LIT (CREATIVE NON FICTION)

CREATIVE NONFICTION
truth well told

Presents information using strategies and techniques of fiction-writing

rely on factual and true-to-life details

prior to the term CNF, it was first called “essay”

relies on the principles and strategies of journalism, which uses aspects of

reporting, fast gathering, and research

use imagination but the stuff written are factual, not imaginary or made up

ELEMENTS OF CNF
Scene
episodes about true-to-life ideas, people, and events

Dialogue
refers to what the characters say to each other

Significant Details
information or details that spice up the narrative

Plan of Structure
equivalent of plot in fiction

frame of the narrative similar to fiction’s plot

Tone
writer’s attitude towards the topic

Characters

LIT (CREATIVE NON FICTION) 1

 people in the narrative

Point of View
writer’s or the character’s angle of vision through which the narrative is told

Literary Devices
narrative and artistic devices used by the writer

figures of speech, irony, symbols

KINDS OF CNF
Personal Narratives or Life Stories
a narrative essay about a true story of something that happened to someone

EXAMPLES:

Autobiography

written account of the life of a person written by that person

biography

detailed description or account of a person’s life

profile sketch/character sketch

brief description in prose of a particular person or type of person; goes into the
character’s manner, distinct characteristics, nature, and the way that a person
behaves

Interview Story

Literary Reportage
reports on an event, history, or an actual case based in direct observation,
investigation or thorough research and documentation

Tv, radio documentary

Personal/Literary Essays

LIT (CREATIVE NON FICTION) 2

 stories about personal experiences told using literary techniques

Memoirs

collection of memories; either surrounding a single narrative thread or

multiple interrelated ideas

Journals

contains personal details regarding the impressions and opinions of the

journal writer concerning certain intriguing incidents or issues that have
come up and how specific persons have affected him or here during the
course of the day

Reflective Essays

a form of writing that examines and observes the progress and meaning of
a writer’s individual experiences like a journal about the thoughts on a
certain topic

Literary Essays

travel writing (travelogue)

food writing

LIT (CREATIVE NON FICTION) 3