David Rakoff, The Writer's Life

Link: David Rakoff, The Writer's Life

• Print: Essay

Rackoff reflects, humorously, on writing and the writing process in this essay.

Andrew Sullivan, Why I Blog

Link: Andrew Sullivan, Why I Blog

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Sullivan's 2008 Atlantic article explains the beauty and power of blogs.  Sullivan also helps to define the writing medium.

Luis Alberto Urrea, Life Is An Act Of Literary Creation

Link: Luis Alberto Urrea, Life Is An Act Of Literary Creation

• Audio: Essay

Urrea's personal narration (from NPR's This I Believe) shows the author's passion for writing.  In this audio essay, he defines life as one giant story.

Chameli Waiba, The Magic Of Letters

Link: Chameli Waiba, The Magic Of Letters

• Audio: Essay   

Waiba's personal narrative (from NPR's This I Believe) details reading's transformational power.  Waiba recounts how gaining literacy shaped her life.

Kathryn Wilkens, Start Off Strong

Link: Kathryn Wilkens, Start Off Strong

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Wilkens' Writer's Digest essay, in discussing her journaling, offers ideas to create powerful and compelling first lines.

William Zinsser, Simplicty

Link: William Zinsser, Simpicity

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Zinsser’s excerpts focus on the importance of stylistic simplicity. Zinsser shows that inflated, verbose and elevated language confuses the meaning of the sentence.

William Zinsser, The Transaction

Link: William Zinsser, The Transaction

• Print: Essay

Zinsser's piece explains the uniqueness of each person's writing process.