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Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction,New
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NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWSGood Prose is an inspiring book about writingabout the creation of good proseand the record of a warm and productive literary friendship. The story begins in 1973, in the offices of The Atlantic Monthly, in Boston, where a young freelance writer named Tracy Kidder came looking for an assignment. Richard Todd was the editor who encouraged him. From that article grew a lifelong association. Before long, Kidders The Soul of a New Machine, the first book the two worked on together, had won the Pulitzer Prize. It was a heady moment, but for Kidder and Todd it was only the beginning of an education in the art of nonfiction.Good Prose explores three major nonfiction forms: narratives, essays, and memoirs. Kidder and Todd draw candidly, sometimes comically, on their own experiencetheir mistakes as well as accomplishmentsto demonstrate the pragmatic ways in which creative problems get solved. They also turn to the works of a wide range of writers, novelists as well as nonfiction writers, for models and instruction. They talk about narrative strategies (and about how to find a story, sometimes in surprising places), about the ethical challenges of nonfiction, and about the realities of making a living as a writer. They offer some tart and emphatic opinions on the current state of language. And they take a clear stand against playing loose with the facts. Their advice is always grounded in the practical world of writing and publishing.Good Proselike Strunk and Whites The Elements of Styleis a succinct, authoritative, and entertaining arbiter of standards in contemporary writing, offering guidance for the professional writer and the beginner alike. This wise and useful book is the perfect companion for anyone who loves to read good books and longs to write one.Praise for Good ProseSmart, lucid, and entertaining.The Boston GlobeYou are in such good companycongenial, ironic, a bit oldschoolthat youre happy to follow [Kidder and Todd] where they lead you.The Wall Street Journal[A] wellstructured, tothepoint, genuinely useful, and funtoread guide to writing narrative nonfiction, essays, and memoir . . . Crisp, informative, and mindexpanding.BooklistA gem . . . The finer points of creative nonfiction are molded into an inspiring read that will affect the wouldbe writer as much as Anne Lamotts Bird by Bird or Stephen Kings On Writing. . . . This is a must read for nonfiction writers.Library JournalAs approachable and applicable as any writing manual available.Associated Press
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction'? A: 'Good Prose' primarily focuses on the art and craft of writing nonfiction, exploring narratives, essays, and memoirs through the experiences of authors Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd.
- Q: Who are the authors of this book? A: The authors of 'Good Prose' are Tracy Kidder and Richard Todd, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in writing and editing.
- Q: How many pages does the book contain? A: 'Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction' contains a total of 224 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This edition of 'Good Prose' is published in a paperback binding.
- Q: When was 'Good Prose' published? A: 'Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction' was published on August 27, 2013.
- Q: Is this book suitable for beginner writers? A: Yes, 'Good Prose' is suitable for both professional writers and beginners, offering practical advice and insights into the writing process.
- Q: What kind of writing strategies does the book cover? A: 'Good Prose' covers various writing strategies, including narrative techniques, ethical challenges of nonfiction, and how to find compelling stories.
- Q: Does the book provide examples from other authors? A: Yes, the authors draw on their experiences and also reference works from a wide range of writers to illustrate their points.
- Q: What are some praised qualities of 'Good Prose'? A: The book is praised for being smart, lucid, entertaining, and genuinely useful for writing nonfiction, as noted by various reviewers.
- Q: Is 'Good Prose' considered a writing manual? A: 'Good Prose' is considered a writing manual that offers guidance on the standards of contemporary writing, akin to classics like Strunk and White's 'The Elements of Style'.