the reader. There is nothing artistic or literary about it-unless you happen to believe, as I do, that the lucid and compelling expression of ideas is an art in itself. Writing and editing have been my life. One of my more egocentric pleasures is to pick up a piece of writing I did some years ago and discover that I would say it exactly the same way today. Quite honestly, that rarely happens. The ability to express oneself, like any other talent, improves with time and practice. Over years of writing-and reading other writers-I have noticed that professional writers observe and practice many principles that less experienced writers seem totally unaware of. That's what this book is about. If you are interested in improving your writing, you may find some of them quite helpful.

Hide more