Lee Gutkind often makes the point that writing creative nonfiction requires plenty of research, a lot of thought and analysis and constant revision. I must say, in my experience he is right on all counts. We writers of creative nonfiction, particularly those of us that deal in family history, must spend an inordinate amount of time researching the lives and times of our characters. Writing a true story that accurately depicts the lives of my ancestors took some real soul searching. Does one sanitize history and tell only the part that will please straight laced, church going Uncle Joe, or at the risk of being ostracized by family and friends, does one tell it all? I chose to tell it all as I knew it.
It took six years to research and write The Soul of the Land, but I am constantly amazed by the comments from those that have read it. What I supposed would be a book that only those older folks interested in historical events has also captured the imagination of a number of younger readers. Two days ago, I encountered a woman in her late 20's that went on and on about what she had read. Her recollection of the vignettes in both number and detail rivaled my own memory of what I had written! She certainly made my day!
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