This is the first of a series on my favorite books about writing. The Elements of Story: Field Notes on Nonfiction Writing tops my list. I’m currently re-reading it from cover to cover. Frank Flaherty was a story editor at the New York Times for years and is a writing professor at New York University. As a reporter and editor, he kept track of what works and doesn’t work in the world of nonfiction.
He’s divided these tips into seven groups and 50 chapters, each just a few pages long. He doesn’t just explain how to improve your story’s style, he shows you with examples on every page. Some of these he has invented, others come from actual news reports.
The sections include “A Human Face,” “Motion,” and “Artfulness.” He covers theme, truth, titles, and subtitles as well. An epigraph at the beginning of each chapter provides a summation of the concept contained within. I’ve pinned a copy of these on my wall for quick reference.
Below is a sampling:
“Talking heads are just heads. Find a whole person to tell your story.”
“Verbs are the most important words in a story, and the most important verbs are those that reflect the main theme. They are verbs with a capital V.”
“Group similar points together. They gain power from consolidation, and lose power from interruption.”
“Look until you see something new, for the writer is the watcher of the world.”
“Feature articles are often about mood and other gauzy matters, but they must rest on a hard nut of logic and proof.”
“No words are more important than the lead. Invest the time to compose, and compare several possibilities.”
This is an essential book for the nonfiction writer of any stripe, but I expect a fiction writer would learn a few things, too. When I pay heed to Flaherty’s advice (often echoed by my critique group members), the difference in my prose is palpable. If you write, get this book!
Eilene Lyon 
👍👍
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This sounds like a practical and useful guide. A lot of the tips are concepts we teach elementary students when teaching authors craft; leads, word choice etc. I bet the information in this book would even help a poetry writer.
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Any writer, I do believe would find it a handy reference work.
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Alrighty then. Looks like I’ll have to break my no-spend on books thing for the third time so far this year!! This does sound like a good reference to have.
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Only three?!
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It’s only January!!! I’ve now bought three books. Sigh. I have zero control.
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Nonfattening, but certainly addictive!
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You are right, non-fattening and addictive, but also budget-reducing!!
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Budget? What’s a budget? Not in my vocab.
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Ah right. It wasn’t in mine so I am paying the price now… Sigh.
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I hope it pays you back in hours of pleasure and enlightenment.😊
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That is the benefit of this spending 😉 And if not, enlightenment, enjoyment, at least!!
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👍
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I particularly like “Talking heads are just heads. Find a whole person to tell your story.” The version I used with writing students was “Who are you, and why are you telling me this?”
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That’s another excellent way to put it!
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Thanks!
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