creative nonfiction...

What is Creative Non-fiction?

There are many different types of writing and different procedures taken to develop them. We have Biographies, Autobiographies, Fiction, Nonfiction, Essays, Journals, and etc. Creative non fiction has many names in which it is referred, Literary Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Literary Journalism, Imaginative Nonfiction, Lyric Essay, Personal Essay, Personal Narrative, and Literary Memoir.

Barrie Jean Borich described Creative Nonfiction as a memory or fact-based writing that makes use of the styles and elements of fiction, poetry, memoir, and essay. It is writing about and from a world that includes the author's life and/or the author's individual perspective. This is a good definition of this genre of writing. This is accurate because all of the information presented in these types of stories are all factual but it seems like fiction because it is so detailed and interesting. It is as if your writing for entertainment rather then knowledge. “All Around the Town” is a perfect example of this. Those excerpts were all attention grabbing. But it seemed as if some of the information presented was false.

Something I read about creative nonfiction stated by Phil Druker was this style of writing shows you rather than tells you. I feel that this type of writing actually paints a picture in your mind. It makes you feel like you’re in the story rather than reading words off of a paper. Also some of the languages he encourages to use are vivid, useful details, metaphor, imagery, humor, rhythm and pace. These aren’t usually the languages for nonfiction writing but that’s what sets creative nonfiction aside from the broad genre of nonfiction. When I wrote the rough draft for the first assignment I just wrote the facts. But for the final draft I sat down for a while and thought about exactly why I wrote that paper. I basically analyzed everything and wrote down what went through my mind having to do with the topic I was writing about. Lee Gutkind feels that a creative nonfiction writer must have passion…

"A passion for the written word; a passion for the search and discovery of knowledge; and a passion for ... understand[ing] intimately how things in this world work."-Lee Gutkind


In conclusion those are a few examples of what creative nonfiction is. I feel like these writers go above and beyond because they don’t just state the facts but can make their writing come to life. After being introduced to this form of writing I’m most likely going to start using it more often. I’m sure my readers would appreciate it.