Preface xiii
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Introduction 1
The Form and Theory of Creative Nonfiction 1
On Missing the Target 2
The Collapse of the Narrator 3
Telling It Straight 4
Taking the Reflective Turn 6
Building It Scene by Scene 7
Creating Tension 9
Casting a Wide Net 12
Writing With (and Against) Tradition 14
Using Crafting Truth 16
How to Read for Craft 16
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Part 1
The Essayists 21
Introduction to the Personal Essay 21
A Brief History of the Essay 21
Essays as Narratives of Thought 22
New Forms of the Essay 24
1.1 ORDER OUT OF WILD DISORDER
EXC E R P T F RO M E . B. WHITE’ S
The Ring of Time 25
1.2 A FATHER’S FLAWS
EXC E R P T F RO M JA M E S BALDW I N ’ S
Notes of a Native Son 31
1.3 PRICKLY DREAD ON BANYAN STREET
EXC E R P T F RO M J OA N D I D I O N ’ S
Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream 36
1.4 YOU DID NOT CHANGE
EXC E R P T F RO M A L I C E WALKER’ S
Beauty:When the Other Dancer Is the Self 42
1.5 CUTTING IT STRAIGHT
EXC E R P T F ROM SCOT T RU S S E L L S A N D E R S ’ S
The Inheritance of Tools 48
1.6 THE BEGINNING AND END OF A MAN’S LIFE
EXC E R P T F ROM ANDRE DUBUS’ S
Broken Vessels 54
1.7 A GREAT MOMENT OF NEED
EXC E R P T F ROM NA N C Y M A I R S’ S
On Touching by Accident 59
1.8 VAMOOSE TO THE VOMIT CORNER
EXC E R P T F ROM DAV I D S E DA R I S ’ S
The SantaLand Diaries 64
1.9 A SCAFFOLD FOR LANGUAGE
EXC E R P T F ROM ANDER MONSON’S
Outline Toward a Theory of the Mine Versus the
Mind and the Harvard Outline 69
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Part 2
The Memoirists 75
Introduction to Memoir 75
Ethics in the Age of Memoir 76
Is There a Story Worth Telling? 77
2.1 I MADE HIM OUT OF DREAMS
EXC E R P T F ROM TO B I A S WO L F F ’ S
This Boy’s Life 79
2.2 LONG AGO WHEN DOGS COULD TALK
EXC E R P T F RO M N . SCOT T MOMADAY ’ S
The Way to Rainy Mountain 84
2.3 TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT DREAMS,
VISIONS, AND PRAYERS
EXC E R P T F ROM MAX I N E H O N G K I N G S TO N ’ S
The Woman Warrior 89
2.4 THE ACHE MADE PHYSICAL
EXC E R P T F RO M G R E T E L E H R L I C H ’ S
The Solace of Open Spaces 93
2.5 POWERFUL PRAYERS
EXC E R P T F ROM FRANK MCCOURT ’ S
Angela’s Ashes 97
2.6 SAFE IN THE CENTER
EXC E R P T F ROM MARY C L E A R M A N B L EW ’ S
All But the Waltz 101
2.7 A CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EARTH
EXCERPT FROM TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS’S
Refuge 106
2.8 I COULD BE GOING OUT, SURE
EXC E R P T F ROM DAV E E G G E R S ’ S
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius 110
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Part 3
The Literary Journalists 115
Introduction to Literary Journalism 115
New and Not New 115
Ethical Dramas 117
Building Blocks of Literary Journalism 118
3.1 THE SMELL OF SWEAT
EXC E R P T F RO M JA M E S AGEE’ S
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men 121
3.2 THE WHEELING OF HAWKS
EXC E R P T F ROM TRUMAN CAPOT E’ S
In Cold Blood 126
3.3 MAILER’S TOWER
EXC E R P T F ROM NORMAN MAILER’ S
The Armies of the Night 132
3.4 TOO FREAKING TRUE!
EXC E R P T F ROM TOM WO L F E’ S
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test 136
3.5 A FINE, SOLEMN SWAGGER
EXC E R P T F RO M JANE KRAMER’ S
The Last Cowboy 141
3.6 CLAUSTROPHOBIA
EXC E R P T F RO M E R I K L A R S O N ’ S
The Devil in the White City 146
3.7 A FOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU
EXC E R P T F RO M J O S E P H M I TCHELL’ S
Old Mr. Flood 152
3.8 A LIGHT TOUCH OF THE LIPS
EXC E R P T F RO M D I A N E ACKERMAN’S
A Natural History of the Senses 157
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Part 4
A Brief Anthology 163
Introduction 163
S T U D E N T E S S A Y
4.1 ANDREA OYARZABAL
Math,Metamorphosis, and Monarchs 164
E S S A Y
4.2 LIA PURPURA
Autopsy Report 170
4.3 SARAH VOWELL
Thanks for the Memorex 176
M E M O I R
4.4 LAUREN SLATER
Lying 182
4.5 JOHN EDGAR WIDEMAN
Brothers and Keepers 195
L I T E R A R Y J O U R N A L I S M
4.6 H. G. BISSINGER
Boobie 206
4.7 SUSAN ORLEAN
The American Man at Age Ten 210
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Appendix: The Literary Landscape of Creative Nonfiction 221
Bibliography 229
Credits 231
Index 233
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