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  • On Writing Well: Audio Collection

  • Written by: William Zinsser
  • Narrated by: William Zinsser
  • Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (46 ratings)

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On Writing Well: Audio Collection

Written by: William Zinsser
Narrated by: William Zinsser
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Publisher's Summary

This expanded audio collection presents William Zinsser's On Writing Well, the classic teaching book that has sold more than 1 million copies, together with a new 90-minute section that tells you how to write a memoir.

Based on a course that Zinsser taught at Yale, On Writing Well has long been praised by writers, teachers, and students for its sound advice, its clarity, and the warmth of its style. It's for everybody who wants to learn how to write or who needs to do some writing to get through the day. Whether you want to write about people and places, science and technology, business, sports, or the arts, this is the definitive guide to the craft of nonfiction.

Part II of this collection, on memoir, personal history, and family history, tells you in helpful detail how to write the story of your life: who you are, who you once were, and what heritage you come from. Throughout, Zinsser refers to the work of many successful memoir writers, including Frank McCourt, Annie Dillard, Russell Baker, and Eudora Welty, to demonstrate how they solved the problems of selection, compression, focus, and tone that every memoir writer struggles with.

©1990, 1999, 2003 William Zinsser (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

What the critics say

"Zinsser's classic belongs on every writer's shelf. It's full of practical, no-frills advice on the basics of writing nonfiction: clarity, simplicity, brevity and humanity....The author's easy-going delivery and warm voice are confidence-building, as well. The discussion is crystal clear and easy to follow as transitional statements carefully lead the listener from one section to the next. Most of all, the audio exudes Zinsser's generosity of spirit, which is sure to inspire any would-be writer." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about On Writing Well: Audio Collection

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Abridged version

I missed the fine print. I wasted a credit thinking this was the full book. Can you make the “Abridged” description more notable?

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting ideas on writing

I enjoyed it very much. It was easy to understand and very helpful. Many interesting tips.




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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Worthwhile advice.

I like this book and will listen to it again. Zinsser is generous with his humanity and his message is appealing.

I deducted a star because I understand this is an abridged version. In time. I would have listened to the whole book because, as Zinsser says, I like the author for himself. Generous of spirit and worth your time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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for anyone who wants to improve their writing

very clear, very brief and very well read! I need to listen it again and again and every time gets something new out of it.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Horrible purchase

Totally disappointed with this audiobook. There is absolutely no value. It's so bad, I am cancelling my subscription to Audible and never returning!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very crisp good content on editing well ......

very crisp good content on editing well ...... and it is not about grammar .. more on effective non fiction writing

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