I first read John D'Agata in "The Lifespan of a Fact," a "true" account of the relationship between writer and editor/fact-checker. He and co-author Jim Fingal got heat for the veracity of the story, although who cares, I say. It was such an interesting display of how a journalist goes from story to source to writing to editing to publishing. The entire book is a conversation via email between the two. All writers who hire editors must read it.
Then, you must read a (very long) Q&A with D'Agata where he talks about the art and talent of the essay, its intersection with journalism and poetry, and how his grad school non-fiction writing classes "...were exhilarating and liberating, but they also sometimes felt like we were winging it in ways that landed on the wrong side of bullshit."
Then, you must read a (very long) Q&A with D'Agata where he talks about the art and talent of the essay, its intersection with journalism and poetry, and how his grad school non-fiction writing classes "...were exhilarating and liberating, but they also sometimes felt like we were winging it in ways that landed on the wrong side of bullshit."
| Here's the link to The Lifespan of a Fact. https://www.amazon.com/Lifespan-Fact-John-DAgata/dp/0393340732 Here's the interview in Essay Daily: http://www.essaydaily.org/2016/04/the-uncertainty-at-heart-of-things.html?m=1 Get your coffee and comment below with what you think. |  John D'Agata is the co-author of "The Lifespan of a Fact" with Jim Fingal. |
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