Draft No. 4 is John McPhee's collection of essays that show the science behind the writing of a narrative and how it is structured. This collection of essays follows McPhee's (the author's) journey from beginning to end of writing a piece and all the thought processes, considerations, and techniques involved along the way.
The opening essay, “What Goes Into the Making of A Piece of Nonfiction,” sets up the twelve essays that follow in Draft No. 4. McPhee discusses his role as a narrator, and the obligation he feels to construct a narrative that educates and entertains. He explains his method of “shaping” a narrative, which includes looking at the composition holistically and in finding “the rhythm and music of the sentence.” He includes many examples of how he’s approached writing, including anecdotes such as when he was a magazine writer in the 1960s, noting the differences between journalistic stories he wrote then and his nonfiction books. McPhee also outlines the research that he has done for his pieces, as well as how he returns to the reader after extensive journeys himself, describing it as a form of “coming home.”
In the second essay, “Hang Gliding and Its Lighthearted Pilot,” McPhee takes a break from talking directly about craft to discuss the different people that make up the hang gliding culture. He travels to meet a group of hang gliders in California, extensively interviewing the pilots and analyzing how their various hobbies and life choices have lead them to this point. The essay is mainly lighthearted, although it gives enough insight to McPhee to be able to build the various personalities into the narrative of the piece.
In the third essay, “Holding a Pencil,” McPhee delves deeper into the craft by exploring the mechanics of writing. He examines the difference between writing with pen and pencil, and how that difference affects writing. He also examines the importance of posture when writing, which affects the energy of the text. He argues in favor of writing with a pencil, due to its flexibility: if something is written with a pencil, it can be erased and rewritten once more. McPhee continues to explore further aspects of the craft in the following few essays, including the art of selecting detail, the technical side of interviewing people, and the importance of properly recording visual description.
The next essay, “Placing Illusions,” explores McPhee’s process for finding structure in his pieces. He outlines a specific process that he goes through when constructing a piece, breaking down the structure into numbered drafts. Starting from the first draft and working up to the final one, McPhee describes how structure gives the narrative a momentum and the proper shape for the story. He also talks about the importance of the piece’s ending, noting that he may take weeks coming up with the ending.
In the fifth essay, “Standing in the Barn,” McPhee further deepens his exploration of craft. He discusses the importance of specific details in establishing scene and setting, noting that a careful selection of details is necessary in order to paint the scenery vividly. But, he notes, too much detail can cause the piece to lose momentum and become muddled. He also explains his unique approach to describing a scene, which involves researching the setting a great deal before describing it, in order to paint the most vivid image for the reader.
In the sixth essay, “Purple Cows,” McPhee talks specifically about finding the right words for a piece. He admits that words are never easy to choose, but notes that one should never be intimidated by a blank page. He also discusses the importance of humor in writing, noting that it can help to lighten the tone of a piece and make it more enjoyable for the reader.
The remaining essays cover topics such as fieldwork, alternating voices, the science of magazines, and the relationship between the writer and the reader. Through it all, McPhee encourages readers to experiment, noting that writing is a constant exercise of learning and discovery.
In conclusion, John McPhee’s collection of essays in Draft No. 4 provides an in-depth exploration of the craft of writing. McPhee covers a variety of topics, from his experiences in researching and structuring a narrative, to the mechanics of writing and the importance of words. Throughout the book, he encourages readers to experiment and to find their own style as a writer.
