Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction

Jack Hart

University of Chicago Press, 2011 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 266 pages

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 Roach’s Stiff or Erik Larson’s 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.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - patl - LibraryThing

An excellent guide to the mechanics of good nonfiction story writing. Examples are from a newspaper journalism perspective, and something feels slightly dated but I can't put my finger on why, but the details are very helpful.

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - HippieLunatic - LibraryThing

Good exploration of how story structures can be implemented in non-fiction narratives.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• 1 Story: 6
• 2 Structure: 20
• 3 Point of View: 41
• 4 Voice and Style: 62
• 5 Character: 75
• 6 Scene: 89
• 7 Action: 107
• 8 Dialogue: 127
• 9 Theme: 136
• 10 Reporting: 146
• 11 Story Narratives: 163
• 12 Explanatory Narratives: 183
• 13 Other Narratives: 203
• 14 Ethics: 219
• Acknowledgments: 241
• Notes: 243
• Bibliography: 247
• Index: 253

About the author

Jack Hart is a former managing editor and writing coach at the Oregonian. He received the first National Teaching Award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors and a University of Wisconsin Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to journalism, has taught on the faculties of six universities, and was named the Ruhl Distinguished Professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. He is the author of A Writer's Coach.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction; Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing
• Author: Jack Hart
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2011
• ISBN: 0226318168, 9780226318165
• Length: 266 pages
• Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / General; Language Arts & Disciplines / Journalism; Language Arts & Disciplines / Writing / Nonfiction (incl. Memoirs)