Wouldn’t it be wonderful if nonfiction writers
could always identify their focus at the beginning of the prewriting process?
Unfortunately, that often isn’t the case. Sometimes writers really
have to be in the thick of things before their focus becomes clear.
What should writers do when they begin
researching with nothing more than a general topic in mind? Nonfiction
Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-winning Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing
includes some helpful suggestions.
For example, author Deborah
Heiligman recommends a targeted note-taking strategy in
which students read
broadly about their topic and only jot down
information that makes them say, “Oh, wow!” This approach helps writers view
the topic through their own lens and pinpoint the ideas and information that
interest them most.
As you’ll discover in Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep, this is literally what Jason
Chin did as he was creating Grand Canyon. After reading widely
about his topic without a specific approach in mind, Jason decided to visit the
canyon. And the first time he walked up to the edge, he had an “Oh, wow!”
experience that inspired him and guided his creative process as he wrote and
illustrated the book.
When
Deborah employs her “Oh, wow!” technique, she uses the notes she’s taken to
develop a “mantra”—a statement that helps her determine what information to
highlight and what to leave out. She writes the statement on a piece of paper
and tapes it to the wall above her computer.
Barbara Kerley describes a similar process in her essay. Whether she’s
writing a picture book biography with a narrative writing style or a concept
book with an expository writing style, she creates a sentence that focuses her
thinking and her writing.
Chris Barton may not have written down the “mantra” that guided him as
he wrote What
Do You Do with a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman
Barbara Jordan, but his essay clearly explains how a core idea that
emerged during his research process helped him focus his manuscript and fueled his passion for the
project.
Next week I’ll share another
idea that can help nonfiction writers focus a topic. Stay tuned.
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