Every successful piece of nonfiction should leave the reader with one provocative thought that he or she didn't have before. Not two thoughts, or five - just one. So decide what single point you want to leave in the reader's mind.

Every successful piece of nonfiction should leave the reader with one provocative thought that he or she didn't have before. Not two thoughts, or five - just one. So decide what single point you want to leave in the reader's mind.

Writing organizes and clarifies our thoughts. Writing is how we think our way into a subject and make it our own. Writing enables us to find out what we know-and what we don't know-about whatever we're trying to learn.

There's not much to be said about the period except that most writers don't reach it soon enough.

I think a sentence is a fine thing to put a preposition at the end of.

Be wary of security as a goal. It may often look like life's best prize. Usually it's not.

When you're ready to stop, stop. If you have presented all the facts and made the point you want to make, look for the nearest exit.