The Shape of the Essay Field
How does the good, the true, and the beautiful tie into essay writing?
I think Essay Architecture covers the beautiful. It’s the vessel to shape something so it’s engaging, balanced, and full. Truth is writing about topics that are real and honest and unique to you, while the good is about arriving at an idea that condones harmony and advances the s
... See moreI never stopped to ask, “Who is the typical Yale alumnus? Who am I editing for?” One of my principles is that there is no typical anybody; every reader is different. I edit for myself and I write for myself. I assume that if I consider something interesting or funny, a certain number of other people will too. If they don’t, they have two inalienabl
... See moreWilliam Zinsser • Writing to Learn: How to Write - and Think - Clearly About Any Subject at All
Whatever you say should also be at least somewhat novel to you, however old you are. It's not an essay otherwise, because an essay is something you write to figure something out. But whatever you figure out will presumably be more of a surprise to younger readers than it is to you.