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Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction (Reference) Paperback – September 1, 1994

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

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The new "nonfiction"—the adaptation of storytelling techniques to journalistic articles in the manner of Truman Capote, Tom Wolfe, and John McPhee—is an innovative genre that has been awarded virtually every Pulitzer Prize for literary journalism since 1979. And now Jon Franklin, himself a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and undisputed master of the great American nonfiction short story, shares the secrets of his success. Franklin shows how to make factual pieces come alive by applying the literary techniques of complication/resolution, flashback, foreshadowing, and pace. He illustrates his points with a close analysis and annotation of two of his most acclaimed stories, so that the reader can see, step-by-step, just how they were created. This lively, easy-to-follow guid combines readability and excitement with the best of expository prose and illuminates the techniques that beginning journalists—and more experienced ones, too—will find immensely helpful:

  • Stalking the true short story
  • Drafting an effective outline
  • Structuring the rough copy
  • Polishing like a pro
  • and the tips, tools, and techniques that will put your stories on the cutting edge

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One of Ludwig Miës van der Rohe's favorite aphorisms was that "God is in the details." Jon Franklin would beg to differ. A pretty turn of phrase is no use at all, says he, if you don't have a firm structure on which to hang it. Franklin pioneered the field of creative nonfiction by applying fiction's classical complication-resolution form to standard nonfiction (specifically to news stories, most of which, he states, are generally "endings without beginnings attached"). Instead of focusing on style, grammar, and word use, as do many books on writing, Writing for Story provides a rigorous lesson in building a nonfiction story (short or long) that has structural integrity. Franklin advocates starting with an outline, writing the climax first, and engaging in other grueling tasks that seem like hard work because they are.

Review

"All in all, an impressive introduction to a difficult subject, done with disarming candor. Franklin provides concise, no-nonsense tips … in a lively, easy-to-follow style that's refreshingly free from the usual 'creative writing' jargon. It's a technique that beginning journalists, and even those more experienced, will find especially helpful and revealing. Franklin knows what he's talking about and shares his knowledge with admirable generosity."
—
Kirkus Reviews

"Learning to write the short story, always a challenge for budding fiction writers, is for Franklin … the royal road to success in feature writing today, Thoroughly and methodically, he shows aspiring journalists how to 'nail down' the operative elements of a story—complication/resolution, flashback, foreshadowing, and pace—and, through close analysis of two of his prize-winning features, what to do and in what order to do it … a sound, fertile book, recommended for attaining effective writing skills."
—
Library Journal

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Plume; Reprint edition (September 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0452272955
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0452272958
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.22 x 0.76 x 7.91 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

About the author

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Jon Franklin
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Two-time Pulitzer prize winning author Jon Franklin takes his readers into places they've never been. A pioneer in the narrative nonfiction movement -- nonfiction that reads as easily as if it were fiction -- Franklin is known for his easy style. His stories and books will allow you to climb Kitt Peak to peer through one of the world's most powerful telescopes, watch over the shoulders of brain surgeons as they save a patient's life, travel back in time to uncover the secrets of our own behavioral evolution. All this, without leaving the comfort of your easy chair.

Check out his blog and some of his most powerful stories at www.jonfranklin.com

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
149 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides good advice for writers of all levels. They find it educational and helpful for organizing thoughts into a framework. Readers describe the story as compelling and the basic structure of storytelling as great. The book is considered an excellent choice and worth purchasing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

28 customers mention "Writing quality"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides great advice for writers of all levels. They say it's a terrific read and the author is genius. The book takes several pieces written by the author and explains why he wrote them the way he did. It's an exciting and encouraging non-fiction writing guide taught by a writer of short stories but can apply to any writing.

"This is one of the best books I've ever read on writing dramatic nonfiction -- nonfiction which approaches the subject through "story."..." Read more

"...(the importance of structure, active writing, character developments, etc.)..." Read more

"...In my experience, successful writers treat this book as gold...." Read more

"...It is taught by a writer of short stories but can apply to any writing. these lessons are pivotal. Wholly recommend. Please buy!!!" Read more

14 customers mention "Educational value"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for writers. It provides good tips and information on developing nonfiction writing. They find it easy to read with comprehensive strategies that are essential to the craft of writing. The book is useful for bloggers and copywriters, as well as schools.

"...A fantastic learning experience! Throughout the book, Franklin concentrates on story: what it is in fiction, how it works in nonfiction...." Read more

"...these lessons are pivotal. Wholly recommend. Please buy!!!" Read more

"...Jon helps me do this. This helps me track my progress. Continue to learn from the masters like Jon...." Read more

"Great book that helps outline a structure for writing, and helps illuminate some of the previously mysterious elements for me." Read more

9 customers mention "Story telling"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides good information on nonfiction storytelling. It explains the nuances of writing stories and is an exciting read. The short stories by the author are also appreciated.

"...These stories clearly and effectively, for me, explain the nuances of writing story … the compelling elements and how our brains process the..." Read more

"...Someone recommended this book. It's a fascinating read full of amazing information. It's also quite dated, as it was written in 1986...." Read more

"...And if a story is compelling, readers will gladly endure grammatical errors, and spelling errors, and punctuation glitches...." Read more

"This beyond a doubt the best book on the basic structure of Story available...." Read more

5 customers mention "Success"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful. They say it's a powerful and insightful guide about short story writing.

"...These stories clearly and effectively, for me, explain the nuances of writing story … the compelling elements and how our brains process the..." Read more

"...In my experience, successful writers treat this book as gold...." Read more

"An incredible powerful book about Short Story Writing, but an insightful and deep look into the surgical world of Writing...." Read more

"...Franklin succeeds (just as Robert McKee does in "Story") in laying out the structure of dramatic story telling." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good value for money. They say it's worth reading and a great choice.

