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"Although this is a book about writing, it's not just for writers" (167). If readers are as distracted as Zinsser describes in the early chapters, I think only the writing-obsessed (or the teacher-assigned) would still be reading to see this confession. The assumed purpose of the book is to give an overview of the components of good writing. There many, many components of good writing. To cover everything in this book, and keep the reader to the end, Zinsser should have weeded out at least 100 pages.

His wearisome wordiness does not offend me quite as strongly as his pussyfooting (I share the word disease). I do believe that an author of a writing book ought to follow his own advice. But, in his own words, "rewriting is the essence of writing...professional writers rewrite their sentences over and over and then rewrite what they have rewritten" (4). If even the revered William Zinsser still produces wordy revisions of his books, then I can be assured that it's natural for my own work to be perpetually in need of revision.

Most likely, I will never reread this version of On Writing Well. I will use it as a reference and quick reminder for specific issues, but a complete rereading is too daunting. His voice is at times enjoyable, but the frustration and exhaustion is not worth the temporary amusement. If in the next revision of the book, the page count is drastically reduced, I might have to risk it, just to see a master's revisions.

Learn more about this author, A. L. Sugden.
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