Description
Book SynopsisStory Building demystifies the narrative style of writing by playfully undoing the knots of journalistic storytelling. It provides personalized guidance and practical advice on how to muster the passion and skills to gather compelling details needed to tell an engaging journalistic story on deadline.
Trade ReviewSome books are meant to be put on a shelf. Not Ndaeyo Uko's. It's as essential a part of the reporting process as a notebook and pen. Consulting it frequently is like having Ndaeyo along on assignment, whispering words of wisdom in one's ear. -- Marc Lacey, Foreign Correspondent * The New York Times *
This book explains journalism simply and directly and peels away the obfuscating mystique created by those who would make journalism a contrived craft. It will help anyone who wants to gather stories and tell them. -- Richard Dowden, Former editor at The Independent and The Economist, London
The writing is lively, and the content current and relevant to both students and to journalists. The author's international experience adds concrete dimensions to the content. -- Liz Hart, Head of Journalism, Monash University, Australia
Ndaeyo Uko teaches journalism as it should be taught: He places readers in the moments of his own experiences and shows them how to tell deep, engaging stories. Story Building teaches students to go beyond studying journalism to embrace curiosity, passion and inquisitiveness as a way of life. -- Shelly Banjo, Journalism Major, Medill School of Journalism 2007, Northwestern University, Chicago
Ndaeyo Uko has a wide experience of the world and cannily brings it to bear in this valuable and provocative volume—it's sharp advice from a smart cookie. -- Ted Conover, Award-winning author of Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing, Rolling Nowhere, Coyotes, and Whiteout; Distinguished Writer in Residence,
Story Building, a start-to-finish guide to the construction of narrative journalism, is thorough, readable, sound, comprehensive, and delivered with . . . good humor. -- Mark Kramer
I am much impressed. It's a very useful book... -- Jon Franklin, Professor of Journalism, University of Maryland—College Park
Replete with appropriate, varied, and timely examples that are carefully chosen to illustrate each element of instruction, this useful book will be a boon to future and practicing journalists. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Lower-and upper-division undergraduates, faculty, and professionals. * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsPart 1 Foreword by Mark Kramer Part 2 Preface Part 3 How the Book Is Organized Chapter 4 No News Is Hard News Chapter 5 Manic Curiosity: Gathering Information for the Narrative Story Chapter 6 Finding the Shoehorn: Aggressive Observation Chapter 7 Interviewing for narrative: Why Interview when you can Chat? Chapter 8 Staying on Top of the Interview: Practical Tips Chapter 9 The Abuse and Use of Descriptive Detail Chapter 10 Language and Style Chapter 11 Stealing from the Novelist's Bag of Tricks Chapter 12 Laying Out the Facts: How to Tell the Narrative Story Chapter 13 Leading to the End Chapter 14 Greed and Grit: Guided Tour of a Storyteller's Mind Chapter 15 Persuasive Storytelling: Not a Matter of Opinion Chapter 16 Between Typing and Writing: The Narrative Art of Reviewing Art Chapter 17 A Story about Getting Hired Chapter 18 Freelancing: Narrative for Hire
