CHAPTER Subject,Reader, and Kinds of Writing Choosing a Subject Often,of course,you are not free to choose at all.You must compose a report for a business meeting or write on an as- signed topic for an English class.The problem then becomes not what to write about but how to attack it,a question we'll discuss in Chapters 5 and 6. When you can select a subject for yourself,it ought to in- terest you,and interest others as well,at least potentially.It should be within the range of your experience and skill, though it is best if it stretches you.It ought to be neither so vast that no one person can encompass it nor so narrow and trivial that no one cares. Don't be afraid to express your own opinions and feelings. You are a vital part of the subject.No matter what the topic, you are really writing about how you understand it,how you feel about it.Good writing has personality.Readers enjoy sensing a mind at work,hearing a clear voice,responding to an unusual sensibility.If you have chosen a topic that is of general concern,and if genuine feeling and intelligence come through,you will be interesting.Interest lies not so much in a topic as in what a writer has made of it.CHAPTER 1 Subject, Reader, and Kinds of Writing Choosing a Subject Often, of course, you are not free to choose at all. You must compose a report for a business meeting or write on an as￾signed topic for an English class. The problem then becomes not what to write about but how to attack it, a question we'll discuss in Chapters 5 and 6. When you can select a subject for yourself, it ought to in￾terest you, and interest others as well, at least potentially. It should be within the range of your experience and skill, though it is best if it stretches you. It ought to be neither so vast that no one person can encompass it nor so narrow and trivial that no one cares. Don't be afraid to express your own opinions and feelings. You are a vital part of the subject. No matter what the topic, you are really writing about how you understand it, how you feel about it. Good writing has personality. Readers enjoy sensing a mind at work, hearing a clear voice, responding to an unusual sensibility. If you have chosen a topic that is of general concern, and if genuine feeling and intelligence come through, you will be interesting. Interest lies not so much in a topic as in what a writer has made of it