Intermediate path
Writers on writing
Essays about the craft, from Julie Zhuo and Paul Graham back to Addison and Stevenson, who taught himself by imitating writers he admired. It ends with Poe's step-by-step account of how he says he wrote "The Raven".
5 essaysAbout 4 hr 23 min of typing
Essays in this path
- Step 1
- Step 2
by Paul Graham
Analysis of what makes writing good and useful, focusing on importance, novelty, correctness, and strength of writing.
Beginner · Medium
- Step 3
Addison sets out the aims of The Spectator, the paper whose essays Benjamin Franklin rewrote from notes to teach himself to write.
Advanced · Short
About 36 min to type
Public domain
- Step 4
Stevenson describes how he taught himself to write by imitating the authors he admired, and the short-lived university magazine he helped found in Edinburgh.
Advanced · Medium
About 1 hr 34 min to type
Public domain
- Step 5
Poe explains, step by step, how he says he wrote "The Raven": choosing the length, effect, tone and refrain before writing a line.
Advanced · Long
About 2 hr 14 min to type
Public domain