By Tracy Kidder, Richard Todd
ISBN-10: 1400069750
ISBN-13: 9781400069750
Good Prose is an inspiring ebook approximately writing—about the construction of fine prose—and the checklist of a hot and effective literary friendship. the tale starts in 1973, within the places of work of The Atlantic Monthly, in Boston, the place a tender freelance author named Tracy Kidder got here searching for an task. Richard Todd was once the editor who inspired him. From that article grew a lifelong organization. ahead of lengthy, Kidder’s The Soul of a brand new Machine, the 1st publication the 2 labored on jointly, had received the Pulitzer Prize. It used to be a heady second, yet for Kidder and Todd it used to be merely the start of an schooling within the paintings of nonfiction.
Good Prose explores 3 significant nonfiction types: narratives, essays, and memoirs. Kidder and Todd draw candidly, occasionally comically, all alone experience—their error in addition to accomplishments—to display the pragmatic ways that inventive difficulties get solved. in addition they flip to the works of a variety of writers, novelists in addition to nonfiction writers, for types and guideline. They discuss narrative options (and approximately how to define a narrative, occasionally in fantastic places), in regards to the moral demanding situations of nonfiction, and concerning the realities of constructing a residing as a author. they give a few tart and emphatic evaluations at the present country of language. and so they take a transparent stand opposed to taking part in unfastened with the proof. Their recommendation is usually grounded within the sensible global of writing and publishing.
Good Prose—like Strunk and White’s The components of Style—is a succinct, authoritative, and exciting arbiter of criteria in modern writing, delivering information for the pro author and the newbie alike. This clever and precious booklet is the precise better half for someone who likes to learn strong books and longs to write down one.
Praise for Good Prose
“Smart, lucid, and entertaining.”—The Boston Globe
“You are in such stable company—congenial, ironic, a piece old-school—that you’re satisfied to stick with [Kidder and Todd] the place they lead you.”—The Wall road Journal
“[A] well-structured, to-the-point, really worthy, and fun-to-read advisor to writing narrative nonfiction, essays, and memoir . . . Crisp, informative, and mind-expanding.”—Booklist
“A gem . . . The finer issues of artistic nonfiction are molded into an inspiring learn that might impact the would-be author up to Anne Lamott’s poultry by way of fowl or Stephen King’s On Writing. . . . this can be a needs to learn for nonfiction writers.”—Library Journal
“As approachable and acceptable as any writing guide available.”—Associated Press
