MALS 247 Structure & Purpose: Writing in the Digital Age (Non-Fiction)

Traditionally there have been just a few paths for publishing non-fiction work: short form magazine and newspaper articles, long form magazine articles (New Yorker, Vanity Fair, etc.) and book length work. In the digital age, these all still exist, but they have been joined by numerous non-print alternatives including web versions of print magazines and newspapers publishing online-only content; purely web-based platforms (Slate, Huffington Post, etc.); blogging platforms (Medium, Tumblr, Blogger, etc.) and self-published blogs. In this course we will examine the demands, audiences, differences and pros and cons of each form of print or digital publication, with particular attention to the use of structure in all cases. There are two main parts to writing any non-fiction narrative: assembling information and choosing how to deploy it. But the second part of this equation depends upon the format of publication and audience for which the work is intended. Each requires its own approach to structure and storytelling. Whether it’s memoir, biography, history, science or researched journalism, all non-fiction tells a story, and stories are most effective when readers find them compelling. But where does a story begin? How does it unfold? These are very important factors in building an enthralling narrative. Some successful non-fiction writers tell stories in a purely linear, chronological fashion, while start at the end or the middle or a seminal moment in between. Where to start is just the beginning - the chosen structure for telling the story runs through the entire work, which might interweave multiple topics, told from different perspectives, unfolding in different order. These choices also depend upon the platform for publication. Traditional newspaper journalism relies heavily upon a Who/Where/What/When/Why format of immediately laying out the primary information for readers and then delving deeper into details. This comes from the basic assumption that readers have already made the choice to look for information in the particular publication. But new media is more focused on competing for the reader’s attention, and each individual article or work stands alone to a greater degree from its underlying platform, demanding that the writer seek attention through headline, topic and structure. On the other hand, book length projects lend themselves to the largest variety of options and the most elaborate structures, and ultimately succeed or fail based on the way the information is presented as much as on the information itself. The class will examine the different outlets for non-fiction publication, print media, online media and books, and the similarities and differences between them, with a focus on the use of structure in all cases. Writing experience is nice, but the only prerequisite is interest in writing. Class time will be devoted to both student and published work, mostly student. Reading will include two full-length books demonstrating different approaches to the use and importance of structure, as well as numerous short and long form printed and online periodical articles more akin in length to the work students will produce. Assigned writings will be a series of short (2-6 page) non-fiction pieces/essays/articles in styles varying weekly, spanning multiple topics and platforms, such as memoir, history, personality profile, and event/subject profile written for print and/or online. In each case the focus will be more on the decision of how to structure the narrative to most effectively tell the story for the chosen audience and platform than on the research and topic itself. All participants will be required to read each other’s work and discuss and critique the effectiveness of the chosen structures as well as the reading assignments weekly.

Instructor

Larry Olmsted