Creative Nonfiction: I never knew this writing style had a name and a godfather, but it does in the form of Professor Lee Gutkind. Here’s a great interview of him by Jane Genova on her blog.
I’ve been noticing a change in the way the best writers of nonfiction present concepts. There are more narrative stories than there used to be. Even business books and sales copy have stories. Of course, the biggest examples of use of narrative is evident in blogs.
It is far more interesting, I think, to learn how a writer encountered a situation that illustrates a lesson or point, than to just deliver the facts. What do you think?
I am trying hard to develop in this direction; I guess it’s harder for us ‘old school’ types. My scientific and journalism training gets in the way. But I do know how articles in the Vanity Fair style of reporting/writing always seem to get me to read to the end of the story.
The challenge is in discerning which stories to include, which will keep a reader interested and teach something of value. Not all stories have value and you can irritate a reader by telling a story that leaves them scratching their heads in confusion.
Are you telling stories in your newsletters and copy? Your own stories or someone else’s? How do you handle confidentiality issues, if you have any?
Just hit the comment link below and…tell me your story!
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