WRITING CREATIVE

NONFICTION
WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION
 What is creative nonfiction?
 It involves writing about personal experience, real
people, or events. It is writing about fact, rather than
fiction. The writer can write about anything, such as a
personal experience, current events, or issues in the
public eye. The writer can also inject personal
thoughts, feelings, or opinions into the writing. Often,
the writer uses the first person “I.” Popular types of
creative nonfiction include the personal essay, memoir,
autobiography, literary journalistic essay, travel writing,
and food writing. Creative nonfiction is also known as
“Literary Journalism.”
WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION

 This article identifies the techniques of creative

nonfiction, defines the various types of creative
nonfiction, provides some guidelines, and lists
several popular books and several resources to
help the aspiring writing learn the art and craft of
writing creative nonfiction.
HOW TO WRITE CREATIVE
NONFICTION
 The creative nonfiction writer often incorporates
several elements of nonfiction when writing a memoir, personal
essay, travel writing, and so on. The following is a brief
explanation of the most common elements of nonfiction:
 Fact. The writing must be based on fact, rather than fiction. It
cannot be made up.
 Extensive research. The piece of writing is based on primary
research, such as an interview or personal experience, and
often secondary research, such as gathering information from
books, magazines, and newspapers.
 Reportage/reporting. The writer must be able to
document events or personal experiences.
 Personal experience and personal opinion. Often,
the writer includes personal experience, feelings,
thoughts, and opinions. For instance, when writing a
personal essay or memoir.
 Explanation/Exposition. The writer is required to
explain the personal experience or topic to the
reader.
 Essay format. Creative nonfiction is often written in
essay format. Example: Personal Essay, Literary
Journalistic essay, brief essay.
LITERARY ELEMENTS
 Creative nonfiction is the literature of fact. Yet, the creative
nonfiction writer utilizes many of the literary devices of fiction
writing. The following is a list of the most common literary
devices that writers incorporate into their nonfiction writing:
 Storytelling/narration. The writer needs to be able to tell his/her
story. A good story includes an inciting incident, a goal,
challenges and obstacles, a turning point, and resolution of the
story.
 Character. The nonfiction piece often requires a main
character. Example: If a writer is creating his/her memoir, then
the writer is the central character.
 Setting and scene. The writer creates scenes that are action-
oriented; include dialogue; and contain vivid descriptions.
 Plot and plot structure. These are the main events that make
up the story. In a personal essay, there might be only one
event. In a memoir, there are often several significant
events.
 Figurative language. The writer often uses simile and
metaphor to create an interesting piece of creative
nonfiction.
 Imagery. The writer constructs “word pictures” using sensory
language. Imagery can be figurative or literal.
 Point of view. Often the writer uses the first person “I.”
 Dialogue. These are the conversations spoken between
people. It is an important component of creative nonfiction.
 Theme. There is a central idea that is weaved through the
essay or work. Often, the theme reveals a universal truth.
The 5’Rs of Creative Nonfiction
 Lee Gutkind, who is a writer, professor, and expert on
creative nonfiction, wrote an essay called “The Five R’s
of Creative Nonfiction.” In this essay, he identified five
essential elements of creative nonfiction. These include:
 Creative nonfiction has a “real life” aspect. The writer
constructs a personal essay, memoir, and so forth, that is
based on personal experience. He also writes about real
people and true events.
 Creative nonfiction is based on the writer engaging in
personal “reflection” about what he/she is writing
about. After gathering information, the writer needs to
analyze and assess what he/she has collected. He then
must evaluate it and expression his thoughts, views,
opinions. Personal opinion is permissible and
encouraged.
 Creative nonfiction requires that the writer complete
research. The writer needs to conduct research to
learn about the topic. The writer also needs to
complete research to discover what has been
written about the topic. Even if a writer is crafting a
personal essay, he will need to complete secondary
research, such as reviewing a personal journal, or
primary research, such as interviewing a friend or
family member, to ensure that the information is
truthful and factual.
 The fourth aspect of creative nonfiction is
reading. Reading while conducting research is not
sufficient. The writer must read the work of the
masters of his profession.
 The final element of creative nonfiction is
writing. Writing creative nonfiction is both an art
and craft. The art of creative nonfiction requires
that the writer uses his talents, instincts, creative
abilities, and imagination to write memorable
creative nonfiction. The craft of creative
nonfiction requires that the writer learn and
deploy the style and techniques of creative
nonfiction in his/her work.
TYPES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION
 Creative nonfiction is about fact and truth. The truth can be about a
personal experience, event, or issue in the public eye. There are many
categories or genres to choose from, such as the personal essay,
memoir, and autobiography. The following is a list of the most popular
types of creative nonfiction:
 Personal Essay. The writer crafts an essay that is based on personal
experience or a single event, which results in significant personal
meaning or a lesson learned. The writer uses the first person “I.”
 Memoir. The writer constructs a true story about a time or period in
his/life, one that had significant personal meaning and a universal truth.
The writer composes the story using the first person “I.”
 Literary journalism essay. The writer crafts an essay about an issue or
topic using literary devices, such as the elements of fiction and
figurative language.
 Autobiography. The writer composes his/her
life story, from birth to the present, using the
first person “I.”
 TravelWriting. The writer crafts articles or
essays about travel using literary devices.
 Food writing. The writer crafts stories about
food and cuisine using literary devices.
 Profiles.
The writer constructs biographies or
essays on real people using literary devices.
Guidelines for Writing Creative
Nonfiction
 Not only must the aspiring writer of creative nonfiction learn the
techniques, but he/she also requires a good understanding of
the guidelines. The following are 12 guidelines for writing any type
of creative nonfiction:
 Research the topic. Both primary (interview, personal experience,
or participant observation) and secondary research (books,
magazines, newspaper, Web)
 Never invent or change facts. An invented story is fiction.
 Provide accurate information. Write honestly and truthfully.
Information should be verifiable.
 Provide concrete evidence. Use facts, examples, and quotations.
 Use humour to make an important point.
 Show the reader what happened, don’t tell them what happened. To do
this, dramatize the story.
 Narrate the story. A story has an inciting incident, goal, conflict,
challenges, obstacles, climax, and resolution.
 Write about the interesting and extraordinary. Write about personal
experiences, interesting people, extraordinary events, or provide a
unique perspective on everyday life.
 Organize the information. Two common techniques are chronological or
logical order.
 Use literary devices to tell the story. Choose language that stimulates and
entertains the reader, such as simile, metaphor, imagery.
 Introduce the essay or other work with a hook. Its purpose is to grab the
readers’ attention and compel them to reader further. Popular hooks
include a quotation, question, or thought-provoking fact.
 End the creative nonfiction piece with a final, important point.Otherwise
the reader will think, “So what!” “What was the point? It was an interesting
story, but how does it apply to me or my life?”
READING LIST
 There have been many creative nonfiction books written about
a wide variety of topics, such as divorce, abuse, and happiness.
To help the aspiring writer learn the art and craft of creative
nonfiction, he/she ought read creative nonfiction books by the
best writers. By doing this, the writer acquires an appreciation for
good writing and learns how creative nonfiction is written.
Some of the most popular creative nonfiction books include:
 In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
 Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer
 Paper Lion by George Plimpton
 The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
 The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolf
 As well, there are several good books that are
currently on many bestseller lists:

 Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

 The White Castle by Jeanette Walls
 Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson
 Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, by Azar
Nafisi
 Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
 The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
 Nigh by Elie Wiesel
MAGAZINES
 There are also many popular magazines that
publish all types of creative nonfiction, including:
 The Atlantic ( http://www.theatlantic.com/ )
 The New Yorker ( http://www.newyorker.com/ )
 Vanity Fair ( http://www.vanityfair.com/ )
 Esquire (http://www.esquire.com/)
 The Walrus ( http://www.walrusmagazine.com/ )
Resources for the Aspiring Writer
 To write creative nonfiction, the aspiring writer must learn the
craft. He/she can do this by taking a course or through self-study. Both
involve reading text books. The following books will help the aspiring
writer learn how to write creative nonfiction:
 Art of Creative Nonfiction by Lee Gutkind
 Writing Creative Nonfiction: The Literature of Reality by Gary Talese
 The Truth of the Matter: Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction by Dinty W.
Moore
 Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Truth edited by Bill
Roorbach
 On Writing Well by William Zinsser
 The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
 Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition): The Essential Guide for Writers,
Editors, and Publishers.
ELEMENTS OF
CREATIVE
NONFICTION
1. PLOT

A plot is a literary term used to

describe the events that make up a
story, or the main part of a story.
These events relate to each other in a
pattern or a sequence. The structure
of a novel depends on the
organization of events in the plot of
the story.
ELEMENTS OF PLOT
2. CHARACTERS
 All stories must have certain characteristics or
elements. Without these elements, any piece
of literature would cease to make sense or
serve a purpose. For example, stories must
have a plot, or events that take place.
Another essential story element is the
character. Character can be defined as any
person, animal, or figure represented in a
literary work. There are many types of
characters that exist in literature, each with its
own development and function.
TYPES OF CHARACTERS
Flat Character usually has one or two
predominant traits. The character
can be summed up in just a few lines.

