Nonfiction Writers That Inspire Me to Write
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“The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream.” – Joan Didion
What does it mean to be a writer? I always thought it meant that one had to write novels, and that it was nearly impossible to call oneself a writer until a novel was published. I understood early on there were different forms of writing and thus different forms of writers, such as journalists, poets, and essayists. Though each of these categories falls under the blanket term of ‘writer’, they did not conjure the same image in my young brain as fiction novelists. I did not understand, growing up, that one could be a nonfiction writer who largely focused on covering real events with a glaze of creativity laid on top to produce a more enthralling story. I spent much of my adolescence reading novels with the occasional book of poetry mixed in. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I truly began to understand the depths of nonfiction writing and how this medium was as viable and important as its fictive counterpart.
Things ultimately changed for me when I discovered Sylvia Plath. I read The Bell Jar for the first time when I was about thirteen years old and immediately fell in love with Plath’s writing. I was enchanted by the idea that a woman who lived and died many years before I was born could understand the inner workings of my mind as intricately as Plath seemed to. I was consumed by the idea of reading everything Plath had written, and thus I began exploring her poetry and her nonfiction work as well. I enjoyed reading her essays, letters, and diary entries where she provided further glimpses into her soul. She inspired me to delve further into the genre to see what I could discover once I allowed my mind to expand and accept the truth that one does not have to publish a work of fiction to receive the coveted title of ‘writer’.
Joan Didion
Anyone who knows me, or even follows me on social media, knows how much I love Joan Didion. She is my most favorite writer, followed closely by Donna Tartt. Joan Didion, to me, is the ultimate representation of what it means to be a good nonfiction writer. I think people stray from nonfiction as a genre because they’re under the impression that these books are inherently boring. And in all fairness, some nonfiction books are incredibly dry and difficult to consume. Joan Didion, however, has mastered the art of writing nonfiction as a creative narrative. She is a pioneer in the genre of creative nonfiction, and her essays are equally as engaging as her fiction novels.
Didion inspires me more than any other writer simply because of the way she unravels the truth in her essays. Covering topics such as the Manson murders, Black Panther party meetings, and Georgia O’Keefe, Didion presents her journalistic views with an air of honesty that is unparalleled. Even when she’s writing about subtler topics, such as determining whether one possesses self-respect, or how the water system works in California, she crafts her essays in such a way that you hardly realize you’ve been learning something until you reach the end. If you want to understand how to be a better writer, the best thing you can do is read Joan Didion’s work. Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album are her most famous collections of essays, both of which are highly recommended. The Year of Magical Thinking and Blue Nights, the memoirs she wrote following the deaths of her husband and daughter, are incredibly touching and are filled with numerous glimpses into the frailty of the human heart. Every sentence Joan Didion has ever written is filled with magic, and she is a constant source of inspiration for me as I work toward building a substantial writing career.
Nora Ephron
My first introduction to Nora Ephron came in the form of the movie You’ve Got Mail, which I have watched with my mother no less than one hundred times. The perfect romantic comedy, the movie stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and follows their tumultuous relationship as Tom Hanks’ character builds a massive chain bookstore around the corner from Meg Ryan’s quainter shop. I fell deeply in love with the movie when I was younger because of the perfect New York City scenery, the dreamy bookstore run by Meg Ryan, and because Meg Ryan’s character has the single most beautiful apartment I’ve ever even seen.
I didn’t realize that Nora Ephron was a nonfiction writer until I reached my twenties and started exploring the genre. Ephron was a master at creating engaging and popular screenplays—she also wrote When Harry Met Sally, amongst numerous others—but she was an immensely talented essayist as well. For me, a perfect morning consists of laying in bed until 8:30 with the sunshine streaming in while I curl up with a collection of Nora Ephron essays. Her blend of humor and information is a delight to read, and her writing puts my mind at ease. When I’m reading Nora Ephron’s writing, it almost feels as though I’m having a conversation with a close friend. I can almost imagine what it might have been like to sit at a small table in a New York deli with Ephron, where we hunch over our sandwiches to swap secrets and discuss the latest books we’ve read.
For those unfamiliar with her work, I highly recommend I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman and I Remember Nothing: And Other Reflections which beautifully detail and describe what it’s like to age, to fall in and out of love, and what it’s like to face an illness you know will take your life and what you’ll miss most when that happens. I love Nora Ephron because she is so immensely comforting, and she inspires me to write as honestly, authentically, and humorously as possible.
John Gregory Dunne
As a small continuation of my obsession with Joan Didion, I started exploring the essays and books written by her husband, John Gregory Dunne. A talented and famous writer in his own right, Dunne often covered an array of topics and worked with Didion on several stories throughout their careers. Didion and Dunne lived an idyllic life where they would both write in their respective offices during the day and compare notes and ask each other for advice when needed. After reading The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion where she details their life together before Dunne’s death, I realized that I wanted to know more about him as an individual and as a writer.
Dunne’s writing is grittier than Didion’s, but he injects as much honesty and reflection as his wife, which I always appreciate in my nonfiction explorations. Dunne truly cared about writing as a craft, and his absolute commitment to this craft is as inspirational as it gets. Dunne explored topics in-depth, and he seamlessly blended facts with creative commentary. Harp is a personal favorite, and I’ve enjoyed working my way through Regards: The Selected Nonfiction of John Gregory Dunne where I’ve been able to read a sampling of some of Dunne’s best work.
Marina Keegan
Marina Keegan inspires me for two very distinct reasons: she was a prolific writer, and at the risk of being somber, she died tragically before she was able to reach her full potential. Keegan passed away in a car accident in 2012 when she was just twenty-two years old. She had graduated from Yale five days prior and was slated to begin a job at The New Yorker after graduation. Marina has published numerous stories and essays throughout high school and college, and she worked on a musical as well that debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival.
Following her tragic death, a collection of her fiction and nonfiction work was gathered and published by Scribner in 2014 under the title The Opposite of Loneliness. The collection was overseen by Keegan’s professor Anne Fadiman who had worked directly with Marina on several pieces that appear in the publication. While reading Keegan’s work, it becomes apparent how immensely talented she was and how she had a penchant for writing essays in a clear and relatable voice. When I read her writing, I’m reminded of how short life is and how important it is to pursue your dreams. Keegan was dedicated to becoming a writer, and she worked tirelessly throughout college to submit work and have pieces considered by some of the most notable publications in the United States. She believed she could achieve her dream, and this passion and determination is inspirational to me on an intrinsic level. The Opposite of Loneliness is well worth the read, and it’s the perfect introduction to nonfiction for those who have yet to explore the genre.
About Sam Cohen
Sam Cohen is a writer and editor based in New England. She lives with her wonderful partner Caleb, and enjoys learning new languages, drinking lattes, and spending time with her loved ones. Sam is an avid reader who practices yoga and tries to laugh as often as possible. She hopes to be a published author one day. She can be found on Twitter and Instagram.