Storycraft
The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
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Narrated by:
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Christopher Grove
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By:
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Jack Hart
About this listen
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 narratives such as Mary Roach's Stiff, 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 listeners 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.
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Go ahead. Download it.
- By Shawn Bailey on 12-01-20
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Damn Fine Story
- Mastering the Tools of a Powerful Narrative
- By: Chuck Wendig
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Great storytelling is making listeners care about your characters, the choices they make, and what happens to them. It's making your audience feel the tension and emotion of a situation right alongside your protagonist. And to tell a damn fine story, you need to understand why and how that caring happens. Using a mix of personal stories, pop fiction examples, and traditional storytelling terms, New York Times best-selling author Chuck Wendig will help you internalize the feel of powerful storytelling.
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This writer's approach might work for some, but. .
- By zacman on 04-24-19
By: Chuck Wendig
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Story Engineering
- Mastering the 6 Core Competencies of Successful Writing
- By: Larry Brooks
- Narrated by: Chris Sorensen
- Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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The vast majority of writers begin the storytelling process with only a partial understanding of where to begin. Some labor their entire lives without ever learning that successful stories are as dependent upon good engineering as they are artistry. But the truth is, unless you are master of the form, function, and criteria of successful storytelling, sitting down and pounding out a first draft without planning is an ineffective way to begin. Story Engineering starts with the criteria and the architecture of storytelling, the engineering and design of a story....
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dislike narrator voice/intonation, didnt get far
- By Khang Tran on 10-03-20
By: Larry Brooks
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Writing Life Stories
- How to Make Memories into Memoirs, Ideas into Essays and Life into Literature
- By: Bill Roorbach
- Narrated by: John McLain
- Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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From drawing a map of a remembered neighborhood to signing a form releasing yourself to take risks in your work, Roorbach offers innovative techniques that will trigger ideas for all writers. Writing Life Stories is a classic text that appears on countless creative nonfiction and composition syllabi the world over. This updated 10th anniversary edition gives you the same friendly instruction and stimulating exercises along with updated information on current memoir writing trends, ethics, internet research, and even marketing ideas.
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Why oh why didn’t I find this book 50 years ago?
- By LauraVeronique on 12-08-23
By: Bill Roorbach
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Zen in the Art of Writing
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!" Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft - everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style.
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Evocative fuel for any Muse!
- By Amazon Customer on 03-22-18
By: Ray Bradbury
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Refuse to Be Done
- How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts
- By: Matt Bell
- Narrated by: Matthew Boston
- Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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They say writing is rewriting. So why does the second part get such short shrift? Refuse to Be Done will guide you through every step of the novel writing process, from getting started on those first pages to the last tips for making your final draft even tighter and stronger.
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many great tips
- By lauren on 06-30-24
By: Matt Bell
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Write No Matter What
- Advice for Academics
- By: Joli Jensen
- Narrated by: Pam Ward
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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With growing academic responsibilities, family commitments, and inboxes, scholars are struggling to fulfill their writing goals. A finished book - or even steady journal articles - may seem like an impossible dream. But, as Joli Jensen proves, it really is possible to write happily and productively in academe. Jensen begins by busting the myth that universities are supportive writing environments. She points out that academia, an arena dedicated to scholarship, offers pressures that actually prevent scholarly writing.
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Excellent advice for researchers
- By Amazon Customer on 11-03-23
By: Joli Jensen
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20 Master Plots
- And How to Build Them
- By: Ronald B. Tobias
- Narrated by: Barry Abrams
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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The best stories linger in the hearts and minds of readers for decades. These tales gain their power through plots that connect with the audience on both an emotional and intellectual level. Ronald B. Tobias details these 20 time-tested plots. Each is discussed and analyzed, illustrating how a successful plot integrates all the elements of a story. Tobias then reveals how to use these plots effectively in your own work.
