5.11 Stand On The Shoulders Of Others
Keep good advice close to hand.
Academic writers should strive to improve their craft (Becker, 2020; Germano, 2021; Kail, 2019; Sarnecka, 2019; Sword, 2012). How can we improve academic writing? I suggest standing on the shoulders of others. I try to improve my writing by reading excellent writing, including excellent writing about writing better. Fortunately, many excellent books about writing better exist (Section 1.2). I find two types of books particularly useful for improving my writing. I have my favorites in both types, and repeatedly turn to them for advice. Thus, I keep my favorites close to hand in my writing space.
The first type of book I rely upon offers specific advice about style: sentence structure, common faults, and important rules to follow (use no unnecessary words!). Such books typically include examples or exercises to help me improve my writing.
I have four favorites of the first type of book. Helen Sword wrote two; I find both extremely useful because they focus on academic writing (Sword, 2012, 2016). I repeatedly use a third, William Zinsser’s On writing well (Zinsser, 2006). I frequently return to the first few chapters of the 30th anniversary edition of Zinsser’s book to find writing advice. The elements of style by William Strunk Jr., with revisions by E. B. White, (Strunk & White, 1959) serves as my fourth go to style book. I recently found a hard cover copy at a used bookstore; I often turn to its second chapter for writing advice.
Many other books of the first type exist (Baker, 1973; Barzun, 1985; Bierce & Freeman, 2009; Carpenter, 2020; Clark, 2008b, 2014; Germano, 2021; Greene, 2013; Heard, 2022; Kail, 2019; McPhee, 2017; Messenger & Taylor, 1984; Pinker, 2014; Quiller-Couch, 1916; Rosnow & Rosnow, 1998; Sarnecka, 2019; Schimel, 2012; Shertzer, 1986; Silvia, 2007; Wheelan, 2022; Williams & Bizup, 2017). You might find other books more useful than those which count as my favorites. Do not feel obligated to read what I read. Instead, find your own favorites, and add them to your writing space.
The second type of book I rely upon offers insight into the writing life or about the act of writing. Such books provide glimpses into how accomplished writers approach their craft. I find myself turning to such books when my urge to write lags. Books about the writing life reignite my desire to write.
I also keep four favorite books of the second type close at hand. I love reading Annie Dillard’s beautifully written The writing life (Dillard, 1989). Most books which recommend books about improving and inspiring writing include Stephen King’s On writing on their list (King, 2000). I always enjoyed Tracy Kidder’s Pulitzer prize winning book The soul of a new machine (Kidder, 1981). I find the account of creating such a book, described in Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd’s Good prose, a useful addition to my writing space (Kidder & Todd, 2013). I recently discovered Richard Rhodes’s How to write (Rhodes, 1995), which now belongs with my favorites. Rhodes’s book contains many ideas about dealing with problems faced by writers.
Again, you can find many other books which belong to the second type (Brande, 1934; Cameron, 2022; Goldberg, 1986, 2021; Heighton, 2011; Hemingway, 1964; Janzer, 2016; Koch, 2003; Kumar, 2020; Marche, 2023; Orwell, 2005; Salesses, 2021; Sargent & Paraskevas, 2005; Sword, 2017; Ueland, 1938; Zinsser, 1988). I advise you, again, to find your own favorites to keep close at hand in your writing space.
Professional writers advise keeping a third type of book close at hand for repeated use. The third type of book provides reference material for both writing and content. Rhodes (1995), for example, keeps many reference books at hand, including several dictionaries (including foreign language dictionaries, a medical dictionary, a science dictionary), an anatomy text, and books of quotations.
You should keep books which improve or inform the act of writing nearby for repeated consultation. You should have other material at hand as well. Chapter 3 suggested a scaffold for generating topics using model writing which you strive to emulate. Choose such models; add them to your writing space.
Importantly, keeping models of writing close at hand only works if you use them. You should analyze your models and mark them up as you determine why they work. The same point applies to the first two types of books described in the current subsection. Why do you find the books useful? Why do they inspire? Why do your favorite books demand repeated reading? Answers to such questions point you towards improved writing.
