The Parallel Lives

Students will walk back into school soon and settle themselves into a small desk. Once seated, each girl and each boy will stare at a series of math story problems, or long pages of difficult-to-read text on science or history, plus the dreaded weekly compositions in English.

To those anxious students, I say, “Embrace those compositions. Do not let them intimidate you. Let your light shine. Present your opinions, your ideas, your humor. Lay aside your fear of ridicule from your peers. Show your intelligence. The better writers are the better thinkers.”

You can become a better writer, by thinking more and writing more. One expert on writing recommends writing two or three five-paragraph essays every day, and show your work.

Years ago the computer scientist and writer Paul Graham wrote an essay he entitled, “The Age of the Essay,” and at its beginning, he wrote, “The most obvious difference between real essays and the things one has to write in school is that real essays are not just about English literature.”

In other words, Graham says, write about some topic other than a commentary on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “A Scarlet Letter.”

An ambitious student who wants to write well can select from a mountain of books, each designed to improve a student’s essays.

From that mountain, I would first pick up William Zinsser’s two books: “On Writing Well,” and “Writing to Learn.” Zinsser was a long-time New York City columnist, plus an instructor of nonfiction writing at Yale University. Step-by-step he leads young and old writers forward.

Zinsser “claims that writing about a field of knowledge is the best way to immerse oneself in it and to make it one’s own.” He calls for “accuracy, brevity, and clarity.” He says, “Writing is thinking on paper. Anyone who thinks clearly should be able to write clearly about any subject.”

“Clear writing is the logical arrangement of thought. A scientist who thinks clearly can write as well as the best writer.”

In addition, I would recommend Stephen King’s book, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.” Of all of King’s book, “On Writing” is most unique. He stops writing horror fiction long enough to describe his early years, growing up in Maine, and learning how and what to write.

Similar to King’s book is Isaac Asimov’s condensed biography, “It’s Been a Good Life.” In it he explains his work habits: seven days a week, from early in the morning until ten o’clock at night. Always writing. The result: over his lifetime Isaac Asimov published some 500 books.

The most pervasive of that mountain of books on writing is William Strunk and E. B. White’s “The Elements of Style.” Thousands of that slim volume fill up the shelves of used book stores.

Students may glance at “Elements of Style” once or twice when in school, but most lay it aside after the class ends, convinced that never again will they write anything.

Bill Benson, of Sterling, is a dedicated historian.