Writing a Nonfiction Book

This is a course for memoirists, journalists, historians and others who have an idea for a nonfiction book. In the first half of the semester, we workshop a chapter. Students have an opportunity to see how readers respond to their work, as we discuss different ways to tell a nonfiction story and consider issues of pacing and voice. We also read excerpts from time-tested craft books by the likes of Vivian Gornick, Tracy Kidder, and Phillip Lopate. In the second half of the course, students draft a book proposal, which is the document necessary to interest a publisher in one's work. Here we look at the book's structure: where it starts, where it ends, what narrative threads are followed, and the sequence of ideas. We also look at sample proposals, discuss the current market for nonfiction, and consider the audience for a project and how to position oneself as an author.