When I was in 10th grade, I wrote a poem about my girlfriend for English class. It was called “Your Perfect Imperfections,” and I set the type in a grungy, typewriter font—probably from dafont.com, the enabler of every young designer’s bad type decisions—and, if memory serves, I read it in front of the whole class.
"I remember having been proud of what I had written.
Oh, sixteen-year-olds."
[Rolls up newspaper] NO. [Smacks you on the back] Bad Nathaniel. You should still be proud, not just because you wrote it but because you were ballsy enough to read it aloud.
I remember reading Zinsser's book and being amazed that it was possible (and even preferable) to write simply and well. I had always written like that, but it was not valued in my workplace. I spent the last ten years of my working life trying to convince my colleagues that being clear and to the point was a good thing, but sadly they preferred to waffle on endlessly. They seemed to think it made them sound smarter. I could never understand this.
Now I have my own newsletter and can do whatever I like. It gives me enormous pleasure when people say "I love the way you write".
The books that made me want to write were The Wheel of Time. And alternately any time I read a book and think “I could do better”, but I won’t name those. 😂
"I remember having been proud of what I had written.
Oh, sixteen-year-olds."
[Rolls up newspaper] NO. [Smacks you on the back] Bad Nathaniel. You should still be proud, not just because you wrote it but because you were ballsy enough to read it aloud.
Haha! FINE!
I hadn't heard of some of these, they sound super interesting. Cool list!
It probably goes without saying, but I recommend them all!
Thanks. I love a good list!
I remember reading Zinsser's book and being amazed that it was possible (and even preferable) to write simply and well. I had always written like that, but it was not valued in my workplace. I spent the last ten years of my working life trying to convince my colleagues that being clear and to the point was a good thing, but sadly they preferred to waffle on endlessly. They seemed to think it made them sound smarter. I could never understand this.
Now I have my own newsletter and can do whatever I like. It gives me enormous pleasure when people say "I love the way you write".
ps - I love the way you write too!
Thanks, Marg! That sounds endlessly frustrating. I'm glad you stuck to your guns :)
I love "On Writing Well" -- one of my faves!
Love John & Hank Green.
The books that made me want to write were The Wheel of Time. And alternately any time I read a book and think “I could do better”, but I won’t name those. 😂
Ha! That can definitely be a motivator.