ABSTRACT
Patti Miller's best-selling Writing True Stories is the essential book for anyone who has ever wanted to write a memoir or explore the wider territory of creative nonfiction. It provides practical guidance and inspiration on a vast array of writing topics, including how to access memories, find a narrative voice, build a vivid world on the page, create structure, use research, and face the difficulties of truth-telling.
It first develops a wide range of writing skills for beginners, and then challenges more experienced writers to extend their knowledge and practice of the genre into literary nonfiction, true crime, biography, the personal essay, the diary, and travel writing. It offers inspiration from other nonfiction writers, such as Joan Didion, Helen Garner, Robert Dessaix, and Zadie Smith. Whether you want to write your own memoir, investigate a wide-ranging political issue, explore an idea, or bring to life an intriguing history, this book will be your guide.
Writing True Stories is practical and easy to use as well as an encouraging and insightful companion on the writing journey. Written in a warm, clear, and engaging style, it will get you started on the story you want to write – and keep you going until you get there.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|138 pages
Starting out
chapter 2|8 pages
How to use this book
chapter 3|17 pages
Workshop one Getting started
chapter 5|11 pages
Workshop three Bringing it to life – Detail
chapter 6|15 pages
Workshop four Bringing it to life – Scenes
chapter 7|12 pages
Workshop five Finding your voice
chapter 8|16 pages
Workshop six Structure
chapter 9|14 pages
Workshop seven Inventing the story – Narrative
chapter 10|16 pages
Workshop eight Style matters and editing
part II|216 pages
Masterclasses