The Writer's Reader
Understanding Journalism and Non-Fiction

Top writers and journalists talk frankly about how they approach writing in this new collection.

Susie Eisenhuth (Edited by), Willa McDonald (Edited by)

9780521700337, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 May 2007

240 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.3 cm, 0.39 kg

What was happening behind the Tampa headlines? How do you force a big company to take responsibility for damaging the health of its workers? What do you do when you suspect a famous author is a fake? How does it feel to be on the receiving end of police crowd control? Or on a hillside, spellbound and fearful, watching the light being sucked from the sky during an eclipse? Top writers and journalists who have written about events and issues big and small talk frankly about how they approach the task in this highly readable new collection. The Writer's Reader combines selected non-fiction articles with interviews with authors reflecting on the process of writing. Academic writing can be dry and dull, but this refreshingly accessible anthology values straight talking about writing and makes the point that if you want to write, then you had better get reading.

Preface
Part I. News and Follow-Ups. 1. Telling stories: turning news into features Susie Eisenhuth
2. Michael Southwell 'Toxic Fallout near Alcoa', West Australian, 22 September, 2001, 'Cancer Secret', West Australian, 29 November, 2001, 'Alcoa Told of Health Issues', West Australian, 24 May 2002
3. Robert Fisk, 'Is This Some Kind of Crusade?' Independent On Sunday,18 May, 1997, Interview with Robert Fisk
4. David Marr and Marian Wilkinson, 'They Shall Not Land', Sydney Morning Herald, 20 October 2001, Interview with David Marr
5. News and follow-up review: Discussion question and further reading
Part II.: New Journalism and its Legacy: 6. Introduction Susie Eisenhuth
7. Joan Didion, 'Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream' from Slouching Towards Bethlehem, 1966
8. Barry Siegel, 'A Father's Pain, A Judge's Duty', Los Angeles Times, 30 December, 2001, Interview with Barry Siegel
9. New Journalism and its Legacy Review: Discussion question and further reading
Part III.: Profiles:10. Introduction Susie Eisenhuth
11 Greg Bearup, 'The Beak Wore Beads', Sydney Morning Herald, 4 May 2002, Interview with Greg Bearup
12. Tony Squires, 'Good Sport', Sydney Morning Herald, 4 May, 2002
13. Profiles review: Discussion question and further reading
Part IV.: Investigations. 14. Introduction Susie Eisenhuth
15. Jessica Mitford, 'Let us now appraise famous writers', 1957
16. Malcolm Knox, 'Her life as a fake: Bestseller's lies exposed' Sydney Morning Herald, 24 July, 2004. Interview with Malcolm Knox
17. Investigations review: Discussion questions and further reading
Part V. Essays: 18. Introduction: Turning personal stories into reflective writing - Willa McDonald
19. John Birmingham, 'S11', 2000. Interview - John Birmingham
20. Arundhati Roy, War Talk: Summer Games with Nuclear Bombs, 2003
21. David Sedaris, 'Today's Special', 2001
22. Essays review: Discussion questions & further reading
Part VI. Memoir: 22. Introduction - Examining the writer's own life - Willa McDonald
23. Kathy Evans, 'Tuesday's Child', 2003
24. Helen Garner, 'The Violet Jacket', 1993, Interview - Helen Garner
25. Mark Mordue, 'Pissing in the Wind', 2004
26. Memoir review: Discussion questions and further reading
Part VII. Writing about Place
27. Introduction - Placing readers in the world - Willa McDonald
28. Ashley Hay, 'Ultramarine', 2003. Interview - Ashley Hay
29. Annie Dillard, 'Total Eclipse', 1982
30. Writing about place review: Discussion questions and further reading
Part Eight: Travel Writing. 31. Introduction - Taking to the road to learn about ourselves - Willa McDonald
32. Pico Iyer, 'The Khareef', 2004, Interview - Pico Iyer
33. Travel writing review: Discussion questions and further reading
Endnotes
Sources.

Subject Areas: Press & journalism [KNTJ], Media studies [JFD]