Writing For Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction By a Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner (Reference)

As you would expect from a double Pulitzer Prize-winning chappy, this man knows his onions and he lets readers in on the craft...

Bought one for my husband and he finds it very useful. then he bought one for his best friend who's also trying to write a book. It really opens your eyes if you're a beginner.

Un guide vraiment excellent pour écrire des récits dramatiques de fais réels. Très bien expliqué et illustré, très parlant. Vraiment un must pour quiconque prétend écrire.

It's so useful for writing craft and it can help for those who have desire to write fiction or nonfiction.

I knew Jon and I miss him. I will always be grateful for everything he taught me about writing nonfiction.

This is one of the best books I've ever read on writing dramatic nonfiction -- nonfiction which approaches the subject through "story." Franklin, a two-time Pulitzer winner for his dramatic nonfiction, is also a college professor who teaches students how to write. This book gives to all writers and would-be writers the important things Franklin has learned as a practicing journalist and teacher. Included in the book is one of Franklin's prize-winning stories, "Mrs. Kelly's Monster." The story appears as Chapter Two of this book, but then it appears again in an annotated version at the end of the book. In the annotated version, Franklin explains everything he did, often line for line, and why he did it that way. A fantastic learning experience! Throughout the book, Franklin concentrates on story: what it is in fiction, how it works in nonfiction. He introduces and explains terms such as conflict, complication, and resolution. In addition, he teaches a five-line, three-words-per-line method of outlining a story. The purpose of this seemingly easy (but actually difficult) exercise is so that the writer can chip away and chip away at all the excess until he or she understands exactly and precisely, in the fewest words possible, what the conflict, complication, and resolution of his or her story are. Highly recommended -- for those who write fiction as well as those who write nonfiction.

With many years of fiction-writing experience behind me, I've been wanting to strengthen my nonfiction-writing skills. Someone recommended this book. It's a fascinating read full of amazing information. It's also quite dated, as it was written in 1986. That doesn't mean you shouldn't read it, though. Just remember a few things as you read through it: - The universal truths Franklin discusses (the importance of structure, active writing, character developments, etc.) are universal--they still apply today. It doesn't matter what you're writing. - His process (note cards) can still work, but he wrote before computers existed. Use his information and apply it to your modern technique. (The same is true for the submission process.) - Read the last chapter. Realize the truth in it--Franklin and his successful contemporaries spent YEARS learning and practicing. Think about that. I'm glad I read this book and would absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to write feature stories or short nonfiction pieces.