Example: A father who is strict from

the beginning to the end of the
story.
Round Character is complex,
many faceted and has the
qualities of real people.

Example: In the story, he is a

father, a goon, an executive,
etc.
Static Character is a character
that remains essentially the same
throughout.

Example: The daughter who

remains a baby from start to
finish.
Developing Character is a character that
undergoes a significant change during
the story.

 Example: A daughter, who suffers from

the beginning, strives hard to improve
her life and become rich, helps her
parents and becomes happy at the
end, or vice-versa.
3. CHARACTERIZATION
 is the quality of the character which is disclosed through
actions, descriptions, both personal and environmental,
dramatic statements and thoughts, statements by other
characters and statements by the author speaking as
storyteller, or observer.

Example:
Character - Sonia, the protagonist
Characterization - tall, with fair complexion, with long hair,
happy, humble, obedient, studious, etc.
4. POINT OF VIEW
 is the angle of considering things, which shows
us the opinion or feelings of the individuals
involved in a situation. In literature, point of view
is the mode of narration that an author employs
to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes
place in a story, poem, or essay.
 Point of view is an integral tool of description in
the author’s hands to portray personal emotions
or characters’ feelings about an experience or
situation. Writers use a point of view to express
effectively what they want to convey to their
readers.
 Point of view is a reflection of the opinion an individual from
real life or fiction has. Examples of point of view belong to
one of these three major kinds:
 First person point of view involves the use of either of the
two pronouns “I” or “we.”
 “I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace.”
 Second person point of view employs the pronoun “you.”
 “Sometimes you cannot clearly discern between anger
and frustration.”
 Third person point of view uses pronouns like “he,” “she,”
“it,” “they,” or a name.
 “ Stewart is a principled man. He acts by the book and
never lets you deceive him easily.”
5. ANGLE

 usedgenerally, point of view refers to

the perspective from which people
see things. In literature, where stories
are intentionally crafted by their
authors, point of view is the angle
from which a story is told.
6. SETTING
 The setting of a story is its overall context- where, when
and in what circumstances the action occurs.
 Setting as Place - The physical environment where the
story takes place. The description of the environment
often points towards its importance.
 Setting as Time - includes time in all of its dimensions. To
determine the importance, ask, “What was going on at
that time?”
 Setting as Cultural Context (Condition) - Setting also
involves the social circumstances of the time and place.
Consider historical events and social and political issues
of the time.
7. SYMBOL and SYMBOLISM
 Symbol creates a direct, meaningful
equation between a specific object,
scene, character, or action and ideas,
values, persons or ways of life.
 Symbolism is the practice or art of using an
object or a word to represent an abstract
idea. An action, person, place, word, or
object can all have a symbolic meaning.
EXAMPLES OF SYMBOLISM
8. IRONY
 Irony is a figure of speech in which words
are used in such a way that their intended
meaning is different from the actual
meaning of the words. It may also be a
situation that ends up in quite a different
way than what is generally anticipated. In
simple words, it is a difference between
appearance and reality.
9. FIGURES OF SPEECH

A figure of speech is a phrase or word

having different meanings than its literal
meanings. It conveys meaning by
identifying or comparing one thing to
another, which has connotation or
meaning familiar to the audience. That is
why it is helpful in creating vivid rhetorical
effect.
10. DIALOGUE
 A dialogue is a literary technique in which writers
employ two or more characters to be engaged
in conversation with one another. In literature, it
is a conversational passage, or a spoken or
written exchange of conversation in a group, or
between two persons directed towards a
particular subject. The use of dialogues can be
seen back in classical literature, especially in
Plato’s Republic. Several other philosophers also
used this technique for rhetorical and
argumentative purposes. Generally, it makes a
literary work enjoyable and lively.
TYPES OF DIALOGUE
 There are two types of dialogue in literature:

 Inner Dialogue – In inner dialogue, the characters speak

to themselves and reveal their personalities. To use inner
dialogue, writers employ literary techniques like stream
of consciousness or dramatic monologue. We often find
such dialogues in the works of James Joyce, Virginia
Wolf, and William Faulkner.
 Outer Dialogue – Outer dialogue is a simple conversation
between two characters, used in almost all types of
fictional works.
11. SCENE
 Any view or picture. an incident or
situation in real life. an embarrassing
outbreak or display of anger, strong
feeling, or bad manners: Please don't
make a scene in such a public place.
a division of a play or of an act of a
play, usually representing what
passes between certain of the actors
in one place.
ASSIGNMENT:

- RESEARCH THE SHORT STORY “THE

NECKLACE” BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT.
- IN A 1 WHOLE YELLOW PAD, IDENTIFY
THE ELEMENTS OF PLOT BASED ON THE
STORY.