NCW Libraries

In Storycraft, Jack Hart, a former managing editor of the Oregonian who guided several Pulitzer Prize-winning narratives to publication, delivers what will certainly become the definitive guide to the methods and mechanics of crafting narrative nonfiction. Hart covers what writers in this genre need to know, from understanding story theory and structure, to mastering point of view and such basic elements as scene, action, and character, to drafting,...

"This irreverent guide to crafting personal essays and creative nonfiction takes inspiration from the father of the essay, Michele de Montaigne, using lively essays to answer writing questions from top writers like Cheryl Strayed and Philip Lopate"--

A collection of writing exercises designed to help nonfiction writers improve their skills, with exercises from top writers and teachers.

"An enthralling collection of nonfiction essays on a myriad of topics--from art and artists to dreams, myths, and memories--observed in #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman's probing, amusing, and distinctive style. An inquisitive observer, thoughtful commentator, and assiduous craftsman, Neil Gaiman has long been celebrated for the sharp intellect and startling imagination that informs his bestselling fiction. Now, The View from the Cheap...

"In this new edition vetted by experts, learn about some of the seventeen different kinds of penguins. With bright watercolor illustrations and kid-friendly language, Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to zoology concepts, describing where and how penguins live, what they eat, and how they hatch their young. With updated information on species classifications, habitat ranges, and prehistoric penguins."--

"When you take the time to look, you'll find that nature is full of patterns. Lyrical, rhyming verse and stunning photographs introduce young readers to patterns throughout the natural world"--

Maybe you have an interesting experience to share from your life or from someone in your family. Or perhaps you'd like to write about a famous person or a fascinating moment in history. This book will help you craft notable narrative nonfiction-appealing true stories. After you discover a topic, you'll move on to collecting facts and charting your course. Once you've written a rough draft, you'll learn how to revise your work and polish it into a...

"I am MONEY. You work hard to earn me, and if you're careful and smart about it, I can end up working for you! Introduce kids to the basics of money with this easy-to-understand picture book! Readers will learn about how to earn and save money, how to spend money wisely, and even how to use money to invest in themself. But the most important lesson of all? The best part of money is sharing it! The simple text also helps explain the different forms...

"On July 1, 1916, witnesses watched in horror as twenty-three-year-old Charles Vansant was attacked and killed by a shark in shallow water at Beach Haven, New Jersey--the first recorded shark attack in American history. Scientists claimed a shark could not be responsible, but more deadly attacks soon followed along the Jersey Shore and up the freshwater Matawan Creek, setting off a nationwide panic that led the White House to declare a war on sharks"--...

"From the acclaimed fiction writer...comes Still No Word from You, a unique chain of essays and intimate stories that meld the lived life and the reading life. Covering such well-known writers as Lorraine Hansberry, Primo Levi, and Marilynne Robinson, as well as other greats like Maeve Brennan and James Alan McPherson, Orner's highly personal take on literature alternates with his own true stories of loss and love, hope and despair"--