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Some Good Ideas
- By Christine Amsden on 10-05-20
By: Ronald B. Tobias
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The Writing Life
- By: Annie Dillard
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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With color, irony, and sensitivity, Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Dillard illuminates the dedication, absurdity, and daring that is the writer’s life. As it probes and exposes, examines and analyzes, The Writing Life offers deeper insight into one of the most mysterious of professions.
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How Odd--How Poorly Written?!?
- By Gillian on 02-27-15
By: Annie Dillard
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The Elements of Style (Recorded Books Edition)
- By: William Strunk Jr., E. B. White
- Narrated by: Frank McCourt
- Length: 4 hrs
- Unabridged
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The Elements of Style has long been a valued and beloved resource for all writers. Hailed for its directness and clever insight, this unorthodox textbook was born from a professor's love for the written word and perfected years later by one of his students: famed author E. B. White. Ever since its first publication in 1959, writers have turned to this book for its wise and accessible advice.
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Required Reading
- By T. C. Pile on 12-07-08
By: William Strunk Jr., and others
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The Situation and the Story
- The Art of Personal Narrative
- By: Vivian Gornick
- Narrated by: Vivian Gornick
- Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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How does one pull from one's own boring, agitated self the truth-speaker who will tell the story a personal narrative needs to tell? That is the question The Situation and the Story asks—and answers. Taking us on a tour of some of the best memoirs and essays of the past hundred years, Gornick traces the changing idea of self that has dominated the century, and demonstrates the enduring truth-speaker to be found in the work of writers as diverse as Edmund Gosse, Joan Didion, Oscar Wilde, James Baldwin, or Marguerite Duras.
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Dare I Say it Was Just Ok?
- By Chi on 06-22-24
By: Vivian Gornick
What listeners say about Storycraft
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- April
- 06-28-24
Fed My Writing Brain
This is one book that goes quite a distance in assistance to my desire to write what I intend to be worth reading. More succinct- it contains the description of the narrative framework I need to succeed. I will be listening to this again!
If you are a writer, here is a meal for your mind you can enjoy and savor!
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- Steve Morin
- 03-06-20
Amazing book on non-fiction
Really the best book I have read about non-fiction entertaining and full of facts and explanation.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Angel Sturgill
- 09-17-21
One of my new favorite storytelling books!
One of the best storytelling books I’ve listened to. I think it’ll stick out the most. Perfect for those interested in how to tell great (and honest) non fiction. Perfect for historians looking to write and capture. Perfect for script writers looking to tell true stories. The middle of the book might feel slow with explanations of voice and perspective. But worth it to the end. At first the narrator seemed too plain, but I grew into it quickly. I’m gonna take this book to heart.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Camron
- 07-10-19
Christopher Grove must be Computer Generated
The content is interesting but who is Christopher Grove? Methinks a Computer Generated voice that will put anyone to sleep. Talk about monotonous. I ordered the book for the content so if I can stay awake through the sound of a drone, I might learn something. But really. Christopher Grove? Come on, just say Computer Generated instead of coming up with an alias for Alexa's boring half cousin twice removed.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Irina M. Flowers
- 04-15-21
I greatly enjoyed this book
I don't know how I bought this book, I usually don't buy random content. To my surprise, I really enjoyed learning about a subject that I have no interest in - writing nonfiction (I know, somehow I misread the title). However, the book is so well written and narrated that I could not stop listening to it until the end. Besides, it doesn't matter what you are writing - fiction or nonfiction - the principles of a good story apply to both. Thank you, Jack, for sharing your experience.
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1 person found this helpful
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- BooksBooks!
- 02-11-21
Neither informative or entertaining
nothing to learn and nothing to entertain
what is the point of this story?
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- Anonymous User
- 09-28-21
Its not great
The author struggles to go 2 sentences without reminding you of his experience in the field and will often make a statement about good writing and then do the opposite within the page. Broadly speaking, it is good advice but it is presented in a way that makes me desperatly not want to follow it.
The reader is also a really bad match for this book. While I don't doubt that he has done good work, the combination of his voice and the material makes it even less pleasent.
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