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Monthly Archives: October 2021
“I’m more interested in the intangibles that produce good writing – confidence, enjoyment, intention, integrity.”
In the 30th Anniversary Edition of this classic book on writing nonfiction, William Zinsser describes how his priorities have evolved over the decades. Known as an advocate for clear, “uncluttered” writing, in his later years, he grew to value “humanity … Continue reading
Posted in non-fiction
Tagged On Writing Well, Read every year, William Zinsser, Writing Mentor
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“A black dream weighs upon me like lead, / For my foreordained death is approaching, / and great wars and great fires lie ahead.”
The great Russian poet Alexander Block wrote these words in 1902, when he was 22 years old. It seemed as if he knew that in less than 20 years, he would die of heart failure brought on by malnutrition. He … Continue reading
Posted in poetry
Tagged Alexander Blok, last poet in the Romantic period of Russia, Selected Poems
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“Get your intention clear before you start and tell your story with integrity.”
“Why are you telling me this?” is the question that is front and center in my mind when reading memoirs, or, for that matter, English 1 essays written by my students. Zinsser says writers should aim high. When you look … Continue reading
Posted in memoir
Tagged William Zinsser, Writing About Your Life, writing with integrity, Zinsser is my hero
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