To Show and To Tell
by Phillip Lopate

Nonfiction Softcover Self Hlep: How to Write

Distinguished author Phillip Lopate, editor of the celebrated anthology The Art of the Personal Essay,is universally acclaimed as “one of our best personal essayists” (Dallas Morning News). Here, combining more than forty years of lessons from his storied career as a writer and professor, he brings us this highly anticipated nuts-and-bolts guide to writing literary nonfiction. A phenomenal master class shaped by Lopate’s informative, accessible tone and immense gift for storytelling, To Show and To Tellreads like a long walk with a favorite professor—refreshing, insightful, and encouraging in often unexpected ways.

"A major national literary figure whose whimsical prose style and analytical approach rival in quality the work of Didion, Sontag, and Vidal"

-New York Newsday

Amazon review:

One of the best books about memior writing I have ever read.

Philip Lopate has written an insightful volume about the importance of thoughtful reflection in recalling the events of our past in the writing of memoir. The goal is to bring our hard-won wisdom to the portrait of the I-character that we re-create from distant memory that is not only reflective, but that also rings true. The chapter on retrospective analysis and double perspective of the recalled I-character, with all her strengths, frailties, bravado, high spirits and/or foolishness, was a great help to me in my current work. Throughout this very entertaining, clearly written, intelligent, thought-provoking and challenging volume, Dr. Lopate challenges us to commit to reading more books, with a more discerning eye in our selection of the works of great writers, both from the past and those writing today. This kind of extensive and purposeful reading enables us to become more accomplished writers ourselves,learning from the great writers so that we may begin to increase in confidence and craftsmanship and begin to write at the very highest level at which we are capable. Write the truth with thoughtful reflection, rather than glib stylistic gimmickry, and you will write well, he advises. And his words strike a chord that rings true. No artifice. Just the well crafted, thoughtful telling and showing of the events, places, senses,and supporting cast of characters that surround the I-character in your story of a significant period of time in your life.. I highly recommend this book.

-Sheri Nelson Maclean, The Woodlands, TX