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.
That's twice this week that On Writing Well has come up in my feeds. Guess I'd better buy a copy. The same post that recommended it also recommended The Art of the Personal Essay, which I did buy and am now very much enjoying.
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!
Great list of recommendations, but the INTRO was fantastic, ha ha :-D
haha! thanks Raúl.
That's twice this week that On Writing Well has come up in my feeds. Guess I'd better buy a copy. The same post that recommended it also recommended The Art of the Personal Essay, which I did buy and am now very much enjoying.
I am sorry to report that “Never Use Futura” is not available at the Seattle Public Library, despite the fact that they are on the cover. 😞
A travesty! You should request they purchase it :)
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.