Creative Nonfiction: How to Live It and Write It [Paperback]

Lee Gutkind (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

Through writing samples, anecdotes, and exercises, beginning writers will learn that creative nonfiction means writing the truth in a way that is dramatic and action-oriented.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gutkind (English, Univ. of Pittsburgh), the editor of the new Creative Nonfiction journal, knows his craft. He encourages would-be writers to practice "immersion" journalism to bring their writing to life, making it more like fiction, only verifiable and accurate. Practicing what he preaches, he has concisely packaged a creative-writing course in a book, using readings from experts in the field and assignments from his university writing class. He considers topics such as ethics, shadowing, schedules, cinematic techniques, and frame or story structure. Twenty exercises, which require letter writing, journal keeping, essay writing, and revision, turn the reader into a class member sans grade. Gutkind wraps it all up with a look at his typical day and a list of some helpful information that could have been more thorough. Overall, this is a bargain purchase for any library.
Cathy Sabol, Northern Virginia Community Coll., Herndon
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556522665
• ISBN-13: 978-1556522666
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #544,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lee Gutkind is the founding editor of Creative Nonfiction and prize-winning author or editor of more than a dozen books, the most recent of which, Almost Human: Making Robots Think, was featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. As founder of the creative nonfiction movement, according to Harper's Magazine, and the "godfather behind creative nonfiction" (Vanity Fair), Gutkind travels widely throughout the world giving workshops and readings, explaining the craft and the mission of the genre.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars written for young people without talking down to them, December 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Creative Nonfiction: How to Live It and Write It (Paperback)

As a teacher, I think this book is useful in giving kids an accurate picture of the writing life. The author provides professional advice, along with showing the day to day life of a writer's work. I particularly liked the "readings" section to give students examples to emulate. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that some of the exercises were too vague. As an educator, I know that high school and middle school kids need more step by step explanation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is excellent for first time writers, September 28, 2009

By 

BooksofJulz "BooksofJulz" (clearwater, FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creative Nonfiction: How to Live It and Write It (Paperback)

I have had a book inside of me so long and just needed something to help me frame the way things should flow sorta speak. This book gives great insite into starting out and great tips. I did not do all the excercised but wrote down notes for each chapter in my notebook that I can refer back to when I need to. Highly recommended and also I love the Lee Gutkind gets directly to the poing and very easy to read and does not bore you with other things. I completed this book in 4 days.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Just for Young Writers, February 23, 2010

By 

Cara Holman "Booksprout" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Nonfiction: How to Live It and Write It (Paperback)

When I began reading this book, I was amused to read the note on the back cover that it is aimed at a middle-school and high-school aged audience, of which I am neither. This is an easy read, but it is also useful to anyone starting out in the area of creative nonfiction who wants to pick up concrete writing tips. Especially useful is a "Readings" section at the back of the book, containing a half a dozen essays that illustrate many of the practical writing techniques presented in the first half of the book. These essays cover a diverse range of topics, ranging from bush taxis in Africa, to visiting a dying friend. Altogether a useful introduction to the genre of creative nonfiction.