“Ultimately the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is. I often find myself reading with interest about a topic I never thought would interest me—some scientific quest, perhaps. What holds me is the enthusiasm of the writer for his field. How was he drawn into it? What emotional baggage did he bring along? How did it change his life?”(Zinsser 5).
This is great advice for a writer. I think it’s especially important for people who have trouble finding their “voice” and for those who think they have lost it. It’s critical to remember that writing is not about sounding like somebody else. It’s not about keeping up to par with the rest of the world. It’s about you and how you want yourself to be perceived. It’s about how you can tell a story. Writing should be an activity that separates you from others, it should highlight your individuality, not cloud your character. But what is also interesting about this advice is that Zinsser is speaking from a reader’s standpoint. Does Zinsser ever find himself WRITING with interest about a topic he never though would interest him?
Because I think this is possible. As long as you touch up a story (like a science quest, perhaps) with your own voice, creativity and style, you can surprisingly enjoy writing it.
