A Braided Heart: Essays on Writing and Form

A Braided Heart is a helpful guide to writing life, offering craft instruction and advice for sustaining and invigorating writing practice, with a focus on emerging forms in creative nonfiction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 146 pages
Publication date: 12 July 2021
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

A Braided Heart is a friendly, personal, and smart guide to the writing life, offering clear and original instruction on craft elements at the forefront of today's emerging forms in creative nonfiction. Brenda Miller, an acknowledged expert in these forms, provides practical advice on how to sustain and invigorate your writing practice, while also encouraging readers to explore their own writing lives.

The book begins with a discussion of the braided form, which is a popular form in creative nonfiction. Miller explains that the braided form is a way to connect different stories or ideas into a single narrative, and that it can be used to explore complex themes and characters. She provides examples of braided forms from various authors, including Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, and David Foster Wallace.

Next, Miller discusses the short-short form, which is a shorter version of the braided form. She explains that the short-short form is a great way to experiment with different styles and genres, and that it can be used to create a sense of urgency and tension. She provides examples of short-short forms from various authors, including Raymond Carver, Amy Bloom, and George Saunders.

The book also includes a chapter on the hermit crab essay, which is a form that combines elements of the braided form and the short-short form. Miller explains that the hermit crab essay is a way to explore a single idea or theme from multiple perspectives, and that it can be used to create a sense of depth and complexity. She provides examples of hermit crab essays from various authors, including David Foster Wallace, Zadie Smith, and George Saunders.

In addition to these craft elements, A Braided Heart also provides practical advice on writing and publishing. Miller discusses the importance of finding a writing community, and she provides tips on how to submit your work to publishers. She also discusses the challenges of writing and publishing, and she offers advice on how to overcome them.

One of the strengths of A Braided Heart is its accessibility. Miller's writing is clear and concise, and she uses examples to illustrate her points. She also includes exercises and prompts to help readers practice their writing skills.

Another strength of the book is its originality. Miller's approach to creative nonfiction is unique, and she offers a fresh perspective on the genre. She encourages readers to experiment with different forms and styles, and she provides examples of successful writers who have done so.

However, there are also some weaknesses in A Braided Heart. Some of the examples provided in the book are not as strong as others, and some of the exercises and prompts are not as effective as they could be. Additionally, the book's focus on craft elements can sometimes overshadow the importance of storytelling.

Despite these weaknesses, A Braided Heart is a valuable resource for writers of creative nonfiction. It provides clear and original instruction on craft elements at the forefront of today's emerging forms, and it encourages readers to explore their own writing lives. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced writer, this book will help you improve your writing skills and achieve your writing goals.

In conclusion, A Braided Heart is a friendly, personal, and smart guide to the writing life. It offers clear and original instruction on craft elements at the forefront of today's emerging forms in creative nonfiction, and it encourages readers to explore their own writing lives. While there are some weaknesses in the book, it is a valuable resource for writers of creative nonfiction. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced writer, this book will help you improve your writing skills and achieve your writing goals.

Weight: 215g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472054923