Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction (Reference)

This is one of the best books I've ever read on writing dramatic nonfiction -- nonfiction which approaches the subject through "story." Franklin, a two-time Pulitzer winner for his dramatic nonfiction, is also a college professor who teaches students how to write. This book gives to all writers and would-be writers the important things Franklin has learned as a practicing journalist and teacher. Included in the book is one of Franklin's prize-winning stories, "Mrs. Kelly's Monster." The story appears as Chapter Two of this book, but then it appears again in an annotated version at the end of the book. In the annotated version, Franklin explains everything he did, often line for line, and why he did it that way. A fantastic learning experience! Throughout the book, Franklin concentrates on story: what it is in fiction, how it works in nonfiction. He introduces and explains terms such as conflict, complication, and resolution. In addition, he teaches a five-line, three-words-per-line method of outlining a story. The purpose of this seemingly easy (but actually difficult) exercise is so that the writer can chip away and chip away at all the excess until he or she understands exactly and precisely, in the fewest words possible, what the conflict, complication, and resolution of his or her story are. Highly recommended -- for those who write fiction as well as those who write nonfiction.

This wonderful book changed my writing life. I wish that I could say that I have lived up to Jon Franklin's writing advice, but at best I have aspired to live up to the advice Jon Franklin shares in WRITING FOR STORY. I first read this is 1988 and have periodically re-read it since then. For nonfiction feature writers, this book is on a par with Strunk & White. Highly recommended. While I was in the middle of writing "NIGHTMARE IN WICHITA: The Hunt for the BTK Strangler" I re-read WRITING FOR STORY. Perhaps I followed Franklin's advice to an adequate degree because in 2005 my book placed as high as number 4 on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list (for paperback nonfiction). The criticsms of the negative reviewers appear to me to have little or no merit. In my experience, successful writers treat this book as gold. Writers of kindred spirit can read WRITING FOR STORY for pure enjoyment, often nodding one's head in recognition of similar experience. If, besides WRITING FOR STORY, you are looking for an additional book on writing feature stories, I recommend FOLLOW THE STORY by James B. Stewart. If you are ready to go beyond feature writing, Franklin's SHOCK-TRAUMA is a living example of how to write a book-length nonfiction narrative following the feature-writing advice in WRITING FOR STORY. Bravo, Jon Franklin, and thank you. Robert Beattie Wichita, Kansas

I knew Jon and I miss him. I will always be grateful for everything he taught me about writing nonfiction.

With many years of fiction-writing experience behind me, I've been wanting to strengthen my nonfiction-writing skills. Someone recommended this book. It's a fascinating read full of amazing information. It's also quite dated, as it was written in 1986. That doesn't mean you shouldn't read it, though. Just remember a few things as you read through it: - The universal truths Franklin discusses (the importance of structure, active writing, character developments, etc.) are universal--they still apply today. It doesn't matter what you're writing. - His process (note cards) can still work, but he wrote before computers existed. Use his information and apply it to your modern technique. (The same is true for the submission process.) - Read the last chapter. Realize the truth in it--Franklin and his successful contemporaries spent YEARS learning and practicing. Think about that. I'm glad I read this book and would absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to write feature stories or short nonfiction pieces.

I joined a writer's group to provide the opportunity and incentive to write. The writer's group is my simulator where I can flight test what Jon's book teaches me about the skill of writing. Good combination. The admonition to "just start writing and it will come to you" doesn't make sense to me. I am familar with what it takes to build a skill. There are slow ways, fast ways, good ways, and it takes forever ways. What I want is a good fast way. I am 80 years old. I don't have a lot of time. Good writing requires that I know what good writing is when I see it. Jon helps me do this. This helps me track my progress. Continue to learn from the masters like Jon. Spend as much time as possible in the simulator (writer's group). Thank you, Jon.

In “Writing for Story,” Pulitzer Prize winner, Jon Franklin, leads the writing student through captivating stories to make his points. These stories clearly and effectively, for me, explain the nuances of writing story … the compelling elements and how our brains process the information. Then, he explains how to best get that information on paper to draw in the reader. The emotional engagement is expressed as well. All of which leads to a better understanding of how to put together and blend these essential parts. I often have feelings about something that take me a while to adequately express with words … and then try to apply them to a particular story scene. Wilk Peters’ journey demonstrates how to develop and write these pieces. I love Wilk’s story. Other chapters reveal • the secrets to constructing an effective outline • specific techniques for polishing, and much more • how to understand and time the revealing of each detail in order to absorb, entertain and satisfy your reader Jon Franklin genuinely fills the gaps which I have found in many other “how-to” writing books. I highly recommend this step-by-step guide.

This book takes several pieces written by the author and explains why he wrote them the way he did. It is helpful for insights into pacing and word choice. I felt when I was finished that the author had not wrestled with the inner process of writing as much as I needed, however. What did he choose to leave out? How did he refine his work from beginning to end?

This beyond a doubt the best book on the basic structure of Story available. I deeply sympathize with those who did not like it, structuring is by far the hardest part of writing. I also agree that having two of the author's feature stories appear twice (once in plain text, once annotated) is bordering on overkill. But this is more than made up for by having the number one tool for readability and retention at your fingertips. I would warn potential readers that this book will seem deceptively simple. Structuring a story at the Outline level, especially when one considers the number of words produced, is EXTREMELY difficult at times. But it is worth every second of effort. When a story is structured properly, the piece dovetails and flows beautifully.

As you would expect from a double Pulitzer Prize-winning chappy, this man knows his onions and he lets readers in on the craft...

Un guide vraiment excellent pour écrire des récits dramatiques de fais réels. Très bien expliqué et illustré, très parlant. Vraiment un must pour quiconque prétend écrire.

It's so useful for writing craft and it can help for those who have desire to write fiction or nonfiction.

Old fashioned ideas about writing techniques. The pieces he uses as examples (he wrote them himself and received acclaim for them) are boring, simple and not of interest to the modern mind. But, there is still much that any one can learn by reading it that will make them go from amateur to publishable. Worth buying. Everything you learn from anywhere helps. Has lots to say to help you.