Telling True Stories : A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University

Inspiring stories and practical advice from America’s most respected journalistsThe country’s most prominent journalists and nonfiction authors gather each year at Harvard’s Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism. Telling True Storiespresents their best advice—covering everything from finding a good topic, to structuring narrative stories, to writing and selling your first book. More than fifty well-known writers offer their most powerful tips, including: • Tom Wolfeon the emotional core of the story • Gay Taleseon writing about private lives • Malcolm Gladwellon the limits of profiles • Nora Ephronon narrative writing and screenwriters • Alma Guillermoprietoon telling the story and telling the truth • Dozens of Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists from the Atlantic Monthly, New Yorker, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Postand more . . .The essays contain important counsel for new and career journalists, as well as for freelance writers, radio producers, and memoirists. Packed with refreshingly candid and insightful recommendations, Telling True Storieswill show anyone fascinated by the art of writing nonfiction how to bring people, scenes, and ideas to life on the page.

Mark Kramer is director and writer-in-residence of the Nieman Program on Narrative Journalism at Harvard University.
Wendy Call is a freelance writer and editor based in Seattle. She has been a Fellow of the Institute of Current World Affairs in southern Mexico and a Scholar in Nonfiction at the Bread Loaf Writers-' Conference.