Creative Nonfiction Writing Techniques

Autobiographical Writing

• A form of creative nonfiction that draws from the writer's personal experiences and memories
• Often uses literary techniques to convey the writer's emotional and psychological experiences
• Can take the form of memoir, essay, or narrative nonfiction
• Examples: Mary Karr's "The Liars' Club" and Augusten Burroughs' "Running with Scissors"

Memoir Structure

• Typically uses a narrative arc to convey the writer's story
• Often employs literary devices such as scene, dialogue, and reflection
• May use non-chronological structures, such as flashbacks or vignettes
• Can blend elements of fiction, such as character development and plot, with nonfiction techniques

Food Writing Techniques

• Uses sensory details to describe food and culinary experiences
• Often employs vivid descriptions of taste, smell, and texture
• May incorporate elements of memoir, cultural critique, or historical context
• Examples: M.F.K. Fisher's "The Art of Eating" and Calvin Trillin's "Alice, Let's Eat"

Biography

• A form of creative nonfiction that tells the story of another person's life
• Often uses research and interviews to reconstruct the subject's life
• Can take the form of a traditional biography or a more experimental, lyrical approach
• Examples: James Boswell's "The Life of Samuel Johnson" and Stacy Schiff's "Vera"

Profile

• A brief, in-depth portrait of a person, often written in a journalistic style
• Typically focuses on the subject's personality, accomplishments, and significance
• May use quotes, anecdotes, and observations to bring the subject to life
• Examples: Gay Talese's "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" and Calvin Trillin's "New Yorker" profiles

Literary Reportage

• A form of creative nonfiction that blends journalism with literary techniques
• Often explores social and political issues through in-depth reporting and reflection
• May use vivid descriptions, dialogue, and narrative structures to convey the story
• Examples: Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" and Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief"

Elements of Travelogue

• A form of creative nonfiction that explores the writer's experiences in a particular place or culture
• Often employs descriptive language to convey the sights, sounds, and sensations of travel
• May incorporate elements of memoir, history, and cultural critique
• Examples: Jan Morris's "Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere" and Paul Theroux's "The Old Patagonian Express"

Characteristics of Critique Paper

• A form of creative nonfiction that analyzes and interprets a work of art, literature, or culture
• Often employs critical thinking and analysis to evaluate the subject
• May use rhetorical devices, such as metaphor and analogy, to convey the writer's argument
• Examples: Joan Didion's "The White Album" and James Wood's "The Broken Estate"