“In the best nonfiction, it seems to me, you're always made aware that you are being engaged with a supple mind at work. The story line or plot in nonfiction consists of the twists and turns of a thought process working itself out.” MindMadeStoriesSeemsTurnsProcessLinesEngagedPlotNonfictionTwistsThought ProcessSuppleTwists And Turns Book:To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction Source: To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction
“Doubt is my boon companion, the faithful St. Bernard ever at my side. Whether writing essays or just going about daily life, I am constantly second-guessing myself. My mind is filled with 'yes, buts,' 'so whats?' and other skeptical rejoinders. I am forever monitoring myself for traces of folly, insensitivity, arrogance, false humility, cruelty, stupidity, immaturity and, guess what, I keep finding examples. Age has not made me wiser, except maybe in retrospect.” WritingMindMadeAgeSidesForeverDoubtExampleHumilityFindingsFilledStupidityCrueltyFaithfulArroganceFollyDaily LifeCompanionWiserEssaysSkepticalRetrospectGuessingImmaturityBoonMonitoringInsensitivitySecond GuessingFalse HumilityWriting Essays Author:Phillip Lopate