Writing Places

“William Zinsser turns his zest, warmth and curiosity—his sharp but forgiving eye—on his own story. The result is lively, funny and moving, especially for anyone who cares about art and the business of writing well.”

In Writing Places, William Zinsser—the author of On Writing Well, the bestseller that has inspired two generations of writers, journalists, and students—recalls the many colorful and instructive places where he has worked and taught. Gay Talese, author of A Writer’s Life, calls Writing Places, “Wonderful,” while the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette praises this unique memoir for possessing “all the qualities that Zinsser believes matter most in good writing—clarity, brevity, simplicity and humanity.”

More than a memoir, this is a masterclass in the writing life, taught through the unforgettable places where a master honed his craft.

• Journalism History: Step into the smoke-filled city room of the legendary New York Herald Tribune in its 1950s heyday, a world of mavericks, oddballs, and gruff men in fedoras.
• The Freelance Writer’s Life: Discover the lonely but liberating world of a freelance writer, from an office with a fire pole to travels with an Olivetti typewriter for magazines like Life and The Saturday Evening Post.
• Teaching Writing: Go inside the halls of Yale University as Zinsser finds a new calling and develops the principles that would become his most famous work.
• The Story of a Classic: Learn the surprising origin story of On Writing Well, the beloved guide that grew from a Yale classroom to help generations find clarity, simplicity, and humanity in their own work.