"Why does nonfiction have to be boring," he sniveled. "It doesn't," she replied cheeringly. "Haven't you ever read anything by Gay Talese, Tom Wolfe, John McPhee, Joan Didion, Norman Mailer, Mark Bowden, Laura Hillenbrand, or Sebastian Junger-just to name a few?" "No," he said popping open another long-neck Bud. "That explains a lot," she said. Dramatic nonfiction-the relating of factual information in a manner that makes it as gripping as fiction-is the thrust of Writing Dramatic Nonfiction by longtime editor-author William Noble. Using the techniques and guidelines offered in this book, you will learn to create nonfiction works that rise to the level of great literature without sacrificing credibility. Dramatic techniques such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, building tension and suspense, character development, and scene intercuts are described in plain words along with instruction on how you can use such devices in your own writing. Dramatic or creative nonfiction, sometimes called narrative nonfiction, is now an important part of the literary landscape. In this useful, nay, essential guide, Noble teaches you how to craft riveting true accounts. ----- William Noble's books are a popular staple in the writer's personal library. I revisited his book "Writing Dramatic Nonfiction" to get some fresh ideas for adding dramatic techniques to a nonfiction project I am presently involved in. I found valuable pointers on basic development skills including: conflict and character development, anecdotes, using dialog, and point of view. His illustrations and examples are helpful. The book is filled with basic information for the beginning writer and a well organized reminder for those seasoned writers looking for motivation and inspiration. Although the book was first written in the year 2000 the principles are as applicable today as when they were first written. -Richard R. Blake, author and Co-Founder of Christian Education Resources

"The locale of your story is the picture frame within which you weave the action." -William Noble Ever read a novel and years later be able to recall the feeling of place you got as the words flowed into your head? That's what great writers, both fiction and nonfiction can do. That's what you can do. Make That Scene will show you how. Using scores of examples of great writing, longtime editor-author William Noble discusses the influence mood, setting, and atmosphere have on your characters; the mixing and matching of settings; setting as a plot limitation; and when the setting itself becomes a major character. Learn: the value of an imperfect memory how much research to conduct how to use sensory images how many details to include how to use time, dialogue, and point of view to establish your setting oodles more. Make That Scene is an essential guide to enriching your writing.

Dialogue must contribute to the telling of the story said Victorian-era novelist Anthony Trollope more than one hundred years ago and his words have been a yardstick for writers ever since. A more recent novelist, Stephen King, wrote, "When dialogue is right, we know. When it's wrong we also know-it jags on the ear like a badly tuned musical instrument." In "Shut Up " He Explained (the title comes from a Ring Lardner poke at the way some people overwrite), William Noble shows you how to write dialogue that sounds right and contributes. Fiction or Nonfiction With liberal use of anecdotes and examples, Noble develops six "Master Keys to Dialogue," each of which is crucial for the fiction or nonfiction writer to understand and use. You'll learn how to use dialogue to: create tension develop your characters establish setting move the plot create flashbacks and transitions You'll also learn when to use narrative instead of dialogue; how to write in dialect; and how to deal with interior monologue (your character's thoughts). And more An important section of "Shut Up " He Explained covers the misuse of dialogue from the legal viewpoint, exploring libel and right-to-privacy. Get a copy of "Shut Up He Explained" an make your writing scintillate with captivating dialogue. "This is the best book that I could find on the use of dialog when writing fiction." -Amazon.com review

In this one volume are personal selections by the author from his three classics, Steal this Plot ; Make That Scene; and "Shut up " He Explained. Selecting parts of three of his previous books to guide you though the art of writing a novel, William Noble starts by asking three questions: What's happening? Who am I? Where am I? and then uses the answers to create a solid foundation for developing a story. With this structure in place, he demonstrates how to move on to motivating the story, establishing a sense of place, and creating tension. Noble has added new material on developing characters and using point of view to help you get your story across. "The 'what' section, dealing with plot motivators and 'story spicers' and comprising a third of the book, is worth the price alone." -From an Amazon.com review

This book is not about cemeteries. Nor is it a mystery-suspense story. It is about writing-the craft of writing and telling a tale. It is about how to use other people's stories, and what we are allowed to do with them. The plot of any story is the key. The plot is the story within the story that propels the action and develops the tale. In Hamlet, for instance, the story deals with who will be the rightful king of Denmark, but the plot is concerned with revenge and ambition. The plot is the nucleus of the action, and it is here that the writer must look to form his efforts. In Part One, the authors deal in depth with the structuring and "spicing" of the story. In Part Two, using classic and modern examples they outline 13 common plot movers: Vengeance Catastrophe Love and Hate The Chase Grief and Loss Rebellion Betrayal Persecution Self-Sacrifice Survival Rivalry Discovery (Quest) Ambition showing you how weave it all together in a tapestry of words rich and satisfying to the reader. Worried you'll go too far in your plot thievery? A thorough look at plagiarism and copyright is also included.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!