Author: Zulma A Ordonez (Cruz)

I enjoyed reading this entire reading “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser. He was able to captivate my attention throughout each section.  He mentions that ultimately the product that any writer has to sell isn’t the subject written about but who they are and to accomplish great work requires skill, which can be learned. I was under the impression that writing was an art and not achievable, but his words have shown me that it’s a craft which can be mastered.

Another point I liked was that every writer has their own style and there isn’t a right or wrong way to do this work. I agree with this because I can relate to him upon reading some material which might not seem interesting at a first glance, but upon reading it the author had a captivating form in expressing the ideas and facts about the particular subject. Whereas, other more appealing subjects have resulted in pure disappointment. It all comes down to how the writer displays their own style.  Zinsser says good writing has an aliveness that keeps the reader reading from one paragraph to the next, achieving the greatest clarity and strength.

Lastly, “clear thinking becomes clear writing; one can’t exist without the other.” So, if I can achieve a clear idea, organize my thoughts,  have a good attitude, and learn how to use my skills to express my personality, then I could  become a decent writer. I can also put myself in the reader’s shoes to examine my writing, because like he said, if the reader is lost, it’s usually because the writer hasn’t been careful enough. So it is a great idea to follow all his advice. Revising ones work multiple times to declutter, stripping it down as much as possible so it can be built back up, and being ourselves to display our authenticity.

My name is Zulma, but friends call me Zuly. My pronouns are her and she. I was born and raised in Queens, New York and I am finishing up my Mechanical Engineering degree. I stopped going to school for 10+ years after getting my career job while I was still in school. During those days, I figured why finish  if I was working for a HVAC company with a great salary. As time went by I wanted to come back but felt hesitant thinking I wouldn’t be able to pass those tough classes or even ace them, so I kept procrastinating.

I love traveling and have enjoyed my life, I got married and went to Colombia right before the pandemic hit. I also had baby, which made me realize I should really obtain my degree. So here I am back in school, finishing what I started and it’s been great! I love learning and after all this time I can honestly say that anyone can do anything if they set their mind to it and put in the work. I have managed to ace my classes and see there was nothing to be scared about. However, since it has been so long, I have forgotten how to write properly or in the format required for English class, I used to love reading, but the most I’ve read for a long time are specifications for construction projects and blueprints, but I am here to learn and put in the work required to ace this class, hopefully.

Currently, we bought a house in Ocala, which is located in Central Florida. We decided to move away to have a better quality of life. I left my job, went back to school and I’m caring for our baby. We are loving it so far. We are enjoying our large new home with pool, along with exploring new places, going sight-seeing, and swimming in the beautiful springs and beaches nearby. I love castles and visiting historical places, which is why I chose to share the picture below. This is The Castillo de San Marcos, located in St. Augustine. It’s significant because this is the oldest masonry fort built by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route and I loved visiting and learning about it.