Tidbits: Truth / Enhanced Narrative

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant--

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind.

- Emily Dickinson, poet (1830-1886)

How I apply that to narrative: keep the reader hooked till the end of the story.

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A notice was just posted on WriterL, a paid e-mail list on literary journalism run by Pulitzer Prize-winner Jon Franklin and his wife, Lynn, directing people to an example of how narrative can be enhanced online. The Plain Dealer is running a seven-part series by John Mangel called "Plagued by Fear"; accompanying it online are documents, links to science Web sites, audio, additional photos and extensive footnoting. It's currently online at www.cleveland.com/plague.

categories: craft, reading