Advanced Creative Nonfiction: A Writer's Guide and Anthology

Bloomsbury Writer's Guides and Anthologies

by Sean Prentiss, Jessica Hendry Nelson, Joe Wilkins (Editor)

Advanced Creative A Writers' Guide and Anthology offers expert instruction on writing creative nonfiction in any form-including memoir, lyric essay, travel writing, and more-while taking an expansive approach to fit a rapidly evolving literary art form. From a history of creative nonfiction, related ethical concerns, and new approaches to revision and publishing, this book offers innovative strategies and ideas beyond what's traditionally covered.

Advanced Creative A Writers' Guide and Anthology also

· An anthology of contemporary creative nonfiction by some of today's most inventive and celebrated writers
· Advanced explorations into the craft of creative nonfiction across forms
· In-depth discussion of truth, ethics, and memory
· Practical advice on revision, editing, research, and publishing
· Writing prompts and exercises throughout the textbook

Genres: Nonfiction, Textbooks, Grad School, Writing

346 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2021

About the author

Sean Prentiss is the author of Finding Abbey: A Search for Edward Abbey and His Hidden Desert Grave, which won the National Outdoor Book Award. He is also the author of Crosscut: Poems. He is the co-editor of two anthologies about creative nonfiction, The Science of Story and The Far Edges of the Fourth Genre. He is the co-author of Environmental and Nature Writer: A Writer's Guide and Anthology. Forthcoming is Advanced Creative Nonfiction: A Writer's Guide and Anthology.

Reviews

[Rachel Laverdiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be reading this again and again. This is a must-read for all CNF writers.

[Kevin Clouther · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. I look forward to teaching it to undergraduates in the fall.

[Chelsea A. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for my creative nonfiction class, but regardless, loved it! I found it incredibly helpful and the stories included illuminating and entertaining.

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Creative Nonfiction: A Writer's Guide and Anthology, by Sean Prentiss, has two sections: Craft, with 15 chapters: 1-History of Creative Nonfiction, 2-Genre and Veracity, 3-The Central Question, 4-Form and Topic Interplay, 5-Meaningful Imagery, 6-Dramatic Design, 7-Narrative Energy, 8-Expanding (and Contracting) Scene, 9-The Active Mind, 10-The Human, the Writer, the Narrator, 11-Soundscapes, 12-Phenomenal Truths, 13-Embracing Uncertainty, 14-Ethics and Credibility, and 15-Re-Visioning. And Anthology that has 26 stories relatable to the different craft chapters! This model works extremely well to have examples to see the skills being used so they are more easily understood and adaptable.

This is one of my favorite craft books well read and marked, with pencil, for reminders.

A couple of quotes:
"The term poetry originates from the Latin word for "poet," which means "maker" or "author." The original term poietria refers to all creative writing. So, in the beginning, all creative writing was poetry. Why? Because poetry was born from our need to remember oral narratives."

"It's not what happened," says Sean's mentor, the memoirist Kim Barnes, "but why. It's not what you remember, but why you remember what you do. It's not what you're telling us, buy why you are telling us." What happened is not enough to drive creative nonfiction.

Each chapter has exercises/prompts at the end for you to really practice and develop the skills being taught in this book. This is my favorite text for learning to write creative nonfiction.