english 493E: nonfiction writing and commercial publishing

W 3
class: introduction; a definition of nonfiction; current controversies; the genre's history and future; the writing process; proving the adage "There's a book in every New York Times."

F 5
prep: bring to class a short list of three ideas for project class: presentation and discussion of ideas

M 8
prep: read Rabiner and Fortunato (pp. 1-57).
bring to class a short list of three ideas for project

class: presentation and discussion of ideas

W 10

prep: read Rabiner and Fortunato (pp. 60-96).

class: identifying and discovering a story in an avalanche of facts; introduction to research techniques.

F 12

prep: familiarize yourself with UMass library website and the
Lexis-Nexis database.

class: research exercise; class meets in DuBois Library in main lobby on first floor

M 15

prep: none

class: research exercise; class meets in DuBois Library in main lobby on first floor

W 17

prep: none

class: research exercise; class meets in DuBois Library in main lobby on first floor

F 19

prep: LIBRARY RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT due

class: 1) discussion of projects; 2) performing "people" research -- how to find
people; the yellow pages; friends of friends and "I don't know, but think I know
a guy who might"; interviewing by telephone, e-mail and instant messenger programs.

M 22

prep: identify and interview one or two people who might assist your project; come to class prepared to describe and discuss your interviews.

class: reports on interviews

W 24

prep: prepare an appropriate question for Miller, perhaps particularly about the research process. See: http://www.umass.edu/history/faculty/miller.html

class: guest Marla Miller, author of The Needle's Eye: Women
and Work in the Age of Revolution.

F 26

prep: consider which part of your book might be refashioned as a magazine piece

class: discussion of ideas; publishing in popular magazines

M 29

prep: identify two or three popular magazines or more specialized journals for which your subject might be suitable; copy and bring submission guidelines to class

class: discussion of various guidelines; the mechanics of magazine
and journal submission; workshop

class: "long lead" magazine pieces; workshop magazine/journal pieces

F 3

prep: MAGAZINE/JOURNAL PIECE due

class: the problem of defining character; physical description of places and persons

M 6

prep: read Epstein (front matter and pp. 1-92)

class: discussion of Epstein

W 8

prep: read Epstein (pp. 93-192)

class: discussion of Epstein; commercial and academic publishing; the state of
the art; the state of the business

F 10

prep: prepare your “elevator pitch” for McDonough

class: guest Kevin McDonough, nationally syndicated columnist, book author, former acquisitions editor.

M 13 (no class)

T 14 (Monday class schedule)

prep: none

class: book reviews; Book Review Digest, the New York Times Book Review, Publisher's Weekly, amazon.com reader reviews.

W 15

prep: identify a book that 1) will assist research for your book proposal and
2) you intend to review.

class: the structure of book reviews; presentation and discussion of books chosen

F 17

prep: none, but you should be reading your book

class: how-to manuals; Writer's Digest

M 20

prep: prepare to discuss your book

class: informal reviews of books

W 22

prep: prepare to discuss your book

class: more informal reviews of books

F 24

prep: BOOK REVIEW due

class: more informal reviews of books

M 27

class: manuscript to bound book; careers in publishing

W 29

prep: prepare an appropriate question for Fjeld

class: guest Jessica Fjeld, managing editor of Jubilat

F 31

class: TBD

F 7

prep: prepare a draft of your table of contents

class: workshop tables of contents

M 10

class: guest Bruce Wilcox, Director, University of Massachusetts Press.

W 19

prep: ANNOTATED TABLE OF CONTENTS due
(not a graded assignment)

class: scholarly publishing; academic presses