Writing True: The Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction

About this book

This book shows writers of all ages how to find and develop nonfiction topics that matter to themin ways that make readers care too. It emphasizes writing for discovery not just writing what one knows. It emphasizes a strong authorial presence (voice) and a convincing point of view. Most important it not only tells but also shows how writing true involves the poets attention to language the fiction writers power of storytellling the journalists pursuit of fact and the scholars reliance on research. The first part of the book offers ten practical chapters from getting started to turning first ideas into finished work. Topics include: The Power of the Notebook Ten Ways to a Draft Taking Shape Finding Voice Twenty Ways to Talk About Writing The Craft of Revision The Role of Research The Ethics of Creative Nonfiction Workshopping a Draft and Exploring New Media. The second part of the book is an anthology of the best nonfiction writing for aspiring writers to read and study in order to write with creativity integrity and authenticity. Organized by form they include Memoir Personal Essay Portrait Essay of Place Narrative Journalism and Short Shorts. Selections represent a variety of experience from classic masters (E.B.White and George Orwell) to major contemporary writers (such as Alice Walker Stephen Dunn and Scott Russell Sanders) to up and coming writers (such as E.J. Levy and Amy Butcher). The anthology also includes "Stories of Craft " with five prominent writers including Patricia Hampl and Sue Miller describing the challenges and rewards of writing engaging nonfiction.