A Master in the Making

If you can’t write for yourself, how can you possibly write for others? This is the question on my mind after reading Chapter 5 of William Zinsser’s On Writing Well. Throughout the chapter, Zinsser highlights an important contradiction that becomes most apparent when we try to write in a way that engages others. As writers, it’s often easier to write in a style that appeals to ourselves rather than one that’s intentionally written for an audience. Zinsser acknowledges that this can be a difficult obstacle, and goes further by emphasizing the importance of separating our writing skills from our tone of voice. In other words, he stresses the need to be clear and concise, without necessarily tying this to the creative aspects of our work. While I understand why these should be seen as distinct from one another, I believe they are interconnected and both contribute to what makes writing engaging. Furthermore, for some writers separating these two components, clarity and creativity, might be confusing. It takes time to develop a unique writing style, and I think it’s more practical to focus on experimenting with writing, which will lead to finding a balance between the two over time.

I also think it’s important to note how different Zinsser’s mindset is compared to how other communication mediums engage with their audience. As I’ve mentioned in some of my previous blogs, I find it interesting how those communicating through social media prioritize creating content with their audience in mind. In fact, according to an article from Melotti Content Media, 5 Ways to Create Captivating Content for Your Precious Audience, it’s crucial to keep an audience in mind when building engagement online. I think it’s interesting that, even among other communication methods, this remains an important question that makes creators question how they are able to connect with others.