William Zinsser: Writer

William Zinsser was writer, editor, journalist, literary critic, professor. Explore interesting quotes on writer.
William Zinsser: 60 quotes1 like

“This is a book by a writer who does some teaching, not a book by a teacher who does some writing, and one of the satisfactions of the craft is that there's always something new to learn.”

William Zinsser

Introduction, p. viii.
On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976)

“The writers job is like solving a puzzle, and finally arriving at a solution is a tremendous satisfaction.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 21, A Writers Decisions: Organizing a Long Article, p. 254.

“The writer who cares about usage must always know the quick from the dead.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 7, Usage, p. 45.

“Pure nonsense is a joy forever, as Keats didn't quite say. I love to see a writer flying high, just for the hell of it.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 20, Humor, p. 246.

“Never hesitate to imitate another writer - every person learning a craft or an art needs models. Eventually you'll find your own voice and will shed the skin of the writer you imitated.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 13, Bits & Pieces, p. 136.

“My roster of the new literature, in short, would include all the writers who come bearing new information and who present it with vigor, clarity and humanity.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 9, Nonfiction as Literature, p. 61.

“A writer will do anything to avoid the act of writing.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 4, Style, p. 21.

“Be a writer. Write things down.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 10, Writing About People: The Interview, p. 70.

“Good writers are visible just behind their words.”

William Zinsser

Source: On Writing Well (Fifth Edition, orig. pub. 1976), Chapter 4, Style, p. 23.