Art or Is It The Science of Writing Well?

All over the world, the art of “Writing” is gradually dying largely due to the new age of technology and the fast pace of communication through various platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter, I-message, Facebook, LinkedIn, e-mails etc.

Even in formal writing, there is the need to communicate faster; so many companies have adopted the various communication tools listed above which has in no small measure contributed to the dying art of writing, hence the need to include some form of writing in most Business Schools and MBA programs. Most of these MBA programs may require the Executive to write various reports, blogs, letters and more with the hope that the popular phrase “Practice makes Perfect” holds true. Which is that the more you engage in an activity, the better you become.

Additionally, several literatures may be recommended and one of such literature is the book “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser, the book is a guide on the craft of writing. The book was initially released in 1976 and has become a standard for writers of all levels looking to improve their writing.

In the book, the author discusses writing using four different aspects of writing Principles, Methods, Forms and Attitudes. He explains each aspect:

Principle: He explained that writing should be done with the intention of communicating clearly and easily to enable the receiver of the information to receive and decode it in the simplest way possible.

Method: The author explained the value of reviewing and editing and recommended that writers must remove excess information, repetition, and weak verb tenses. He also advises writers to read their work aloud to themselves before submission to spot any grammar or punctuation issues and lastly, advises that writers should get a second person to review their work before submission.

Forms: Write for your audience, here he placed a strong emphasis on the importance of knowing your audience and writing for that audience. The audience will inform you of your choice of words and the technical terms to use; there are various types of writing: Football writing, Play writing etc.

Attitudes: He explained that authors needed to write with honesty and intention and that their work should make a meaningful contribution to the world. He also discussed writing ethics and emphasized the need to be truthful and morally upright as a writer and in all writing endeavors.

Most of the points highlighted by the book are practicable and can be learnt and applied deliberately and consistently, leading to a significant improvement in any one who is committed to improving his writing. Hence the book was recommended in Lagos Business School Master’s in Business Administration program as part of the reading material in Management Communication.

The Art or Science of writing well is a continuous journey that may not be achieved in a specific time frame, but continuous practice will help in developing a style and knack for it and hopefully a mastery of it in time.