Creative Writing

All writers conduct research. For some this means poring over records and combing, archives but for many creative writers research happens in the everyday world--when they scribble an observation on the subway, when they travel to get the feel for a city, or when they strike up a conversation with an interesting stranger. The Art of Creative Research helps writers take this natural inclination to explore and observe and turn it into a workable--and enjoyable--research plan. It shows that research shouldn't be seen as a dry, plodding aspect of writing. Instead, it's an art that all writers can master, one that unearths surprises and fuels imagination. This lends authenticity to fiction and poetry as well as nonfiction. Philip Gerard distills the process into fundamental questions: How do you conduct research? And what can you do with the information you gather? He covers both in-person research and work in archives and illustrates how the different types of research can be incorporated into stories, poems, and essays using examples from a wide range of writers in addition to those from his own projects. Throughout, Gerard brings knowledge from his seasoned background into play, drawing on his experiences as a reporter and a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. His enthusiasm for adventure is infectious and will inspire writers to step away from the keyboard and into the world. "Research can take you to that golden intersection where the personal meets the public, the private crosses the universal, where the best literature lives," Gerard writes. With his masterly guidance, anyone can become an expert in artful investigation.

Jen Webb is Distinguished Professor, Creative Practice, at the University of Canberra. Her research focuses on the politics and social location of art, and on the process and practice of creative writing. Her creative work includes the poetry collection, Proverbs from Sierre Leone (2004, Five Islands Press) and the short story collection, Ways of Getting By (2006, Ginninderra Press).

Creative Nonfiction reads like fiction, but stays loyal to the Truth. It's a fine line that Philip Gerard walks in his own work with confidence, style and utter zeal. Here, with the same clarity and passion, Gerard offers instruction and advice to help writers create compelling, unforgettable pieces. -- covers everything from finding an original subject to conducting a stirring interview to working with an editor -- Gerard takes the reader with him on assignment to show, step by step, how one of his own pieces came together -- includes inspiration from some of today's greatest nonfiction writers -- such as Terry Tempest Williams, Annie Dillard, Barry Lopez and Ron Powers