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From: Leda Schubert <bobr_at_vtlink.net>
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:46:51 -0400
Might we be talking about different kinds of nonfiction here? I look at Pat's helpful list of what her kids want, and it seems to me that much of the list is exactly the kinds of things that one can, in fact, look up quickly and effectively on Google. Want to do origami? There are undoubtedly thousands of youtube videos that are more useful than most books could possibly be these days (ignoring the ipad). Ditto sports and entertainment figures, world records, the latest on dinosaurs, etc.
But excellent books like BALLET FOR MARTHA (which I love, not surprisingly), THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS, MARCHING TOWARD FREEDOM, WE ARE THE SHIP, CHARLES AND EMMA, etc., require what Marc has posted about--synthesis, research, shaping, story arc, character, setting, and most of the other elements of good fiction. (I am not drawn to the phrase "creative nonfiction," which seems redundant and perhaps even slightly condescending to me. Not sure why.)
As a writer of nonfiction (sometimes), I can say that I look for story and character, not facts, when I begin a project. I look for something I can't let go of, something fascinating or intriguing, something I absolutely must find out more about. Something that keeps me up at night.
Leda Ballet of the Elephants www.ledaschubert.com
Pat Ryan wrote: Aside from curriculum materials - states, animals, science projects, the latest DAR assignment... - the nonfiction kids at my Library want and can't get enough of include:
origami drawing Scary Stories Guinness World Records dragons, unicorns, vampires graphic novels and GARFIELD!!!!!!!!! and Tintin and Asterix anything superhero: Superman, Batman how-to books on all kinds of sports CURRENT sports, wrestling and entertainment figures scary animals like spiders, snakes, sharks, tigers
Received on Wed 13 Oct 2010 10:46:51 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:46:51 -0400
Might we be talking about different kinds of nonfiction here? I look at Pat's helpful list of what her kids want, and it seems to me that much of the list is exactly the kinds of things that one can, in fact, look up quickly and effectively on Google. Want to do origami? There are undoubtedly thousands of youtube videos that are more useful than most books could possibly be these days (ignoring the ipad). Ditto sports and entertainment figures, world records, the latest on dinosaurs, etc.
But excellent books like BALLET FOR MARTHA (which I love, not surprisingly), THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS, MARCHING TOWARD FREEDOM, WE ARE THE SHIP, CHARLES AND EMMA, etc., require what Marc has posted about--synthesis, research, shaping, story arc, character, setting, and most of the other elements of good fiction. (I am not drawn to the phrase "creative nonfiction," which seems redundant and perhaps even slightly condescending to me. Not sure why.)
As a writer of nonfiction (sometimes), I can say that I look for story and character, not facts, when I begin a project. I look for something I can't let go of, something fascinating or intriguing, something I absolutely must find out more about. Something that keeps me up at night.
Leda Ballet of the Elephants www.ledaschubert.com
Pat Ryan wrote: Aside from curriculum materials - states, animals, science projects, the latest DAR assignment... - the nonfiction kids at my Library want and can't get enough of include:
origami drawing Scary Stories Guinness World Records dragons, unicorns, vampires graphic novels and GARFIELD!!!!!!!!! and Tintin and Asterix anything superhero: Superman, Batman how-to books on all kinds of sports CURRENT sports, wrestling and entertainment figures scary animals like spiders, snakes, sharks, tigers
Received on Wed 13 Oct 2010 10:46:51 AM CDT
