David Chrisinger – författare

A seasoned writer and teacher of memoir explores both the difficulties inherent in writing about personal trauma and the techniques for doing so in a compelling way.Since 2013, David Chrisinger has taught military veterans, their families, and other trauma survivors how to make sense of and recount their stories of loss and transformation. The lessons he imparts can be used by anyone who has ever experienced trauma, particularly people with a deep need to share that experience in a way that leads to connection and understanding. In Stories Are What Save Us, Chrisinger shows—through writing exercises, memoir excerpts, and lessons he's learned from his students—the most efficient ways to uncover and effectively communicate what you've learned while fighting your life's battles, whatever they may be. Chrisinger explores both the difficulties inherent in writing about personal trauma and the techniques for doing so in a compelling way. Weaving together his journey as a writer, editor, and teacher, he reveals his own deeply personal story of family trauma and abuse and explains how his life has informed his writing. Part craft guide, part memoir, and part teacher's handbook, Stories Are What Save Us presents readers with a wide range of craft tools and storytelling structures that Chrisinger and his students have used to process conflict in their own lives, creating beautiful stories of growth and transformation. Throughout, this profoundly moving, laser-focused book exemplifies the very lessons it strives to teach. A foreword by former soldier and memoirist Brian Turner, author of My Life as a Foreign Country, and an afterword by military wife and memoirist Angela Ricketts, author of No Man's War: Irreverent Confessions of an Infantry Wife, bookend the volume.

A guide for how to tell clear, data-driven stories that will make an impact.People with important evidence-based ideas often struggle to translate data into stories their readers can relate to and understand. And if leaders can't communicate well to their audience, they will not be able to make important changes in the world. Why do some evidence-based ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of worthy ideas? In Because Data Can't Speak for Itself, accomplished educators and writers David Chrisinger and Lauren Brodsky tackle these questions head-on. They reveal the parts and functions of effective data-driven stories and explain myriad ways to turn your data dump into a narrative that can inform, persuade, and inspire action. Chrisinger and Brodsky show that convincing data-driven stories draw their power from the same three traits, which they call people, purpose, and persistence. Writers need to find the real people behind the numbers and share their stories. At the same time, they need to remember their own purpose and be honest about what data says—and, just as importantly, what it does not. Compelling and concise, this fast-paced tour of success stories—and several failures—includes examples on topics such as COVID-19, public diplomacy, and criminal justice. Chrisinger and Brodsky's easy-to-apply tool kit will turn anyone into an effective and persuasive evidence-based writer. Aimed at policy analysts, politicians, journalists, teachers, and business leaders, Because Data Can't Speak for Itself will transform the way you communicate ideas.

The trusted guide to honing your public policy writing skills and making a significant impact on the world, thoroughly updated and expanded.Effective policy writing holds the transformative power to inspire action, shape public opinion, and influence outcomes. In the third edition of Public Policy Writing That Matters, communications expert David Chrisinger, who directs the Harris Writing Workshop at the University of Chicago and worked in the US Government Accountability Office for nearly a decade, continues to demystify the art of writing persuasively about public policy.Effective public policy writing is a catalyst for meaningful societal change. Chrisinger argues that by mastering the craft of clear, concise, and compelling communication, writers can elevate their ability to influence decision-makers, mobilize communities, and drive lasting and positive change. The book combines practical advice, insightful analysis, and hands-on exercises to provide a comprehensive guide for readers who want to improve their policy-writing skills. Offering real-world examples and cautionary tales, it offers a step-by-step approach to crafting impactful policy analysis, leveraging evidence, and framing arguments persuasively.Aimed at helping students and professionals overcome their default impulses to merely "explain," this book reveals proven tips for writing sophisticated and persuasive policy analysis that is also easy to understand. For anyone interested in planning, organizing, developing, writing, and revising accessible public policy, Chrisinger offers a step-by-step guide that covers everything from the most effective presentation methods to the best ways to write a sentence.

How your personal story can shape public policy.In a crowded media landscape, personal stories can cut through noise, shift public opinion, and influence decision-makers. In More Than Personal, David Chrisinger offers a practical guide for transforming lived experience into persuasive advocacy. Drawing on his work teaching narrative strategy and public policy writing at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, Chrisinger shows readers how to craft concise, compelling stories suitable for op-eds, legislative testimony, policy briefs, and one-on-one meetings with elected officials.Chrisinger introduces readers to distinct types of storytellers, explains how audience values shape reception, and demonstrates how effective narratives can expose problems, build solidarity, correct misinformation, and motivate action. Each chapter provides concrete tools: structuring stories using Aristotle's dramatic arc, identifying the central "object of desire," uncovering deeper meaning beneath surface events, and shaping scenes that engage readers quickly. Chrisinger emphasizes clarity and economy, helping advocates develop narratives that fit within the tight constraints of political communication while retaining emotional force. The book also addresses the strategic realities of advocacy: not all audiences respond to the same stories, and understanding values and context is essential to persuasion.Through examples of effective and revised narratives, readers learn how to sharpen their message and align it with specific policy goals. Designed for activists, community leaders, policy professionals, and students, More Than Personal equips readers with the skills to use their own experiences as tools for meaningful political change.

Students and professionals across a variety of disciplines need to write public policy in a manner that inspires action and genuine change. You may have amazing ideas about how to improve the world, but if you aren't able to communicate these ideas well, they simply won't become reality. In Public Policy Writing That Matters, communications specialist David Chrisinger argues that public policy writing is most persuasive when it tells clear, concrete stories about people doing things. Combining helpful hints and cautionary tales with writing exercises and excerpts from sample policy documents, Chrisinger teaches readers to craft concise, story-driven pieces that exceed the stylistic requirements and limitations of traditional policy writing. Too often, public policy writing is convoluted, opaque, and exclusive. Chrisinger, who teaches introductory policy writing courses around the country, offers a step-by-step guide for anyone interested in planning, organizing, developing, writing, and revising accessible public policy.From the most effective use of data visualization, the best way to write a sentence, and the ideal moment to add a compelling anecdote to advice on using facts to strengthen an argument, this little book, inspired by Strunk & White's classic style guide, will allow anyone crafting public policy to make a bigger impact. Aimed at helping students and professionals overcome their default impulses to merely "explain," this book reveals proven, classroom-tested tips for writing sophisticated policy that is also easy to understand. This practical, concise handbook will not only aid students throughout graduate school but will also remain a reference to consult throughout their professional careers. A vital tool for any policy writer or analyst, Public Policy Writing That Matters is a book for everyone passionate about using writing to effect real and lasting change.