Creative Nonfiction

The wide open spaces in contemporary literature

By Dominique Gerald M. Cimafranca

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Just what is

CREATIVE
NONFICTION?
CREATIVE NONFICTION
Uses the Factual
techniques
of literature
●
Narrative ●
Not made up
●
Plot ●
Accurate
●
Characterization ●
Interviews
●
Imagery ●
Research
●
Dramatization ●
Immersion
“Ultimately, the primary goal of the
creative nonfiction writer is to
communicate information, just like a
reporter, but to shape it in a way
that reads like fiction.”

--Lee Gutkind, The Best Creative Nonfiction

Personal Essays
Memoir
Travel Writing
Food Writing
Biography
Literary
Journalism
 Journalism
Creative vs
Nonfiction
Technica
l Writing
Tells a true story in an Conveys information
engaging manner; retains efficiently and
author's personality and objectively
biases
Lessons from the Front Lines

Engl107 Feature
Writing
AB Engl / 2nd Semester SY 2008-2009
 Feature
Essay vs
Story

Other
Me
Folks

Me-Meter
 Journalism

Feature
Story
Essay Fiction
Lesson 1

It's not
about
you!
Lesson 2

Find a story that

moves you.
Lesson 3

Tell the class the

story.
Lesson 4

Organize the story.

Mind maps & narrative maps

Prewriting exercises
Lesson 5

Interview and Research

Lesson 6

Highlight key dramatic

scenes.
Lesson 7

Rinse and repeat: reorganize

and rewrite.
“Pearls Before Breakfast”
By Gene Weingarten

“Frank Sinatra Has a Cold”

By Gay Talese

“In Cold
Blood”
By Truman Capote

“Wo