The folks at Creative Nonfiction are worried that nobody believes authors anymore.

It's the fallout from disclosures that autobiographer James Frey exaggerated his life story and that journalists Jason Blair and Stephen Glass found it easier to make up stories than write the truth.

To get writers back on course, the Pittsburgh-based foundation and literary journal is holding a weeklong look at "Ethics in Writing" during its third 412 Creative Nonfiction Festival, "Can You Handle The Truth?," at spots around the city.

"It's the responsibility of all nonfiction writers to tell the truth," said Lee Gutkind, foundation director.

And to help them, Gutkind added, the new Creative Nonfiction Journal, dubbed "A Million Little Choices," an echo of Frey's memoir, contains articles giving writers professional advice, from avoiding libel to creating effective passages of dialogue.

The festival itself features journalist H.G. Bissinger and memoirist-novelist Kathryn Harrison in programs Friday and Saturday.

The schedule of readings and discussions kicks off tomorrow with a Literary Marathon from noon to midnight. Included will be talks, open mike sessions and conversations with what is billed as "Pittsburgh's literary community."

Other readings will be held throughout the week, including Thursday's launch party for Chatham College's literary journal, Fourth River.

Bissinger's talk Friday includes a showing of "Friday Night Lights," the 2004 film based on his book about high school football in Texas.

The festival wraps up Saturday with a daylong series of seminars, discussions and professional programs.

Here's a rundown of festival events. Unless noted, all events are free. A complete schedule can be found at www.creativenonfiction.org.

Monday: Literary Marathon, noon-midnight, Gypsy Cafe, 1330 Bingham St., South Side. 412-381-4977.

Tuesday: Faith Adiele, nonfiction writing professor at the University of Pittsburgh, reads from her memoir, "Meeting Faith," Barnes & Noble, Downtown.

Wednesday: Madwomen in the Attic read from their poetry at Kresge Auditorium, Carlow University, Oakland, 1 p.m.

Carlow writing professor Ellie Wymard discusses ethics in writing and reads from her books on divorce and the steel industry, Kresge Auditorium, Carlow University, Oakland, 2:30 p.m.

Children's author Katherine Ayres discusses her work at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Oakland, 4 p.m.

Paper Street Press poetry reading at Barnes & Noble, South Hills Village, 7 p.m.

Novelists Cathy Day (Pitt) and Hilary Masters (Carnegie Mellon), read from their works, Barnes & Noble, Monroeville, 7:30 p.m.

Sheryl St. Germain, director of the graduate writing program at Chatham College, reads from her works at Barnes & Noble, Squirrel Hill, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Fourth River journal's party and poetry readings at Kresge Atrium, Chatham College, 8 p.m. 412-365-1190.

Friday: Showing of the film "Shattered Glass," based on the story of disgraced New Republic reporter Stephen Glass, Melwood Screening Room, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, 477 Melwood Ave., Oakland, 12:30 p.m. Ticket required.

Showing of film "Friday Night Lights" and panel discussion with H.G. Bissinger, 7 p.m., Alumni Hall, Pitt campus, Oakland.

Saturday: Daylong lineup of panels and presentations held at Frick Fine Arts building, Oakland. Ticket required.

9 a.m.: Writing Fiction From Real Life and Selling What You Write.

10:25 a.m.: How Not to Be Sued, Publishing Poetry in Literary Magazines and Frame and Focus: Tips for Teachers.

11:50 a.m. Bissinger discusses his interviewing, writing techniques.

1:50 p.m.: Critics' Corner -- Literary Scandals Past and Present.

3:15 p.m. Financing Your Writing, Top 10 Ways Not to Get a Literary Agent and Ethics in Teaching Creative Nonfiction.

4:40 p.m. Ethics in Nonfiction Writing.

6:30 p.m.: Reading by Kathryn Harrison.

8 p.m.: Truth or Lies party at Kiva Han, 420 S. Craig St., Oakland.

For questions, call Creative Nonfiction at 412-688-0304.

Tickets are $40, students, $15, for festival events. Party tickets are $50, $60 at door, students $25, $30.

To order, contact ProArts: 412-394-3353 or www.proartstickets.org.