shaping the memoir gradually.
  • Stresses the significance of finding the emotional resonance in personal stories for readers.

Write as Well as You Can

• The Role of Family and Friends in Shaping Your Habits:
  • Mother's influence on good writing appreciation in newspapers and books.
  • Mother's humor and optimism as writing lubricants.
  • Father's business background and passion for quality instilled craftsman's ethic in writing.
  • Belief in quality as its own reward, not compromising on style for different audiences.