Re/Invention: Methods of Social Fiction (Qualitative Methods "How-To" Guides) First Edition

Many social fiction authors got our start with Patricia Leavy's work. This lively textbook offers a great introduction to Leavy's own social fiction novels and stories. Excerpts from her works serve as practical examples for writers honing our own craft. I especially love the exploration here of different storytelling forms, and the encouragement to let the structure of a narrative fit its content. Getting Leavy's own exposition on her process in choosing different story forms and letting them evolve along with their characters gave me invaluable insight on my own fiction writing--both academic and otherwise. Likewise, I enjoyed completing several of the writing prompts in the textbook for some of my own in-progress works. Re/Invention is an essential guidance manual for fiction writers in all genres who want to improve their skills through active practice with low-stakes exercises. Those already familiar with Leavy's fiction will also gain new perspectives on our favorite stories that help us share them more effectively with our own students and mentees. Finally, the Kindle version offers an easy-to-navigate reading and annotation experience with excellent accessibility. Highly recommended!

I loved the idea and execution of this book. I have always used the arts to teach history, but Leavy offers so many ways of thinking and utilizing the arts that I came away charmed and enthused. Definitely one for anyone interested in alternative ways of unpacking content and teaching the arts, or to use in class (I use it in History Research Methods) from an ever-brilliant author

This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in learning about writing fiction. Leavy's concept of social fiction is a game changer for those interested in creative research. Really well-written with great examples and tips.

Patricia Leavy created the practice of social fiction and the philosophy behind it, following in the footsteps of Simone de Beauvoir and others she cites as predecessors. Re/invention is the book so many of us have been waiting for and it does not disappoint! This book has everything you need to know to write your own social fiction. There’s great information about writing as inquiry and the history of blurring fiction and scholarly concerns. There’s also a ton of practical advice and step-by-step instruction about how to write a fictional narrative. I love Leavy’s own novels and the excerpts throughout the book serve as fantastic examples of the concepts and techniques highlighted.

A must-have book for researchers and students interested in transforming their research into fiction, or to simply better learn how to tell the story of their research, structure a narrative, and make the most of literary tools, regardless of the method or format. I appreciate the accessible, practical, and at times even humorous writing. It’s extremely inviting and makes you feel like you can write creatively and do so well. Every researcher and writer can benefit from this text.

Essential reading for anyone interested in learning about social fiction and writing it. With all the activities and special tips, it would be great in college courses too. Not boring or dry like so many academic texts, but something you want to read. I love the examples from the author’s published fiction.

Patricia Leavy is a trailblazer in the field of social fiction. She legitimized an entire realm of social science method. In this book, she shares how to go about using fiction as a research method, and how to do it well. This is a fantastic book.

This book is for anyone wanting to know how to use fiction in their research. Leavy has provided a clear and accessible how to book that will have you using fiction as social research. I highly recommend this book.Sandra Faulkner