My writing process: Use the seed idea as a magnet to invite more words. The rest is mostly removing crap, which is as high as 90%. Sigh.
"In the national clamor over why Johnny can’t write, Dr. Fleishman was the first adult in my experience who admitted that youth has no monopoly on verbal sludge."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
When we have clear visions ( = see through bullshits ) we are too young to appreciate them; when we get old our visions are already clouded.
"We’re looking for whatever it is that makes you unique. Write about what you know and what you think.” They can’t. They don’t think they have permission. I think they get that permission by being born."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
"Towns situated in hills (or foothills) are nestled—I hardly ever read about an unnestled town in the hills—and the countryside is dotted with byways, preferably half forgotten. In Europe you awake to the clip-clop of horse-drawn wagons along a history-haunted river; you seem to hear the scratch of a quill pen. This is a world where old meets new—old never meets old."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
80s pop listeners (this one too) always leave the comment “THIS is real music.” Even the Beatles generation doesn’t make such a bold claim.
According to Buddhism, compassion is about appreciating people who threat your life. I practice by saying 謝謝 (Thank you) to bus drivers.
"Nobody turns so quickly into a bore as a traveler home from his travels. He enjoyed his trip so much that he wants to tell us all about it—and “all” is what we don’t want to hear."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
Taiwanese traffic = the best hockey game. High speed chases, last-minute crossings, occasional crushes. And the show always goes on.
"Daddy says I must have had too much champagne!” “But honestly, I could have danced all night!” We have all suffered more than our share of these sentences in which an exclamation point knocks us over the head with how cut or wonderful something was."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
I am not sure if I am politically correct when the places in the US I want to visit most are the creation museums and Bible theme parks.
"Don’t say you were a bit confused and sort of tired and a little depressed and somewhat annoyed. Be confused. Be tired. Be depressed. Be annoyed."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
I am definitely not the only one who believes The Hunger Games is about the annual hot dog eating contest to choose the next global leader.
"(“I was getting a haircut the other day and I saw your article”). I mention this as a reminder that far more periodical reading is done under the dryer than under the reading lamp, so there isn’t much time for the writer to fool around."
— William Zinsser, On Writing Well
(Source: amazon.com)
Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. No, I am not talking about teachers. I am talking about consultants, economists, and psychics.
