ST. MARY’S ACADEMY OF STA. CRUZ, INC.

(Formerly: Holy Cross Academy)

Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur
CREATIVE NONFICTION
Lesson 3: Creative Nonfiction Week #3

My Learning Targets
 I can know the techniques in writing creative nonfiction.
 I can use the techniques in writing creative nonfiction by answering the activities.
.
MOTIVATION
 What is Creative Nonfiction?
________________________________________________________________________

PRESENTATION OF CONCEPTS

Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction weaves the marginal boundary of literary art such as fiction and nonfiction (covering and writing
journalism, statistical, the essay, and many others). Creative Nonfiction then is the emphasis of truthful writing using the
character, setting, plot, conflict, and theme of the literary devices making it creatively challenging.

In writing creative nonfiction, it should include precise and well-researched information, should stir the interest of the
reader to continue evaluating the storyline, and provide artistry in the storytelling of truthful events. Types of creative
nonfiction include autobiography/biography, literary journalism or reportage, a blog may feature travelogue, reflection
essays, personal narrative or memoir, flash essay, and testimonia.

Content in Writing Creative Nonfiction

Writers can craft stories of their own or of others as long as they can provide evidence of what really happened. This is
important in case especially if the work will be considered for publication. In case of a personal account, the writer can
start from the beginning to the end of a particular situation or may write random of events to create suspense at the end of
the story. For stories that are written by another writer, an interview is necessary.

Writers have a keen eye for details and the moments that have been extracted from memory must be written down
immediately. Conversations and poetry can be included in the storytelling. Creative nonfiction also depicts showing the
plot of the story rather than telling it through a dramatic, literary context of daily work, making it delightful and
meaningful (Writing Center).

Purpose for writing creative Nonfiction

The purpose of good writing is to express your feelings and not to impress, bring the readers in a word adventure, and
make your target audience agree what you are talking about.

Writer-Based Purpose

Writing helps you shape ideas calve from real life experiences of from merely observing the surrounding events. The best
writing exercises is to go outdoor (bus stop, shopping mall, school, church, farm, airport lobby, and many other busy
places) and observe what is happening. You start to write down in an hour of the things that transpired. This technique
will surely help you to find your writing voice and theme. Although writing is the highest among the other competencies
such as listening, speaking, and reading.

Dimensions of the Writing Process

The writing process differs from one writer to another since writing is subjective. Collecting, shaping, drafting, and
revising are the four basic levels you will undergo to produce quality workmanship. As you narrow the subject, simply the
purpose, know your target readers, and adjust the form you are working then surely will be something to look forward to.

(1) Collecting
You can gather first-hand information, use data, experience or interview others. “In any case, writers constantly
collect facts, impressions, opinions, and ideas that are relevant to their subjects, purposes, and audiences.
Collecting involves observing, remembering, imagining, thinking, reading, listening, writing, investigating
talking, taking notes, and experimenting” (Reid, 2000, p. 30). As a researcher, you have to think of the
relationships of the information that you have gathered.
(2) Shaping
ST. MARY’S ACADEMY OF STA. CRUZ, INC.
1
 A reflection can be taken from the facts, ideas, circumstances that you have collected. If you are writing about
calamities, it is good if you can provide a vivid description. A chronological presentation also manifests your
organizational skills and development of the storyline. However, an artistic writer may start from the middle, goes
back to the beginning, and concludes the story or it may be presented with a part of the conclusion, beginning,
middle part then weaves all the events together to present a meaningful end (Reid, 2000).
(3) Drafting
Writers usually make a rough version of the essay they are crafting and along the way change some parts of the
narrative. Drafting may vary from one writer to another or from one moment to the next. “Some writers prefer to
reread their collecting and shaping notes, find a starting point, and launch themselves-figuring out what they want
to say as they write it. Other writers start with a plan-a mental strategy, a short list, or an outline- of how they
wish to proceed. Whatever approach you use in your draft, write down as much as possible: You want to see
whether the information is clear, whether your overall shape expresses and clarifies your purpose, and whether
your content and organization meet the needs and expectations of your audience” (Reid, 2000, p. 31)
(4) Revising
Writers at some point will revise their drafts several times to achieve perfection. It is more than tweaking word for
word but also means re-arranging the sequence of the presentation. As a novice writer, you can add, delete, and
substitute words, sentences and paragraphs. At times, you may act as an audience, critiquing your own work by
examining the manuscript over and again to find if there are some points in your story that are vague. The
technique in writing is to write crisp, each word should make sense in every sentence. You can also let others read
your work and ask for their feedback. On the other hand, the editing stage makes you a syntax police where you
look for typos and ungrammatical phrases in the essay. Editing also allows you to eliminate the repetition of
words, create eloquence, and elegance in the write-up (Reid, 2000).

Now that you have learned about creative nonfiction, answer the question below to check your understanding. (Note: You
do not need to submit this back to your teacher)

What makes a person good in writing a nonfiction?

Answer:___________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
BROADENING OF CONCEPTS
Creative nonfiction is a genre of nonfiction writing that incorporates different creative writing techniques and literary
styles to convey truthful, non-fictional narratives. Creative nonfiction writing tends to emphasize story and tone over more
traditional subgenres of nonfiction.

INTEGRATION
In this lesson, we can also learn the IGNACIAN CORE VALUE of EXCELLENCE and related values of
COMPETENCE. Competence is all about expands one’s interests and expertise. This lesson can be integrated to
RESEARCH subject, because it teaches us to be competent enough to find the background of that certain matter and put it
into writing. Our lesson is based on our Sacred Scriptures-- Proverbs 23:12 (Apply your heart to instruction  and your
ears to words of knowledge.)
References:
Sygaco, S. (2017). Writing techniques in creative nonfiction. 7B Cavite Street, Brgy. Paltok West Avenue,
Quezon City. Great books trading.

Prepared by: Checked by:

MARY FIDELYN L. SOSAS, LPT KRIS GIA T. ESCUETA, LPT

Teacher Academic Coordinator

Approved by:

S. MA. YOLANDA D. CAPIÑA, RVM

School Principal

ST. MARY’S ACADEMY OF STA. CRUZ, INC.

2