On writing well

This is good - but at times repetitive. I recommend treating this like a reference text. Parts 1 and 2 (Principles and Methods) are required reading for the mechanics. You'll have fun reading them, too. Part 3 the reader can pick and choose from. I'd suggest Chapter 11 as a starter (Nonfiction as Literature), and then reading the section relevant to your project. Skim the rest, except Chapter 19 (Humor), which you should read.

Part 4 (Attitudes) blends the mechanics and Zinsser's experience. I found this part to be repetitive, but I would recommend Chapters 20, 21, and 23 (The Sound of Your Voice, Enjoyment, Fear, and Confidence, and A Writer's Decisions). If you're interested in his thoughts on working with editors, Chapter 25 (Write as Well as You Can) as well.

Published first in 1976 and reissued repeatedly (this edition in 2006), the text shows its age in some places. I would take a crack at updating the whole section on “pronouns” for today's times and understanding. I'm not as big a fan of the King James Bible as Zissner seems to be from his several references from it, though the references make sense.

Some of his core advice:
* Ask yourself - what am I trying to say? have I said it?
* Eliminate any element not doing useful work - put brackets around things not doing useful work in editing.
* SIMPLIFY
* Write for yourself
* Read your writing out loud
* Maintain unity in pronoun, tense, and mood (and time)
* Write sequentially - make sure you're telling the reader when and where you're at
* Subjects - think small
* Use precise, active verbs
* Most adverbs and adjectives aren't needed
* The quickest fix for a difficult sentence is often getting rid of it

* Rewriting is the essence of writing.
* Never let anything go out into the world that YOU don't understand.
* When writing memoir - think NARROW with detail

* Zinsser's 4 Tenets: Clarity, Simplicity, Brevity, & Humanity

I have a few notecards of notes, but these stand out.