Writing Creative Nonfiction

I'm far from finishing, even retired people have lives. I've only read two of the essays and have learned that the stories (chapters) I've been writing but fictionalizing may be to creative to be creative nonfiction. The writing suggestions in the essays are still useful.

I love this book!

Dear Self:The other reviews for this book --not a one below 3 stars-- are very convincing, I know. Oh believe me, I KNOW.But given that I am your future-self after you have read this book, I also know this: you are going to get pissed off the moment you start reading it. And not in a good way.You will find the first piece, called "Why I Write," earnest, dull, cliched, and embarrassingly melodramatic. Remember in tenth grade when Mr. Ellis made everyone write their own version of Walt Whitman's "This is What You Shall Do"? Like that, without the excuse of being only fifteen years old.Then there is a piece about that delicious challah bread you love, and how, like challah bread, stories braid together multiple narratives and perspectives into one organic whole. I'm stating the metaphor clumsily, but don't worry, this essay will re-state it over and over and over again for many, many, pages. "Give it a rest already," you'll grumble, "you had me at challah."The other pieces are not as objectionable, but you will not be inspired. Nor will you receive the sort of scolding, for which you yearn, that will compel you to stop wasting time and just write. Finally, I guarantee that if you learn anything from this volume, you will have forgotten it by the time you sit down to write this review.So. I think you should skip this book (or at least buy it used). Get the wonderful "The Art of the Essay," edited by Phil Lopate, instead. There is some great writing in there that will make you feel small and incompetent, which is a much more enjoyable experience, is it not, than being a bitter braggart who lurches around the internet, shaking her fist at hardworking and, ahem, published, writers?Yours Truly,YouPS. Also, you are so not going to eat four dozen raw food nutrition bars --take them out of your cart please.

The book was in perfect condition

Humor is difficult to put in non-fiction, but he makes it sound easy. This is a book for all writers.

This is another of my bad buys based on 5-star reviews given by, I suspect, friends and associates of the contributors and editors. A few of the reviewers have never reviewed more than 2 other titles, apart from this book. That's odd."A Braided Essay" -- which tries to present a fancy theory -- draws a parallel between writing such an essay and baking challah (a kind of bread) -- how boring! Would drawing a parallel between assembling a model airplane and essay writing inspire female writing students? Several other essayists merely gave accounts of how they overcame their obstacles when working on their writing projects. I don't see how details of their 5Ws and H are instructional to the creative nonfiction student. An example is "Every Hell is Different: Notes on War Writing." Why do I give two hoots about the author's difficult times in Bosnia? Only "Avoiding Self-Censhorship" is filled with useful legal advice. Even Lee Gutkind failed to live up to his reputation. He exercised bragging rights as Godfather of Creative Nonfiction -- fine -- but only gave random, superficial comments on the genre. As THE "Godfather of Creative Nonfiction" I had expected more steely substance from him.Overall, several essays in this book are well written PER SE but, unfortunately, have low instructional value.Now, the readings in the second half of the book: They are no great shakes. You can read equally good essays free in Esquire online (Eg. "Frank Sinatra has a cold") and elsewhere. Don't waste money on this title, you're just paying for the quality paper used and a fancy cover. The book's like a star-studded movie with over-paid famous actors/actresses that fails at the box-office.I would recommend "Writing True" (Wadsworth) by Sondra Peel and Mimi Schwartz as a better alternative. It contains many useful nuts and bolts.

Good read; educational; a benefit to writers. Worth the purchase.

This book approaches the subject differently from any other books about non-fiction writing. He covers important topics such as libel, legal issues, and writing about wartime and violent weather. Humor is difficult to put in non-fiction, but he makes it sound easy. This is a book for all writers.