Writing Places: The Life Journey of a Writer and Teacher

Writing Places is a very entertaining read. But as with all of Mr. Zinsser's books,it reminds you that writing must also be helpful. The book addresses all kinds of helpful ideas. Such as self-evolution. That one's work ( his classic "On Writing Well" in this case) may need re-evaluation and revision over the course of time. His journey describes the complexity of the art of teaching the craft of writing. I didn't think such a thing could be articulated, but he does it. He is William Zinsser after all. He covers helpful ideas including journalistic ethics, history, family, and learning how to learn. Within the notion of helpful writing lies Zinsser's characteristic generosity of spirit. Helping is giving. If you are a writer, give yourself the collection of all of this writer's books. At the very least keep William Zinsser book titles on a list, and give them as gifts to the accomplished and would-be writers in your life.

...and I'd read anything of his!! This is kind of a memoir where he tells his life story in relation to the various places where he wrote. Excellent example of excellent writing!

Read this after reading another of his books and it was a wonderful surprise. He writes about places, but it's about his writing life and process. Invaluable!

This is quite simply a terrific book. If I have a complaint, it's the usual one regarding William Zinsser's work. I wished there were more. But if it had been longer, it wouldn't have been genuine Zinsser. One of his prime rules is to 'reduce clutter.' If Zinsser is hard on his students about editing out extraneous stuff, he's obviously twice as hard on himself. Because Writing Places, like his other books about writing and his life, has been mercilessly edited and honed to absolute shining perfection. I despair at ever coming close to this kind of writing myself. And I am an adherent to Zinsser's work too. I first read his classic tome, On Writing Well, about five years ago and just loved it. But as a follower I'm probably kind of a failure. I think it all matters, so ...I've also read his book, Writing About Your Life, which didn't have nearly enough about his own life (just my opinion, of course), so I was very excited to hear he'd finally written an actual memoir. Writing Places was a pleasure to read, but, as I've already said, I wished for more, particularly about his childhood and youth and his WWII service. Something like Andy Rooney did in MY WAR, or Sam Hynes in his two excellent memoirs, The Growing Seasons and Flights of Passage. If Zinsser ever decides to do this, I'd predict an instant bestseller, because there just aren't many more WWII memoirs that will still be written. The reading public is still hungry for such accounts though; witness the recent success in England of RAF pilot Geoffrey Wellum's book, First Light - a wonderful account of flying and the Battle of Britain.What the hell though. I do so appreciate everything Zinsser has already shared with us. And what he's tried to teach us about good writing. My next assignment: to read his books about music and baseball - EASY TO REMEMBER and SPRING TRAINING. Particularly the first one, because Zinsser is an accomplished jazz pianist of many years standing. Gotta read that one. In the meantime, keep writing, Mr Zinsser, and I'll keep reading. - Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir, BOOKLOVER

Great book! LOVE Zinsser! Wish I had discovered him earlier in my career. All his books a Must read for Any writer!

You should buy anything by the late William Zinsser, he's that good.

A great autobiography of the making of a writer and his subsequently helping form other writers. Fun to read and deeply thoughtful.

An interesting and well written glimpse into the writing profession and the craft of writing itself, which Zinsser has mastered. If you want a rare look at writing as a career from multiple angles and at the same time learn what great writing is like, this book will take you there.

Writing Places is a unexpected pleasure. The author's voice goes right for the heart. Writing Places is a short book worth savouring slowly.