Writers on Writing: Advice From the Pros
Professional writers have much to tell us about the writing process, from overcoming writer's block to revising and editing. Let's see what advice we can pick up from the pros.
Advice from One Writer to Another
Professional writers have a lot to tell us about the writing process. Some of the advice may be helpful, some of it encouraging, and some may do no more than raise a smile.
Professional writers have a lot to tell us about the writing process. Some of the advice may be helpful, some of it encouraging, and some may do no more than raise a smile.
Advice from One Writer to Another (part two)
More advice on writing from professional writers, past and present.
More advice on writing from professional writers, past and present.
Writers on Writing
Excerpts from twelve of the authors who have contributed pieces to the New York Times column "Writers on Writing."
Excerpts from twelve of the authors who have contributed pieces to the New York Times column "Writers on Writing."
Writers on Writing: Overcoming Writer's Block
For many of us, the hardest part of writing is getting started. And we're not alone. Many professional writers have experienced--and, more importantly, overcome--writer's block. So let's see what advice we can pick up from the pros.
For many of us, the hardest part of writing is getting started. And we're not alone. Many professional writers have experienced--and, more importantly, overcome--writer's block. So let's see what advice we can pick up from the pros.
What Is Style?
What does it mean to write "with style"? Here we consider some of the different ways in which 24 professional writers have defined and characterized style.
What does it mean to write "with style"? Here we consider some of the different ways in which 24 professional writers have defined and characterized style.
Writers on English Spelling
English spelling is complicated, inconsistent, and often downright ornery. But don't take our word for it. Consider what some well-known writers have had to say about English orthography.
English spelling is complicated, inconsistent, and often downright ornery. But don't take our word for it. Consider what some well-known writers have had to say about English orthography.
How to Avoid Writing, by Robert Benchley
Humorist Robert Benchley (1889-1945) describes the sort of commitment that NOT writing demands.
Humorist Robert Benchley (1889-1945) describes the sort of commitment that NOT writing demands.
Anthony Burgess on the English Language
Anthony Burgess's "Language Made Plain" is an engaging and informed introduction to the field of linguistics. And his occasional outbursts are reserved for targets significantly larger and more ominous than abusers of "whom" or fans of "irregardless."
Anthony Burgess's "Language Made Plain" is an engaging and informed introduction to the field of linguistics. And his occasional outbursts are reserved for targets significantly larger and more ominous than abusers of "whom" or fans of "irregardless."
Wolcott Gibbs's Theory and Practice of Editing
The average writer, said Wolcott Gibbs (1902-1958), "is ornate to no purpose, full of elegant variations, and can be relied upon to use three sentences where a word would do." To combat such tendencies, Gibbs set down 31 rules for the benefit of his "semi-literate" colleagues at "The New Yorker" magazine.
The average writer, said Wolcott Gibbs (1902-1958), "is ornate to no purpose, full of elegant variations, and can be relied upon to use three sentences where a word would do." To combat such tendencies, Gibbs set down 31 rules for the benefit of his "semi-literate" colleagues at "The New Yorker" magazine.
Natalia Ginzburg: On Being a Great Small Writer
Whether or not writing turns out to be your profession, it's quite likely to be something you will do all your life. Thought of in this way, the goal of becoming the sort of "small writer" that Natalia Ginzburg describes is itself, perhaps, a great ambition.
Whether or not writing turns out to be your profession, it's quite likely to be something you will do all your life. Thought of in this way, the goal of becoming the sort of "small writer" that Natalia Ginzburg describes is itself, perhaps, a great ambition.
Doris Lessing on the Compulsion to Write
When asked by Bill Moyers why she continued to write, Doris Lessing said, "I have to. It is what I do." Writing can be a delicious compulsion--one that perhaps only fellow writers can truly understand.
When asked by Bill Moyers why she continued to write, Doris Lessing said, "I have to. It is what I do." Writing can be a delicious compulsion--one that perhaps only fellow writers can truly understand.
Norman Mailer on Writers and Writing
In the more than 300 interviews given by Norman Mailer over a long career, he freely expressed his views on a broad range of topics. Here we've extracted a few of his comments on writing: on the fear of writer's block (and how to overcome it), the nature of style, the relation between fiction and nonfiction, the value of writing classes, and two of his major literary influences.
In the more than 300 interviews given by Norman Mailer over a long career, he freely expressed his views on a broad range of topics. Here we've extracted a few of his comments on writing: on the fear of writer's block (and how to overcome it), the nature of style, the relation between fiction and nonfiction, the value of writing classes, and two of his major literary influences.
H.L. Mencken on Teachers of English
In his review of "The Social Objectives of School English," H.L. Mencken employed his lively, combative style to skewer "the worst idiots" in "the slums of pedagogy": teachers of English.
In his review of "The Social Objectives of School English," H.L. Mencken employed his lively, combative style to skewer "the worst idiots" in "the slums of pedagogy": teachers of English.
H.L. Mencken on the Writing Life
Here, in passages drawn from articles and reviews written between 1910 and 1950, are some of Mencken's observations on the writing trade--and some invigorating lessons on how not to be a dull writer.
Here, in passages drawn from articles and reviews written between 1910 and 1950, are some of Mencken's observations on the writing trade--and some invigorating lessons on how not to be a dull writer.
Joyce Carol Oates: "Don't Give Up"
Even for an author who's as prolific and accomplished as Joyce Carol Oates, writing does not always come easily.
