David Halberstam made his reputation and earned his Pulitzer Prize by writing about the Vietnam War. He gained fans like me by writing books about an array of subjects mostly involving history and sports. I loved his history, The Fifties, but I think he was one of the best authors I’ve ever read at capturing the magical bonds of friendship.
Two of his best books of that type are The Teammates: A Portrait of a Friendship, and Firehouse.
At a seminar David Halberstam was asked for a tip on how to write a great nonfiction book. Here’s his reply.
Time is the crucial ingredient for a nonfiction writer. The more time, the more interviews you can do, and the greater the density of your work.
Want more? Check out the complete list of Advice from the Masters posts
If you want even more writing advice from writers, check out Jon Winokur’s blog, “AdvicetoWriters.”