Welcome to May’s installment of Classroom Takeover, a new monthly feature here at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog! Every month, a new blogger creates an ideal college class featuring a subject, author, or genre that they think doesn’t get enough attention in mainstream college classes.

Look! Look! It’s a takeover post by Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness! She finally caved to my whining on Twitter and made a post! And look! Look at it! It’s amazing!

Kim is a Professional Journalist who Gets Paid and Everything, so she knows what she’s talking about when she’s talking about narrative nonfiction. If Kim had taught the sole journalism class I took in college, I know I’d have enjoyed it way more than I actually did. And I know Kim wouldn’t have made me buy a $90 book that’s both unreturnable and worth about $5 used just because she wrote it. Right, Kim? Right?

Journalists Who Say “I”

Intro

Right now, there is no place within college English or journalism departments to discuss the literary merits of narrative nonfiction (loosely described as nonfiction that uses the techniques of fiction to tell true stories). English departments mostly focus on analyzing fiction, while journalism departments generally discuss narrative nonfiction in terms of the journalistic elements — reporting, editing, or ethics. However, narrative nonfiction writers are producing interesting work that could be considered in the same ways we often think about fiction. Continue reading »