Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-267) and index.

Pt. 1: The craft of writing. Finding an opening -- Knowing your audience -- Giving structure -- The character of persuasion -- The craft of persuasion -- Creating dramatic nonfiction -- Cracking our writer's block -- The nuts, bolts, hammers, and saws of good rewriting -- We remember endings first -- Titles that work -- Pt. 2: The art of writing. Creativity, the mysterious muse -- Breaking the rules -- The key to powerful prose-tone -- For the love of metaphor -- Less is more -- Pt. 3: The spirituality of writing. Called to write -- The quest for voice -- The spirituality of writing about yourself -- Spiritual authority and writing -- The courage to create and let go -- Stewards with a message.

Writing is not easy. But it can get better. In this primer on nonfiction writing, Andrew Le Peau offers insights he has learned as a published author and an editor for over forty years, training, guiding, and cheering on hundreds of writers. Here are skills that writers can master--from finding strong openings and closings, to focusing on an audience, to creating a clear structure, to crafting a persuasive message. With wide-ranging examples from fiction and nonfiction, Le Peau also demystifies aspects of art in writing such as creativity, tone, and metaphor. He considers strategies that can move writers toward fresher, more vital, and perhaps more beautiful expressions of the human condition. One aspect of writing that rarely receives attention is who we are as writers and how writing itself changes us. Self-doubt, fear of criticism, downsides of success, questions of authority, and finding our voice are all a part of the exploration of our spirituality as writers found in these pages. Discover how the act of writing can affect our life in God. Whether you're a veteran writer, an occasional practitioner, a publishing professional, or a student just starting to explore such skills, Le Peau's wit and wisdom can speed you on your way.