Creative Nonfiction and Subgenres PDF

**CREATIVE NONFICTION and Subgenres** **Creative nonfiction**. It is not just any story, it is factual. It is also known as ***literary* or *narrative nonfiction***. Yet the term "*creative nonfiction*" puzzles many writers and readers. If it is nonfiction, it should be about the facts, how come it...

**CREATIVE NONFICTION and Subgenres** **Creative nonfiction**. It is not just any story, it is factual. It is also known as ***literary* or *narrative nonfiction***. Yet the term "*creative nonfiction*" puzzles many writers and readers. If it is nonfiction, it should be about the facts, how come it gets to be "creative?" What makes it "creative," as opposed to just "factual writing"?  There are many ways to present real facts and events besides boring reports and charts. Some of the best journalists and writers are the ones who can present accurate information while also telling an interesting and fascinating story. This is a form of storytelling that employs creative writing techniques of literature, such as poetry and fiction, to retell a true story. Creative nonfiction writers don't just share pithy or concise anecdotes, they use craft and technique to situate the reader in their own personal lives. Fictional elements, such as character development and narrative arcs, are employed to create a cohesive story, but so are poetic elements like conceit and juxtaposition. This genre is wildly experimental, and its contemporary nonfiction writers are pushing the bounds of literature by finding new ways to tell their stories. While a creative nonfiction writer might retell a personal narrative, others might also focus their gaze on history, politics, or they might use creative writing elements to write an expository essay. Creative nonfiction uses and combines 100% information with literary elements in telling real stories that appeal to readers and provide insight to actual events. Creative nonfiction is a canopy for other genres that includes the following: These include the many techniques that go into making literary fiction which also apply to creative nonfiction. Literary techniques that are usually reserved for writing fiction can be used in creative nonfiction, such as dialogue, scene-setting, and narrative arcs. However, a work can only be considered creative nonfiction if the author can attest that 100% of the content is true and factual. The primary difference between *nonfiction* and *creative nonfiction* is that regular nonfiction informs or instructs by sticking to the facts. The latter also informs readers, and it does so by building a narrative around the facts by introducing the scene and building the characters of real people so readers can better relate to them. **ELEMENTS of Creative Nonfiction** - **Facts**: Creative nonfiction must be rooted in facts. No part of the story can be made up or fabricated. - **Extensive research**: Both primary and secondary sources should be used throughout the research process. It is the writer's responsibility to conduct extensive research for the most accurate narrative possible. - **Reporting**: The writer should use said research to accurately document events or personal experiences. - **Personal experiences or opinions**: Though this is not a requirement, personal experiences or the opinions of others can help create a more complete picture. - **Exposition or explanations**: The topic or experience(s) presented should be explained to the reader. - **Storytelling/narration**: Unlike a straightforward historical report, creative nonfiction should be told like a story, meaning that inciting incidents, goals, challenges, turning points, and resolutions are present. - **Characters**: Every creative nonfiction piece should have a main "character," even though they must be real and accurately presented. In a memoir, for example, the narrator is typically the protagonist. - **Setting/Scene development**: The setting should be brought to life with vivid descriptions and scenes filled with action and dialogue. - **Plot structure**: The story should have a plot, with key events that make up the story. There might be one event in a personal essay, or several significant events and turning points, as is common in memoirs. - **Figurative language**: Figures of speech, such as similes or metaphors, can be used to create an interesting work of creative nonfiction. - **Imagery**: A skillful use of imagery is essential in creative nonfiction to bring important scenes alive for the readers. - **Point of view:** Point of view is important in this genre, as it affects the entire storytelling process. Most often, these stories are told in the first person (using "I" to narrate firsthand experiences and events). - **Dialogue:** Dialogue can really help build the narrative and develop scenes. Rather than reporting with "he said/she said", including scenes with dialogue helps to place the reader directly in the scene. - **Theme**: Every essay and story should have a theme, or central idea that ties the whole work together. This can also be considered the main "message" of your work. **Creative nonfiction subgenres**: - *short memoir personal essay* - *narrative journalism hybrid form that blends prose and poetry* - *speeches biography* - *autobiography travel writing* - *interviews science* - *medical psychology* - *art crafting* - *DIY Photography* - *Gardening Food, Drink & Cooking* - *Music Education* - *Parenting And Family Business and Economics* - *Political Science Health and Fitness* - *Computers And Software Self-Help* - *Religion And Spirituality Philosophy* **Memoir** tells about significant moments in the life of the author. Memoirs are sometimes confused with autobiographies since they are both written from the same perspective. However, what differentiates the two is that memoirs may be written about a shorter period, such as a specific event or experience in the writer's life. **Personal Essay.** A personal essay can be written on any subject or theme -- lobsters, the body, parenting, the mating habits of butterflies, public transport, ice cream -- nothing is off limits. But no matter what the subject, do keep it personal if you want to connect with the reader on an emotional level. The reader is not just interested in mere facts but will want to know your unique spin on the matter. **Narrative Journalism.** This is most simply defined as the following: *storytelling* (narrative) using primary and secondary research (journalism). Narrative journalism is ALWAYS concerned with nonfiction writing (true stories!), but what sets narrative journalism apart from say, history or news journalism, is that narrative journalism is hyper-focused on the craft of the story, often relying on literary techniques more often found in fiction writing. As a framework, these literary techniques will be explored through the five elements of fiction: theme, character, setting, plot, and point of view. *Primary research* is any research that you, the journalist, collects through first-hand experience (i.e. interviews, surveys, experiments, personal observations, etc.) *Secondary research* is any research that someone else has collected first-hand (or second-hand) and that you access through libraries, databases, archives, etc. *Angle* refers to the author's perspective on the story subject (i.e. what, specifically, the author is trying to communicate). *Scope* refers to the 'narrative' scope of an article (i.e. how much narrative coverage (scene/dialogue/etc.) is included in an article). **Hybrid form that blends prose and poetry.** This is a genre in writing that blends two or more genres. This is also referred to as cross-genre, multi-genre, fusion genre, or mixed genre. A hybrid genre must contain the key elements of both, or all genres involved. This is like making a love story in a historical fiction novel. Examples of Hybrid genres are the following: Examples. *Upright Women Wanted*, *Dark Tower series*, *Firefly*, and *Cowboy Bebop* **Biographies and Autobiographies** Both biographies and autobiographies focus on retelling a life story, but the two genres are different. Autobiographies are written about and by the author. Biographies are third-person narratives, where the author tells someone else's story (while remaining accurate and factual). Unlike autobiographies, the subject of the story can be living or dead when writing biographies. **Travel writing** is a nonfiction genre with several of its own subgenres. Travelogues are sometimes called travel memoirs, where the author discusses personal travel experiences. Travel guides are another form of travel nonfiction, providing information about destinations and reviews. \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*