The Art of Revising Creative Nonfiction
14 U.S. Writers on their Drafts, Craft, and Process
The Art of Revising Creative Nonfiction
14 U.S. Writers on their Drafts, Craft, and Process
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Description
In this unique volume, 14 of the US's most distinguished writers pull back the curtain on their processes whilst drafting their works of creative nonfiction. Using side-by-side examples of first drafts and final versions of their writing, including original full-page reproductions from the writers' personal notebooks, an original, illuminating essay accompanies each draft, recounting the journey from inspiration to completion. Offering a generous insight into the creative process from the rough bold strokes to refined, clear, elegant prose, this behind-the-scenes look delves into the creative minds of working writers, including African American, Latin, Asian American, and Indigenous writers from across the US.
An invaluable resource for students and instructors looking to enliven the classroom or offering practicing writers a peak into the processes of their peers, this book presents the false starts and missteps, the self-editing, tinkering, cutting, rearranging and craft working writers make in the plight for perfectly polished prose. The Art of Revising Creative Nonfiction is an enlightening and unparalleled collection of modern-day creativity in action, a must have for aspiring writers and teachers of all levels.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements. vi
Introduction. viii
CHAPTER 1: Brooke Champange, THE PROMISE OF BETTER.. 1
First Draft: Thin Slices. 2
Published Version: “Exercises”. 5
Essay: Working it Out Through “Exercises”. 9
CHAPTER 2: CMarie Fuhrman, CRAFT AS CONTENT.. 13
First Draft14
Published Version: “The American Flag in 13 Acts”. 18
Essay: Revising as an Act of Resistance. 22
CHAPTER 3: Matthew Gavin Frank, THE CHESS GAME.. 26
First Draft27
Published Version. 30
Essay: Brain-Rubbing on the Testing Ground. 33
CHAPTER 4: Jill Talbot, PIECE BY PIECE, MAPPING THE ESSAY.. 37
First Draft38
Published Version. 40
Essay: Picking Up Robert Reford. 44
Chapter 5: Toni Jensen, SCOPE, SCALE, AND FOCUS. 48
First Draft49
Published Version. 53
Essay: Drafting Toward What the Essay Needs. 57
CHAPTER 6: Brooke Williams, LETTING THE STORY BREATHE.. 62
First Draft63
Published Version. 65
Essay: Finding That Which is Hidden. 68
CHAPTER 7: Karen Babine, THAT MOMENT OF ZING.. 72
First Draft73
Published Version. 76
Essay: Revision and the Art of Timing. 80
CHAPTER 8: Kazim Ali, FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH.. 84
First Draft85
Published Version. 87
Essay: Revising a Journal to Journalism and then Journalism to Memoir92
CHAPTER 9: David Gessner, SWILL BINS AND PROBLEM SOLVING.. 96
First Draft97
Published Version:99
Essay: An Inelegant Journey: From Swill-Bin to Book. 101
CHAPTER 10: Gretel Ehrlich, THE PARING KNIFE.. 105
First Draft106
Published Version. 110
Essay: Hard Decisions. 114
CHAPTER 11: Kathleen Dean Moore, A SERIES OF QUESTIONS. 118
First Draft119
Published Version. 123
Essay: What I Ask. 127
CHAPTER 12: Joe Osmundson, KILL YOUR DARLINGS. 131
FIRST DRAFT. 132
Published Version. 136
Essay: Double or Nothing. 140
CHAPTER 13: Sayantani Dasgupta, HEIGHTEN AND TIGHTEN.. 143
First Draft144
Published Version. 148
Essay: On (Writing and) Revising “Girl in the Rum Barrel”. 151
Chapter 14: Pam Houston, GLIMMERS AND THE FUN OF INCESSANT REVISION.. 155
First Draft156
Published Version. 159
Essay: Revision: How The Season of Hunkering Down Stopped Being a Ranch Almanac Vignette and Became a Full-Fledged Chapter.163
Contributor Bios 166
Product details
| Published | Feb 18 2027 |
|---|---|
| Format | Paperback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 152 |
| ISBN | 9781350547766 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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