Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, & Publishing)

From the work of the New Journalists in the 1960s, to the New Yorker essays of John McPhee, Susan Orlean, Atul Gawande, and a host of others, to blockbuster book-length narratives such as Mary Roachs Stiff or Erik Larsons Devil 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 in Storycraft, Jack Hart, a former managing editor of the Oregonian who guided several Pulitzer Prize-winning 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, Storycraft will be an indispensable resource for years to come.

Introduction

Chapter 1: Story

Chapter 2: Structure

Chapter 3: Point of View

Chapter 4: Voice and Style

Chapter 5: Character

Chapter 6: Scene

Chapter 7: Action

Chapter 8: Dialogue

Chapter 9: Theme

Chapter 10: Reporting

Chapter 11: Story Narratives

Chapter 12: Explanatory Narratives

Chapter 13: Other Narratives

Chapter 14: Ethics

Acknowledgments

Notes

Bibliography

Index