November 11, 2008

Curious George Goes Back to School. I need a book recommendation. I need to read and review a book about nonfiction writing. My instructor is one of those types who won't give you any kind of guidance about this sort of thing because she's lazy she's flaky she wants students to make their own choices, which of course always turn out to be wrong. It's a real stab in the dark, which is what I'm tempted to give her instead of a review.

I've put forth a case for Ray Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity, but I think she'll say it's too focused on fiction. Anyhow, if a million monkeys can write the great American novel, 1,111 Monkeys can surely recommend a good, interesting, not-too-long book about nonfiction writing.

posted by The Underpants Monster 15 years ago
  • I bet your school library has a few books on journalism or technical writing. Your instructor is probably thinking of books that emphasize the clear presentation of facts/instructions, as opposed to those focusing on the creative process.
  • Not having read it (and how many of my English Lit essays I could have started with that phrase), I'd suggest The Joy of Writing: A Guide for Writers Disguised as a Literary Memoir by Pierre Berton, on faith value alone. Berton was a prodigious Canadian writer of interesting and serviceable histories, not enthralling yet nevertheless enjoyable. He is perhaps best known for The National Dream, The Last Spike, and, of course, Cats I Have Known and Loved.
  • Try this one. You can get it used. Or do the 'look inside' and fake a critique. Just do the critique and don't get into it with her, not worth the grief on your part. Of course, you could always write your rough draft and go in to schmooze with her and ask her if you're on track. Professors love it when students do that, even the flaky ones. (profs, not cunning students) Just get her talking, and try not to roll your eyes and sigh too much.
  • It'd be hard to go wrong with Writing Well by Donald Hall and Sven Birkerts.
  • MonkeyFilter: Try not to roll your eyes and sigh too much. You lob 'em in, I'll hit 'em out
  • Thanks, guys - I proposed a couple of these to my instructor.
  • I like Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It's mostly about fiction, but I used it when I wrote my MA thesis as a motivator. She also has a whole chapter called "Shitty First Drafts" that's quite funny and useful.