"...But it is worth every second of effort. When a story is structured properly, the piece dovetails and flows beautifully." Read more

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

"Great choice to buy this book. I really loved this book and tells every secret that an author would like to know." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2012
    This is one of the best books I've ever read on writing dramatic nonfiction -- nonfiction which approaches the subject through "story." Franklin, a two-time Pulitzer winner for his dramatic nonfiction, is also a college professor who teaches students how to write. This book gives to all writers and would-be writers the important things Franklin has learned as a practicing journalist and teacher. Included in the book is one of Franklin's prize-winning stories, "Mrs. Kelly's Monster." The story appears as Chapter Two of this book, but then it appears again in an annotated version at the end of the book. In the annotated version, Franklin explains everything he did, often line for line, and why he did it that way. A fantastic learning experience!

    Throughout the book, Franklin concentrates on story: what it is in fiction, how it works in nonfiction. He introduces and explains terms such as conflict, complication, and resolution. In addition, he teaches a five-line, three-words-per-line method of outlining a story. The purpose of this seemingly easy (but actually difficult) exercise is so that the writer can chip away and chip away at all the excess until he or she understands exactly and precisely, in the fewest words possible, what the conflict, complication, and resolution of his or her story are. Highly recommended -- for those who write fiction as well as those who write nonfiction.
    10 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2013
    In “Writing for Story,” Pulitzer Prize winner, Jon Franklin, leads the writing student through captivating stories to make his points. These stories clearly and effectively, for me, explain the nuances of writing story … the compelling elements and how our brains process the information. Then, he explains how to best get that information on paper to draw in the reader.

    The emotional engagement is expressed as well. All of which leads to a better understanding of how to put together and blend these essential parts. I often have feelings about something that take me a while to adequately express with words … and then try to apply them to a particular story scene.

    Wilk Peters’ journey demonstrates how to develop and write these pieces. I love Wilk’s story.

    Other chapters reveal
    • the secrets to constructing an effective outline
    • specific techniques for polishing, and much more
    • how to understand and time the revealing of each detail in order to absorb, entertain and satisfy your reader

    Jon Franklin genuinely fills the gaps which I have found in many other “how-to” writing books.

    I highly recommend this step-by-step guide.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2023
    With many years of fiction-writing experience behind me, I've been wanting to strengthen my nonfiction-writing skills. Someone recommended this book.

    It's a fascinating read full of amazing information. It's also quite dated, as it was written in 1986. That doesn't mean you shouldn't read it, though. Just remember a few things as you read through it:

    - The universal truths Franklin discusses (the importance of structure, active writing, character developments, etc.) are universal--they still apply today. It doesn't matter what you're writing.
    - His process (note cards) can still work, but he wrote before computers existed. Use his information and apply it to your modern technique. (The same is true for the submission process.)
    - Read the last chapter. Realize the truth in it--Franklin and his successful contemporaries spent YEARS learning and practicing. Think about that.

    I'm glad I read this book and would absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to write feature stories or short nonfiction pieces.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2005
    This wonderful book changed my writing life. I wish that I could say that I have lived up to Jon Franklin's writing advice, but at best I have aspired to live up to the advice Jon Franklin shares in WRITING FOR STORY. I first read this is 1988 and have periodically re-read it since then. For nonfiction feature writers, this book is on a par with Strunk & White. Highly recommended.

    While I was in the middle of writing "NIGHTMARE IN WICHITA: The Hunt for the BTK Strangler" I re-read WRITING FOR STORY. Perhaps I followed Franklin's advice to an adequate degree because in 2005 my book placed as high as number 4 on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list (for paperback nonfiction).

    The criticsms of the negative reviewers appear to me to have little or no merit. In my experience, successful writers treat this book as gold. Writers of kindred spirit can read WRITING FOR STORY for pure enjoyment, often nodding one's head in recognition of similar experience.

    If, besides WRITING FOR STORY, you are looking for an additional book on writing feature stories, I recommend FOLLOW THE STORY by James B. Stewart.

    If you are ready to go beyond feature writing, Franklin's SHOCK-TRAUMA is a living example of how to write a book-length nonfiction narrative following the feature-writing advice in WRITING FOR STORY.

    Bravo, Jon Franklin, and thank you.

    Robert Beattie

    Wichita, Kansas
    40 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2021
    I almost never write reviews, but this deserves one. It is a true apprenticeship on writing. Especially for a new writer but really anyone eager to learn, for that matter. Its like having a master teacher sitting with you and giving you the keys and sometimes harsh truth it will take to become a successful writer. It is taught by a writer of short stories but can apply to any writing. these lessons are pivotal. Wholly recommend. Please buy!!!
    5 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Palenku
    5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable book
    Reviewed in India on November 16, 2017
    It's so useful for writing craft and it can help for those who have desire to write fiction or nonfiction.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Pierre Fauvel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super guide
    Reviewed in France on October 17, 2014
    Un guide vraiment excellent pour écrire des récits dramatiques de fais réels. Très bien expliqué et illustré, très parlant. Vraiment un must pour quiconque prétend écrire.
  • Sierra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb book unsurprisingly
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2014
    As you would expect from a double Pulitzer Prize-winning chappy, this man knows his onions and he lets readers in on the craft...
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • michael coldwell
    3.0 out of 5 stars The pieces he uses as examples (he wrote them himself and received acclaim for them) are boring, simple and not of interest to t
    Reviewed in Canada on December 1, 2016
    Old fashioned ideas about writing techniques. The pieces he uses as examples (he wrote them himself and received acclaim for them) are boring, simple and not of interest to the modern mind. But, there is still much that any one can learn by reading it that will make them go from amateur to publishable. Worth buying. Everything you learn from anywhere helps. Has lots to say to help you.