William Zinsser’s On Writing Well in chapters 3–5, Zinsser explores clarity, simplicity, and the relationship between writer and audience. Chapter 5, “The Audience,” stands out for insightful message: writers must care deeply about not losing the reader’s attention—yet they should not write for the reader. Instead, they should write for themselves.
At first, the advice seems contradictory. How can a writer avoid boring or confusing readers while also ignoring them? But what he’s really suggesting is a balance. Writing primarily for oneself means writing with authenticity and conviction, feeling good about your piece —without pandering to trends or these lofty expectations that one has.
When writers focus too much on pleasing an audience, they risk losing their unique voice. As Zinsser writes, “You are writing primarily to please yourself, and if you go about it with enjoyment you will also entertain the readers who are worth writing for.” This shows his thoughts about writing for the particular audience and to focus on your own enjoyment rather than another person who reads it.
Yet Zinsser does “go against” the reader entirely. He warns against cluttered or self-indulgent writing that alienates the audience. The writer’s job is to make reading effortless—through simplicity, honesty, and precision. In this sense, caring about the reader means respecting their time and attention, not tailoring to their approval.
To reflect, Zinsser’s “contradiction” is a creative tension every writer must live with. To write well, he states you must balance ego and empathy—staying true to personal voice while crafting prose that invites others in. Writing for oneself ensures honesty; editing for the reader ensures clarity. The two are moraly similar and can be partners in good writing. When writers find that equilibrium, they achieve what Zinsser calls “a transaction between writer and reader”—one built not on flattery, but on shared humanity and truth.
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