William Zinsser

"Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, …"

"Pure nonsense is a joy forever, as Keats didn't quite say. I love to see a writer flying high, just for the hell of it."

"Writing is thinking on paper, or talking to someone on paper. If you can think clearly, or if you can talk to someone about the things you know and care about, you can write - with confidence and enjo…"

"The best way to learn to write is to study the work of the men and women who are doing the kind of writing you want to do."

"Never hesitate to imitate another writer - every person learning a craft or an art needs models. Eventually you'll find your own voice and will shed the skin of the writer you imitated."

"The writer who cares about usage must always know the quick from the dead."

"Memoir is the art of inventing the truth."

"The writers job is like solving a puzzle, and finally arriving at a solution is a tremendous satisfaction."