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William Zinsser on How to Write Well About Science
- b_emery 11y agoIt took me a while to realize that as a scientist I am a professional writer. Ironic considering that I originally got into science (studying physics) because I hated writing. Now I try to frame it like writing code. If I can just find a way to 'compile' my writing and have it 'run' when I'm done, to get the little positive feedback I get when code works, then I might not know the difference. What a great article. I need to read his book, which is sitting on my desk at this very moment.
- munificent 11y ago> If I can just find a way to 'compile' my writing and have it 'run' when I'm done Write it in Markdown. Compile it to pretty HTML or PDF. That's what I did for my book and it is surprisingly effective for me at making the writing process feel more concrete. I like having an iteration loop a little more distinct than just "look up at the previous paragraph".
- ar-jan 11y agoIt's a little sad to keep seeing such approving references to Strunk & White's Elements of Style. To see why, read Pullum's The Land of the Free and The Elements of Style. http://ling.ed.ac.uk/~gpullum/LandOfTheFree.pdf http://ling.ed.ac.uk/~gpullum/LandOfTheFree.pdf
- munificent 11y agoIf you haven't read it, I heartily recommend On Writing Well. It is one of my absolute favorite books. It will make you a better writer, which is a vital skill for technical people. Even more, it may make you a clearer thinker.