Even for an author who's as prolific and accomplished as Joyce Carol Oates, writing does not always come easily.
George Orwell's Rules for Writers
In George Orwell's best known essay, "Politics and the English Language," he offered six elementary rules as an antidote to what he perceived as "the decay of language" in his time.
In George Orwell's best known essay, "Politics and the English Language," he offered six elementary rules as an antidote to what he perceived as "the decay of language" in his time.
Grace Paley on Writing
In a 1998 interview, poet and short-story writer Grace Paley said that she was so "neurotically anti-authoritarian" that she couldn't read a cookbook instruction "without the furious response: 'Is that a direct order?'" Let's listen to Paley's indomitable voice as she shares her thoughts on writing and the writing process.
In a 1998 interview, poet and short-story writer Grace Paley said that she was so "neurotically anti-authoritarian" that she couldn't read a cookbook instruction "without the furious response: 'Is that a direct order?'" Let's listen to Paley's indomitable voice as she shares her thoughts on writing and the writing process.
"Murder Your Darlings": Quiller-Couch on Style
While serving as a professor of English at Cambridge University, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch published a series of lectures titled On the Art of Writing (1916). In these excerpts from his lecture "On Style," Q discusses the dangers of "fine writing," advising students to "Murder your darlings."
While serving as a professor of English at Cambridge University, Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch published a series of lectures titled On the Art of Writing (1916). In these excerpts from his lecture "On Style," Q discusses the dangers of "fine writing," advising students to "Murder your darlings."
Quiller-Couch's Rough Rules for Combating Jargon
The two main vices of jargon, said Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, are "that it uses circumlocution rather than short straight speech" and "that it habitually chooses vague woolly abstract nouns rather than concrete ones." Fortunately, in lecture five of what he called his "course in First Aid to writing," he offered a few "rough rules" for combating jargon.
The two main vices of jargon, said Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, are "that it uses circumlocution rather than short straight speech" and "that it habitually chooses vague woolly abstract nouns rather than concrete ones." Fortunately, in lecture five of what he called his "course in First Aid to writing," he offered a few "rough rules" for combating jargon.
Harold Ross on Editing
"Editing," Harold Ross once said, "is the same as quarreling with writers--same thing exactly." In the following excerpts from Thomas Kunkel's "Letters from the Editor: The New Yorker's Harold Ross," we see that for the most part these were lovers' quarrels.
"Editing," Harold Ross once said, "is the same as quarreling with writers--same thing exactly." In the following excerpts from Thomas Kunkel's "Letters from the Editor: The New Yorker's Harold Ross," we see that for the most part these were lovers' quarrels.
Lillian Ross on Helpful Editors
Try measuring your editor (or teacher or colleague) against Lillian Ross's list of "helpful" qualities.
Try measuring your editor (or teacher or colleague) against Lillian Ross's list of "helpful" qualities.
"We Can Do Better": Dr. Seuss on Writing
Here we collect some grownup advice on writing from Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to children and adults as Dr. Seuss.
Here we collect some grownup advice on writing from Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to children and adults as Dr. Seuss.
The Editor of the Breakfast Table, by Charles J. Shields
In this article, composed "after making a presentation about writing to high schoolers," biographer Charles J. Shields thanks his father for a gift that long went unappreciated--the gift of editing.
In this article, composed "after making a presentation about writing to high schoolers," biographer Charles J. Shields thanks his father for a gift that long went unappreciated--the gift of editing.
Swift on Style: Keep It Simple
Widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists in English, Jonathan Swift once defined style as "Proper words in proper places." But who's to say what's "proper"--and just what does Swift's maxim really mean? To find out, let's return to the source.
Widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists in English, Jonathan Swift once defined style as "Proper words in proper places." But who's to say what's "proper"--and just what does Swift's maxim really mean? To find out, let's return to the source.
Good Advice from the World's Worst Writer
Here we turn to advice from Scotsman Sir Thomas Urquhart (1605-1660), a master of euphuism and one of the world's worst writers.
Here we turn to advice from Scotsman Sir Thomas Urquhart (1605-1660), a master of euphuism and one of the world's worst writers.
James Thurber on Writing and Editing
Some observations from humorist James Thurber on reading, writing, and editing.
Some observations from humorist James Thurber on reading, writing, and editing.
E.B. White's Drafts of "Once More to the Lake"
It's remarkable what a good writer can do with a seemingly dull subject--though it may take a bit longer than usual to complete the assignment. In this case, the good writer was E.B. White, and the essay that took more than a quarter century to write was "Once More to the Lake."
It's remarkable what a good writer can do with a seemingly dull subject--though it may take a bit longer than usual to complete the assignment. In this case, the good writer was E.B. White, and the essay that took more than a quarter century to write was "Once More to the Lake."
Writers on Writing: E.B. White
Meet essayist E.B. White--and consider the advice he has to offer on writing and the writing process.
Meet essayist E.B. White--and consider the advice he has to offer on writing and the writing process.
Kurt Vonnegut on Writing with Style
Novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., offers some deceptively simple principles on writing with style.
Novelist Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., offers some deceptively simple principles on writing with style.
Virginia Woolf on Keeping a Journal
"The habit of writing for my eye only is good practice," wrote British author Virginia Woolf in her diary. "It loosens the ligaments."
"The habit of writing for my eye only is good practice," wrote British author Virginia Woolf in her diary. "It loosens the ligaments."