Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume

	Title: Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University Purchase Item Manufacturer: Plume List Price: $15.00 Our Price: $5.19
Customer Reviews:
Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume A Great Book
I bought this book for my brother, who is an author. He is always looking for a good book to improve and/or diversify his writing techniques. He is thrilled with it. hasn't hardly put it down since he got it and uses it for referencing a lot!
Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume A writer's conference for the cost of a trade paperback!
From my review in the January 2008 newsletter of the American Society of Journalists and Authors: In nearly 100 short essays, this book offers an unbelievable wealth of excellent advice and information, from 51 contributors such as Tom Wolfe, David Halberstam, Susan Orlean, Tracy Kidder, Adrian Nicole LeBlanc and Gay Talese. It's like attending a "who's who" conference on nonfiction writing, all for the price of a trade paperback. The book is helpfully divided into categories; you don't have to read the whole thing (although you'll be a better writer, guaranteed, if you do). Categories include finding topics, settling on your sub-genre, structure, building quality into your work, ethics, editing, narrative in news and building a career in magazines and books. The best parts of the book are the tidbits of insight dispersed by pros who have had decades of experience to figure out what makes them so good at their jobs. Gay Talese talks about his decision to spend more time "with people who were not necessarily newsworthy . . . that the role of the nonfiction writer should be with private people whose lives represent a larger significance." Katherine Boo reveals that she finds her stories "because I never learned to drive. . . . I take the bus. I walk around. By being out there -- not the driver of my story but the literal and figurative rider -- I have the opportunity to see things that I would never otherwise see." S. Mitra Kalita offers the startling -- but obvious on contemplation -- observation from her colleague Mirta Ojito at The New York Times, that "the more you know, the less they tell you." This is a book you'll speed through and quote to your friends, read over and over, and find new insights on each pass through. I have a system when I'm reviewing books of putting Post-It notes on the edges of pages that seem especially cogent, well-written, etc. I usually have 8 or 10 Post-Its on a book that's finished, but on this one, I had so many it looked like the book had sprouted its own little line of prayer flags!
Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume Best New Writing Book of the Year
Every writing teacher needs this book. One of the best I've found. Already teaching from it. Plus, The Nieman Foundation Website offers more useful writing & teaching tools than most fee-based services. Should be required reading for all creative nonfiction and journalism undergrad and grad students.
Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume Essential reading for serious writers
"Telling True Stories" belongs on every serious writer's bookshelf. Including insights from many of the luminaries in the narrative non-fiction world, it is not only an essential read for someone working in this field, but a lively and inspiring one as well. Highly recommended!
Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume A rookie reporter appreciates guide to better story telling
"Telling True Stories" is 91 outstanding essays on what narrative nonfiction reporting and writing are and how to do both better. The book, described as "a nonfiction writers' guide," features many award winning reporters, editors and teachers who have presented during Nieman Conferences on Narrative Journalism and include Walt Harrington, Jack Hart, Tom French, Tom Hallman and John Franklin. The title could just as easily been "Telling True Stories Compellingly" for these essayists and others clearly describe how fact-based narratives, when employing the story-telling techniques described in detail, can produce truly memorable newspaper pieces, magazine articles and books. As a rookie newspaper reporter very interested in writing stories that will be read, this book is worth at least double the price - maybe triple.
Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University by Plume Product Description
Inspiring stories and practical advice from America’s most respected journalists The country’s most prominent journalists and nonfiction authors gather each year at Harvard’s Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism. Telling True Stories presents their best advice—covering everything from finding a good topic, to structuring narrative stories, to writing and selling your first book. More than fifty well-known writers offer their most powerful tips, including: • Tom Wolfe on the emotional core of the story • Gay Talese on writing about private lives • Malcolm Gladwell on the limits of profiles • Nora Ephron on narrative writing and screenwriters • Alma Guillermoprieto on telling the story and telling the truth • Dozens of Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists from the Atlantic Monthly, New Yorker, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and more . . . The essays contain important counsel for new and career journalists, as well as for freelance writers, radio producers, and memoirists. Packed with refreshingly candid and insightful recommendations, Telling True Stories will show anyone fascinated by the art of writing nonfiction how to bring people, scenes, and ideas to life on the page.