Good Advice on Writing

by William Safire, Leonard Safir

Tidbits of writing advice on everything from Action to Writers Block by the masters of the craft fill this essential reference for wordsmiths compiled by a New York Times columnist. 25,000 first printing. National ad/promo.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter.

He was perhaps best known as a long-time syndicated political columnist for the New York Times and a regular contributor to "On Language" in the New York Times Magazine, a column on popular etymology, new or unusual usages, and other language-related topics.

Reviews

[Théo d'Or]

How can you figure out if you write well, or if you write bad ?
If many people appreciate your writing, it doesn't mean you write well, let's be serious, the masses have never been a benchmark of quality, but only the mark of a high degree of necesity.
If only a few appreciate your writing, doesn't prove much too. About critics and awards....there is no point in talking, the history of "winners " of two bucks - is full. One benchmark might be the comparison to the writers you like, but, if so, I wouldn't try to write anything anymore, because I'II never write like Balzac. Briefly, I don't think we can figure out if we write good or bad, ( assuming we know some grammar and are reasonably literate ) .Though, we can realize if we are honest or not. Through honesty I do not mean the written representation of the truth, after all - we write stories, not reports or logbooks.
Fiction is a lie, no matter how much it is based on real facts.
The honesty of fiction consists in the honesty of the transposed turmoil, in the corrélation of the inner truth with the outer one.
Honest writing will always be good, stylistics makes the différence, and that is learned. Camus said that before you can be a great writer, you must have life experience, I think there are some very good writers who made up for the lack of experience through fantasy.
Good writing is about convincing communication of one's own truth, a lie about the truth.
Bad writing is the one that strives to tell a lie.

That being said, I did not need to read this book, it would have been of no use to me, the opinions on this subject can only be pure subjective and as useful as an aspirin for a cancer patient.

[S.L. Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read, and inspirational.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of quotations on writing by all sorts of writers. Some very good thoughts here. Read a second time in November of 2017.

[Tommy Kiedis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought Good Advice on Writing for $1 at a used book store. While the investment may not be akin to buying Coca-Cola in 1919, the return on my dollar has been enormous:

1. Concise lessons from the masters.
2. Aphorisms, maxims, formulas (and formulas debunked)
3. Having the best get in my face: "The craft is, in the end, hard, grueling, and worthwhile. Do it."
4. Expert advice that is at times contrary and complementary -- this is no one way.

Worth reading and re-reading.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of quotes but the advice is questionable and it's nothing but quotes.

[Ayla Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and offered me some perspective.

[Doug Page]

Avoid commas, that are not necessary. - William Safire

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a handy reference book for the public speaker. I have frequently used it for levity and presence. There are some lesser none quotations here that are quite good.