? ? ? 這是大學(xué)畢業(yè)一年后讀完的第一本全英文書，加入這個(gè)讀書會(huì)也是因?yàn)榕笥训耐扑]，希望通過這樣的激勵(lì)方式督促自己。剛開始讀書的第一個(gè)星期真的很不習(xí)慣，也是每天晚上特意留出一到兩小時(shí)的時(shí)間監(jiān)督自己必須完成，其實(shí)我自己根本沒想到我真的完成了，這樣的打卡方式真的讓我在一個(gè)月的時(shí)間里讀完了這本書，并且看了很多優(yōu)秀的筆記和評(píng)論，真的很感謝這個(gè)讀書會(huì)和各位未曾謀面的優(yōu)秀的書友。
這本書分為四塊內(nèi)容：Principles, Methods, Forms和Attitudes
Part Ⅰ Principles
1 The Transaction
If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.
第一節(jié)引出了后文要介紹的principles
2 Simplicity and 3 Clutter 4 Style
But the secret of good writing is tostrip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word that could be a short word, every adverb that carries the same meaning that’s already in the verb, every passive construction that leaves the reader unsure of who is doing what—these are the thousand and one adulterants thatweaken the strengthof a sentence. And they usually occur in proportion to education and rank.
作者在這兩章提到了Simplicity并且指出Clutter是Simplicity的敵人，強(qiáng)調(diào)了用詞的干凈簡(jiǎn)潔。
5 The Audience
Make a habit of reading what is being written today and what was written by earlier masters. Writing is learned by imitation.
6 Words and 7 Usage
Clichés should be avoided. While, we should bear in mind how the word sound when choosing words.
The only way to? learn to write is to force yourself to produce a certain number of words on a regular basis.
作者在這兩章提到了好的words 和usage就是用一些簡(jiǎn)潔的詞清楚的表達(dá)自己的觀點(diǎn)。避免陳詞濫調(diào)和啰嗦繁瑣。
PART II Methods
8 Unity
Just remember that all unities mustbe fitted into the edificeyou finally put together.
好的文章必須要保證人稱，時(shí)態(tài)，語(yǔ)態(tài)等等的unity。
9 The Lead and the Ending
Therefore your lead must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading.
Next the lead must do some real work.
Continue to build. Every paragraph should amplify the one that preceded it.
The perfect ending? should take our readersslightly by surprise and yet seem exactly right.
10 Bits & Pieces
I never thought of rewriting as an unfair burden; I'm? grateful for every chance to keep improving my working.
Part Ⅲ Forms
在這一部分，作者按照不同的文體討論了非虛構(gòu)類寫作的方式方法。
11 Nonfiction as Literature
The only important distinction is between good writing and bad writing. Good writing is good writing, whatever form it takes and whatever we call it.
12 Writing About People: The Interview
Motivation is at the heart of writing. Writing is a public trust. The nonfiction writer’s rare privilege is to have the whole wonderful world of real people to write about. When you get people talking, handle what they say as you would handle a valuable gift.
13 Writing About Places: The Travel Article
But whatever place you write about, go there often enough to isolate the qualities that make it distinctive. Finally, however, what brings a place alive is human activity: people doing the things that give a locale its character.
14 Writing About Yourself: The Memoir
Write about what you know and what you think and what makes you unique.Give yourself permission to write about yourself, and have a good time doing it.
15 Science and Technology
Writing? is thinking on paper. Anyone who thinks clearly can write clearly, about anything at all.
16 Business Writing: Writing in Your Job
If you work for an institution, whatever your job, whatever your level, be yourself when you write.
17 Sports
Those are the values to? look for when you write about sport: people and places, time and transition.
18 Writing About the Arts: Critics and Columnists
Don't be deluded that criticism is an easy route to glory.
Use specific detail.
Take your stand with conviction.
Put your readers in? your theater seat. Help them to see what you saw.
Good criticism needs a lean and vivid style to express what you observed and what you think.
19 Humor
Control is vital to humor.Don’t make the same kind of joke two or three times—readers will enjoy themselves more if you make it only once.
PART IV Attitudes
20 The Sound of Your Voice
My commodity as a? writer, whatever I’m writing about, is me. And your commodity is you. Don’t alter your voice to fit your subject.? Be yourself
21 Enjoyment, Fear and Confidence
To write about subjects that interest you and that you care about; Sincerity; To think broadly about your assignment.
One way to generate? confidence is to write about subjects that interest youand that you care about.
22 The Tyranny of the Final Product
Writing is related to? character. If your values are sound, your writing will be sound. It all? begins with intention. Figure out what you want to doand how you want to do it, and work your way with humanity and integrity to the completed article.
23 A Writer’s Decisions
If a subject? interests you, go after it, even if it’s in the next county or the next state or the next country. It’s not going to come looking for you.Decide what you want to do. Then decide to do it. Then do it.
24 Writing Family History and Memoir
Be? yourself and your readers will follow you anywhere. Try to commit an act of writing and your readers will jump overboard to get away. Your product is? you.
25 Write as Well as You Can
Writing well means believing in your writing and believing in yourself, taking risks, daring to be different, pushing yourself to excel. You will write only as well as you make yourself write.
