To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction (An Essential Guide for Writers)

Philip Lopate has written an insightful volume about the importance of thoughtful reflection in recalling the events of our past in the writing of memoir. The goal is to bring our hard-won wisdom to the portrait of the I-character that we re-create from distant memory that is not only reflective, but that also rings true. The chapter on retrospective analysis and double perspective of the recalled I-character, with all her strengths, frailties, bravado, high spirits and/or foolishness, was a great help to me in my current work. Throughout this very entertaining, clearly written, intelligent, thought-provoking and challenging volume, Dr. Lopate challenges us to commit to reading more books, with a more discerning eye in our selection of the works of great writers, both from the past and those writing today. This kind of extensive and purposeful reading enables us to become more accomplished writers ourselves,learning from the great writers so that we may begin to increase in confidence and craftsmanship and begin to write at the very highest level at which we are capable. Write the truth with thoughtful reflection, rather than glib stylistic gimmickry, and you will write well, he advises. And his words strike a chord that rings true. No artifice. Just the well crafted, thoughtful telling and showing of the events, places, senses,and supporting cast of characters that surround the I-character in your story of a significant period of time in your life.. I highly recommend this book. Sheri Nelson Maclean, The Woodlands, Texas

Classic writer’s craft book. I found it very helpful while working on my MFA in writing.

Lopate's study of the memoir was so helpful to me, especially his spelling out of how much a memoirist can tell as well as show. He separates fiction skills from non-fiction beautifully, making this a dandy book to use for writing classes. The chapters on essay seem added on and were less helpful.

Clear, I don't have to guess, allows the breaking of some stifling rules, encourages me to let go of all the finger wagging do this don't do that and just write my experience from my heart. As soon as I read that a seven year old child has only about a five hundred word vocabulary, I rewrote first person present to first person past tense and unleashed my very challenging story alive on the page. The book is written by a master teacher all writers should read. Every single word. Don't skip any.

I got TO SHOW and TO TELL: THE CRAFT of LITERARY NONFICTION, per my Professor's suggestion on the syllabus for the class I was taking at the University of Miami, FL. Anyone who is acquainted with Lopate knows that he's considered some kind of "Modern Master" of the essay. It doesn't matter whether or not you believe that. What's important is, there's a lot of information for anyone who wants to learn about the history of the essay and desires to write one. Having written a variety of prose, most recently having completed a novel, I can tell you I am baffled by the essay. TO SHOW and TO TELL isn't a book to teach you how to write or steps on writing an essay. For that I suggest you go elsewhere and seek your lessons and support in another book. Lopate assumes you have a handle on knowing whether or not you can write and if you are a writer. He doesn't spend anytime boosting the readers ego, while they're reading and trying a become better essay writers. In TO SHOW and NOT TO TELL, Lopate gets into craft and the history of the essay. Once you start reading you'll see like anything working for, it takes study, practice and reading the masters. This is the first book you want to start reading if you want to write essays.

I have been actively working on a handful of personal essays for about a year. I took this book along to a spa/writing retreat and found myself fully engaged in every chapter. I was chagrined to read Lopate's observations about typical student topics (loss of parents, friend trouble), and then bucked up to read how to cover these topics well--and much more. Great, readable advice on writing.

This is an excellent book. I suggest reading it after having read a primer, though (e.g. Judith Barrington's or Lee Gutkind's books), as it handles in depth aspects of memoir writing for which it's easier to first have a wider context.

Overall, this is an excellent book, with some valuable tips. If you are looking for tips on writing, and how to develop your writing style, then it is the wrong book for you. If you want to get sage guidance on how to go about writing literary non-fiction, then this is a good place to start. Most authors like to write fiction, yet there is a small market for good, literary non-fiction. It is not easy to author good essays, so this book offers some good advice. I like that he has a separate section that he has devoted to a few men who were, and are, considered masters of their craft. This is useful. You can read many tips, but you should also read essays.

Ottimo libro per l'università.

Phillip Lopate is my new writer crush. To Show and To Tell is the best writing book I own (and I own a lot!). He is funny, honest, self aware, intelligent and of course very well read. Most importantly, he pulls out the threads of how to write a good essay (and avoid a bad one) with great clarity.

a very good book, strongly recommended to those who are interested in writing, fiction or not.