Storycraft

by Hart, Jack

• ISBN13: 9780226318141
• ISBN10: 0226318141
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-07-15
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

From the work of the New Journalists in the 1960s, to theNew Yorkeressays of John McPhee, Susan Orlean, Atul Gawande, and a host of others, to blockbuster book-length narratives such as Mary Roach'sStiffor Erik Larson'sDevil in the White City, narrative nonfiction has come into its own. Yet writers looking for guidance on reporting and writing true stories have had few places to turn for advice. Now inStorycraft, Jack Hart, a former managing editor of theOregonianwho guided several Pulitzer Prizewinning narratives to publication, delivers what will certainly become the definitive guide to the methods and mechanics of crafting narrative nonfiction. Hart covers what writers in this genre need to know, from understanding story theory and structure, to mastering point of view and such basic elements as scene, action, and character, to drafting, revising, and editing work for publication. Revealing the stories behind the stories, Hart brings readers into the process of developing nonfiction narratives by sharing tips, anecdotes, and recommendations he forged during his decades-long career in journalism. From there, he expands the discussion to other well-known writers to show the broad range of texts, styles, genres, and media to which his advice applies. With examples that draw from magazine essays, book-length nonfiction narratives, documentaries, and radio programs,Storycraftwill be an indispensable resource for years to come.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 11
Story	p. 6
Structure	p. 20
Point Of View	p. 41
Voice And Style	p. 62
Character	p. 75
Scene	p. 89
Action	p. 107
Dialogue	p. 127
Theme	p. 136
Reporting	p. 146
Story Narratives	p. 163
Explanatory Narratives	p. 183
Other Narratives	p. 203
Ethics	p. 219
Acknowledgments	p. 241
Notes	p. 243
Bibliography	p. 247
Index	p. 253
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