I'm trying to learn more about contemporary Indonesia, and I'd love book & essay recommendations, especially of narrative non-fiction with a strong first person narrative voice! (But I'd also love suggestions of fiction, good travelogues, podcasts, blogs, zines, films, academic articles--really anything that doesn't demand prior in depth knowledge.)
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posted by tapir-whorf
on May 13, 2013 -
4 answers
Writing fiction: is it the sort of thing where you either have "the gift," or you don't?
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posted by indognito
on Jan 6, 2013 -
38 answers
I have an ~18 hour flight ahead of me and I am compiling a
DIY ebook of longform journalism/non-fiction for my Kindle to get me through it. So, what is the best thing you read this year?
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posted by AceRock
on Dec 21, 2012 -
11 answers
Years ago Jack Hart, the esteemed editor and writing coach at
The Oregonian, posted the rough drafts of Tom Hallman's Pulitzer winning story
The Boy Behind the Mask somewhere
online. Perhaps to a writers'/journalists' forum or mailing list. One editor's reaction to seeing the progression of the story through the drafts was to call it the most instructive lesson he'd ever had in newspaper writing. Help me track down those drafts!
posted by AceRock
on Nov 26, 2012 -
0 answers
I am interested in writing a non-fiction book or two (possibly ebooks) in a proven popular style. Where can I find resources, reviews, interviews, commentaries about choosing book structures, layout, language, tone and content that appeal to an aspirational audience?
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posted by vizsla
on Nov 12, 2012 -
3 answers
To writers: how do you consider questions of which form in which to express your ideas - short story, essay, novel, poem, even unconventional forms like very short fiction or experimental plotless fiction or aphorism collection or blog posts (to the extent they're their own thing)? Are there any good articles or books that wrestle with this dilemma?
posted by shivohum
on Mar 8, 2012 -
8 answers
I have a journalism background and an idea for a non-fiction book that is biographical in nature. This would be my first attempt at writing a book of any kind. What should I know before beginning this process (other than it will take up all of my time and I'll likely never see a dime from it)? Suggestions specific to non-fiction writing appreciated.
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posted by iamisaid
on Dec 8, 2011 -
6 answers
How should I manage my workflow for researching and writing a nonfiction book using Evernote and other tools?
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posted by incandescentman
on Oct 16, 2011 -
2 answers
Unique approaches to nonfiction storytelling. In
Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder, Lawrence Weschler tells the saga of how a strange museum came into being. He interweaves stories of the museum's founder with stories of the artifacts displayed. The effect is a comfortable narrative of seemingly diverse and difficult topics.
What are some other narrative strategies for relating an informative and entertaining nonfiction story? I'm not looking for book recommendations but details of interesting and
accessible approaches to odd material that may be biographical.
posted by Jason and Laszlo
on Sep 12, 2011 -
12 answers
Is there a term for travel accounts of explorers, both fictional and real-life? Also, tell me some of your favorites.
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posted by actionpact
on Dec 11, 2010 -
22 answers
Looking for books and/or movies about fiascos and disastrous but avoidable situations
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posted by reenum
on Nov 22, 2010 -
25 answers
Looking for new magazines to read or subscribe to that publish enthralling nonfiction.
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posted by reenum
on Nov 9, 2010 -
17 answers
Recommendations for nonfiction adventure books with one person facing a single overwhelming challenge?
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posted by gottabefunky
on Sep 22, 2010 -
24 answers
I really enjoy reading those anthologies of the best American non-fiction stories that come out every year -- particularly because they a) are easy to finish in 20-40 minutes and b) introduce me to new magazines/writers/concepts. I'm looking for other compendiums of magazine-style writing or articles or suggestions on where to go to find new collections of feature-length non-fiction pieces.
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posted by melodykramer
on Jan 14, 2010 -
17 answers
Footnote filter: I am writing a non-fiction, non-academic book and need help determining what to include in my citations.
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posted by quidividi
on Dec 5, 2009 -
5 answers
Between my iPhone's Stanza app and the loooooong quiet days ahead of me in the office during the holiday season, I'd like to read some stuff online. Any suggestions?
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posted by Madamina
on Nov 25, 2009 -
6 answers
In writing a research book, how far along should I be before approaching publishers, agents, etc? Help needed to get my nonfiction pop culture centric book into bookstores
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 3, 2009 -
7 answers
My dream is to write nonfiction books, but I have more book ideas than I know what to do with. Does anybody have any advice on how to find an agent or even just somebody knowledgeable about the publishing business who could give some good advice about which book ideas would work and which ideas would fall flat? How does one get past the query letter stage, when you have multiple outlines and chapters and book ideas, but you don't have a finished book?
posted by jonp72
on Jul 14, 2009 -
13 answers
I write like I talk and so my writing is not great but my spoken stories are magnetic. Help me put these stories to paper!
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posted by parmanparman
on Dec 27, 2008 -
10 answers
OK, I've posted on this subject before. Each time, I'm a little further along. Here is where I am right now. I've been working on a book since March. The idea upon which the book is based has been getting a lot of attention recently and has consistently been in the news for about four years.
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posted by CollectiveMind
on Dec 8, 2008 -
5 answers
Can anyone point the way to a reputable online writing course that deals with the mechanics of good writing (not plot, character, narrative, etc)?
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posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee
on Nov 15, 2008 -
3 answers
I'm looking for short stories/poems/creative non-fiction and the like about school, schooling, education, and/or learning to write/self-expression. Should be suitable for college freshpersons.
posted by Saxon Kane
on Aug 24, 2008 -
4 answers
Looking for books that talk about aspects of society or culture in new and interesting ways.
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posted by reenum
on Jan 10, 2008 -
20 answers
I am looking for well regarded books/scholarly papers about writing. Most specifically in the areas of Nonfiction (the essay style of article writing) and Children's Fiction (for a young adult audience).
Any tips? Go as far and broad as you can. I'll be off to the British library tomorrow, so the sky is the limit.
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posted by 0bvious
on Jan 9, 2007 -
6 answers
What offbeat and/or slightly strange publications would be receptive to non-fiction writing submissions about Christmas?
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posted by iced_borsch
on Jan 4, 2007 -
5 answers
Do you have any recommendations for solid creative non-fiction magazine columns or the like?
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posted by loiseau
on Dec 5, 2006 -
4 answers
I think it would be a kick to write a nonfiction book. Any advice on how to organize one?
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posted by TwelveTwo
on Jan 13, 2006 -
12 answers
Do we have any travel writers in the house? Is it really the life of glamour and ease that
thetravelwriterslife.com claims?
Since I suspect it's not as easy as one might suppose after digesting that page, I have more questions: Can you tell me what it's like? How you got started? What kind of money you pull in?
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posted by Irontom
on Jun 15, 2004 -
9 answers
