[Creative Non-Fiction

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[Introduction to Literary Genres]

Module 001 Introduction to Literary Genres

You may think that creative non-fiction is boring because your previous
experiences with it are, but it is more than just newspapers and dry,
informative articles. It also makes use of techniques that are applied into the
different literary genres, drama, poetry, fiction, and more. During this term,
this course aims to make you change your mind about creative nonfiction,
unless you already appreciate and hold it at high regard.
If you are not an avid reader, think about films that you have seen. Many of
those that have been gaining respect from both viewers and critics are forms
of creative non-fiction put into motion onscreen. These are the real life
stories that you eagerly watch to know what really happened. Some have
been modified, such as Titanic. Some try to be as true to the source as
possible, such as Netflix’s “The Crown”, which reveals the life of a young
Queen Elizabeth II.
For readers, books such as “When Breath Becomes Air”, a memoir about a
young neurosurgeon dying because of lung cancer, or the nonfiction books
that will be eventually be films this year or the next: “The Glass Castle”
(starring Brie Larson) and “The Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage
Murders and the Birth of the FBI”, which will reportedly star Leonardo di
Caprio, are great examples of creative nonfiction. So, yes, creative nonfiction
is not stale. It has always been right in front of us. What could feel more real
than something that is already real?

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Distinguish creative non-fiction from fiction.
2. Identify dominant literary conventions of a particular genre
3. Compare and contrast how the elements are used in the different genres
4. Analyze and interpret the theme and techniques used in a particular text

What is Creative Non-Fiction?

Creative non-fiction is a literary form that resembles that of fiction most of the times. Its
marked difference is its ability to convey factual events instead of imaginary ones. It can be
in the form of prose or poetry. The word “creative” is added to the course name because it
emphasizes the difference of the course from other factual writings, which drily narrate the
who, what, when, where, and why. Factual writings that do not put an emphasis on the
answers to those “W”s may be creative non-fiction if they are written using literary devices.

Course Module
 While some may scoff at just how creative non-fiction can be, given that the facts cannot be
changed, writing about truth can sometimes be confining, and thus difficult. You have to
stick to the facts while still engaging the interest of your readers.
Below, you can first take a look at different literary genres. They may not be creative non-
fiction genres, but elements and strategies that are used to write them may be applied to
creative non-fiction.

Different Literary Genres

In this course, we will also be examining different literary genres that may have an effect on
how creative non-fiction is written. Literary forms have their own elements that can be
helpful in conveying the events that had transpired in real life. Some informative books also
resort to using creative elements in telling facts.
Here are some of the literary genres that will matter this term:

Fiction
Fiction refers to literary works that tackle events that did not happen in real life. It
does not mean to say that the events are of the speculative kind. Some fictional works
showcase events that could very well happen in real life. They could have happened,
but the details are not fully authentic.
Sometimes, fiction can masquerade as creative non-fiction for the sake of impact and
popularity. The Amityville horror, for example, has always been touted as “based on
real events” by the family who supposedly lived through the harrowing experience.
Still, there are some critics who believe that the events were nothing more but pure
or mostly invention.
Fiction usually makes use of prose format, but it also makes use of poetic forms.
Prose refers to regular lines that we expect in novels or short stories. There are,
however, some books that do make use of poetic or even experimental lines, where
there may be no periods after some sentences or the sentences in a paragraph may
be irregular.

The above pages are from Mark Danielewzki’s “House of Leaves”, which is an
experimental horror tome that makes use of irregular formatting.
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[Introduction to Literary Genres]

Poetry
With poetry, there is more freedom with form. However, this does not mean to say
that it is much easier to write poetry. In fact, it is more difficult to tame the lines here.
The rhythms and cuts control the way in which the meaning can be interpreted.
Where you place your commas and your periods all have meaning. The words are
more precise. Whereas, you can easily use the word “sad” in a novel, especially if part
of a dialogue and a person is using the word in ordinary conversation, poems would
possibly allude to this word using metaphors and similes. More precise words, such
as ‘melancholy’ may be used. In literary novels, precision with diction is also highly
recommended. Rhyme is also a common strategy used that immediately creates a
form of rhythm.

Drama
With drama, there is an emphasis on dialogue, and what can actually transpire on
stage or in front of the camera. The dialogue is written as realistically as possible,
appropriate to the period and even the social class and educational background of
the speaker. There is a description of what is happening on stage.

On the next page, you will see a snippet of a dialogue from the play, “The Crucible”.
The words in italics are notes to the actors on how they would play out the role, just
in case the contents of the dialogue are not enough.

Course Module
Other Forms
Other forms of literature combine the elements of one of the major ones with those
of another. Here are some of the hybrid forms:
Prose fiction
Prose nonfiction
Poetic fiction
Poetic nonfiction
Drama fiction
Drama nonfiction
While prose, poetry, and drama affect the format or form, nonfiction and fiction are
more concerned about the truth behind the content.

Elements of Creative Non-Fiction Based on Genres

Based on what you have read about so far, varying literary forms have their own elements.
These elements may be used by nonfiction, as well.
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[Introduction to Literary Genres]

Prose form of fiction

Nonfiction can take on a non-metrical form for easy reading. The “normal” prose
tactic also lends more reality to what is being told.

Poetic meters and colorful words

Some nonfiction stories, however, are provided with color through the use of poetic
words. Even some textbooks or reference books, such as Diane Ackerman’s “A
Natural History of the Senses”, take on a poetic flavor. Very few would attempt to
create nonfiction with meter, however.

Strong dialogue
The strong dialogue from drama may also be incorporated into nonfiction memoirs
or biographies. It is, however, more difficult to recapture the real words spoken,
verbatim, but the author can make an attempt.

Descriptive diction
The precision of the language used in poetry may also be applied onto the narrative.
This way, not one word can be considered wasted.

As the above has proven, creative nonfiction need not be boring. It need not be written with
jargon or dreary language. It can compel. It can attract and retain attention.

Glossary
1. Authentic: genuine or real
2. diction: choice of words
3. formatting: how the words, sentences, margins and the rest of the layout are
arranged
4. metaphor: use of a characteristic (not normally used)to describe something
5. prose: non-metrical, non-poetic, ordinary text
6. Simile: It is like a metaphor, but makes use of comparative words or phrases such as:
“like a” or “as _____________as a _________________”. (Example: beautiful like a rose)

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
Gardner, J. (2010). The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers. New York: Vintage.
McDonell, B. (2017, July 19). Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese reportedly adapting
Oklahoma true-crime book 'Killers of the Flower Moon' into a movie. Retrieved from
News Okay: http://newsok.com/article/5556895

Course Module
What is Creative Nonfiction. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from Creative Nonfiction:
http://www.creativenonfiction.org/online-reading/what-creative-nonfiction

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

1. C. (n.d.). Literary Genres. Retrieved July 23, 2017, from
http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/rl/litrlgenres.asp
2. Genres of Literature. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2017, from
http://genresofliterature.com/
3. Literary Genres. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2017, from
https://literarydevices.net/genre/

Online Instructional Videos

1. [Literary Genres] <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsJko91QjgE>; (2017, July
23)
2. [Literature Genres] <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIPE_CPTh9s>; (2017, July
23)
3. [Genres of Literature] <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDhUmn4IZ78>; (2017,
July 23)