Fiction & Poetry Understanding Conventions of Traditional Genres CNF Week 1 What is creative nonfiction? What is creative nonfiction? • A genre of writing that uses elements of creative writing to present a factual, true story • Literary techniques that are usually reserved for writing fiction can be used in creative nonfiction, such as dialogue, scene-setting, and narrative arcs. • A work can only be considered creative nonfiction if the author can attest that 100% of the content is true and factual. Nonfiction genres: • • • • • Memoir Biography Autobiography Literary journalism Travel writing • • • • Nature writing Sports writing Personal essay Interviews Memoir • A memoir is a narrative, written from the perspective of the author, about an important part of their life. • Often conflated with autobiography, but there are a few important differences. An autobiography is also written from the author’s perspective, but the narrative spans their entire life. • Although it’s subjective, it primarily focuses on facts – the who-what-whenwhere-why-how of their life’s entire timeline. Types of Memoir • Transformation memoirs - written after an author has endured a great challenge. These stories almost always include a theme of redemption, whether it’s achieved or missing. • Confessional memoirs are unapologetically bold. The author shares painful or difficult secrets about themselves or their family and how it has affected them. Types of Memoir • Professional or celebrity memoirs cover important moments in the author’s rise to fame and success. • Travel memoirs let us escape with the author and learn about a time and place through their experiences. Biography • A biography is simply the story of a real person’s life. • It could be about a person who is still alive, someone who lived centuries ago, someone who is globally famous, an unsung hero forgotten by history, or even a unique group of people. • The facts of their life, from birth to death (or the present day of the author), are included with life-changing moments often taking center stage. • The author usually points to the subject’s childhood, coming-of-age events, relationships, failures, and successes in order to create a well-rounded description of her subject. Biography • Biographies require a great deal of research. Sources of information could be as direct as an interview with the subject providing their own interpretation of their life’s events. • When writing about people who are no longer with us, biographers look for primary sources left behind by the subject and, if possible, interviews with friends or family. • Historical biographers may also include accounts from other experts who have studied their subject. Types of Biography • Contemporary Biography: Authorized or Unauthorized • The typical modern biography tells the life of someone still alive, or who has recently passed. Sometimes these are authorized — written with permission or input from the subject or their family Types of Biography • Historical Biography • intended to cement someone’s status • sets the record straight on a misunderstood historical figure • reveals details that are usually missing from other accounts • gives the spotlight to people who died without ever getting the recognition they deserved Types of Biography • Biography of a Group • Catalogs the lives of famous/infamous group of people (like pirates) and establishes the popular culture images we still associate with them • Provides a mesmerizing behind-the-scenes look at the early years of pop groups, bands, or even royal families Types of Biography • Autobiography • written about one’s self, spanning an entire life up to the point of its writing • Memoir • a type of autobiography written about a specific but vital aspect of one’s life • Fictional Biography • is no substitute for a painstakingly researched scholarly biography, but definitely meant to be more entertaining. Autobiography • Autobiography, the biography of oneself narrated by oneself. Autobiographical works can take many forms, from the intimate writings made during life that were not necessarily intended for publication (including letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, and reminiscences) to a formal book-length autobiography. Autobiography • • • • Thematic – books with such diverse purposes Religious – church, religion Intellectual – philosophers, scientists Fictionalized - thinly disguised as, or transformed into, the novel Literary Journalism • Literary journalism is a form of nonfiction that combines factual reporting with narrative techniques and stylistic strategies traditionally associated with fiction. • This form of writing can also be called narrative journalism or new journalism. • Sometimes used interchangeably with creative nonfiction; more often, however, it is regarded as one type of creative nonfiction. Characteristics of Literary Journalism • • • • • • • Immersion reporting Complicated structures Character development Symbolism Voice A focus on ordinary people Accuracy “Breakable Rules” of Literary Journalism • • • • Literary journalists immerse themselves in subjects' worlds. Literary journalists work out implicit covenants about accuracy and candor Literary journalists write mostly about routine events. Literary journalists develop meaning by building upon the readers' sequential reactions. Travel Writing • Travel writing is a form of creative nonfiction in which the narrator's encounters with foreign places serve as the dominant subject. Also called travel literature. • Requires a sense of curiosity, awareness, and fun Nature Writing • Nature writing is a form of creative nonfiction in which the natural environment (or a narrator's encounter with the natural environment) serves as the dominant subject. Sports Writing • A form of journalism or creative nonfiction in which a sporting event, individual athlete, or sports-related issue serves as the dominant subject • A journalist who reports on sports is a sportswriter (or sports writer). Personal Essay • A short work of autobiographical nonfiction characterized by a sense of intimacy and a conversational manner. Also called a personal statement. Interviews • An interview is a conversation for gathering information. A research interview involves an interviewer, who coordinates the process of the conversation and asks questions, and an interviewee, who responds to those questions. • Interviews can be conducted face-to-face or over the telephone. • The internet is also emerging as a tool for interviewing. What is the difference between nonfiction and creative nonfiction? • The primary difference between nonfiction and creative nonfiction is that regular nonfiction informs or instructs by sticking to the facts. • Creative nonfiction also informs readers, but it does so by building a narrative around the facts by introducing the scene and building the characters of real people so readers can better relate to them. Criteria to be considered nonfiction • Facts: Creative nonfiction must be rooted in facts. No part of the story can be made up or fabricated. • Extensive research: Both primary and secondary sources should be used throughout the research process. It is the writer’s responsibility to conduct extensive research for the most accurate narrative possible. Criteria to be considered nonfiction • Reporting: The writer should use said research to accurately document events or personal experiences. • Personal experiences or opinions: Though this is not a requirement, personal experiences or the opinions of others can help create a more complete picture. • Exposition or explanations: The topic or experience(s) presented should be explained to the reader. What are the elements of creative nonfiction? • Storytelling/narration: Unlike a straightforward historical report, creative nonfiction should be told like a story, meaning that inciting incidents, goals, challenges, turning points, and resolutions are present. • Characters: Every creative nonfiction piece should have a main “character,” even though they must be real and accurately presented. In a memoir, for example, the narrator is typically the protagonist. What are the elements of creative nonfiction? • Setting/Scene development: The setting should be brought to life with vivid descriptions and scenes filled with action and dialogue. • Plot structure: The story should have a plot, with key events that make up the story. There might be one event in a personal essay, or several significant events and turning points, as is common in memoirs. What are the elements of creative nonfiction? • Figurative language: Figures of speech, such as similes or metaphors, can be used to create an interesting work of creative nonfiction. • Imagery: A skillful use of imagery is essential in creative nonfiction in order to bring important scenes alive for the readers. What are the elements of creative nonfiction? • Point of view: Point of view is important in this genre, as it affects the entire storytelling process. Most often, these stories are told in the first person (using “I” to narrate firsthand experiences and events). • Dialogue: Dialogue can really help build the narrative and develop scenes. Rather than reporting with “he said/she said”, including scenes with dialogue helps to place the reader directly in the scene. What are the elements of creative nonfiction? • Theme: Every essay and story should have a theme, or central idea that ties the whole work together. This can also be considered the main “message” of your work. Examples of creative nonfiction • When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi • Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while he was still working on this book. At just 36 years old and about to finish a decade of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. • With a wife and a young child, Kalanithi became “possessed…by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life.” • Through his narrative, Kalanithi documents the struggles, both internal and external, that he and his young family endured, but also offers inspiration to all of us for how life should be lived. Examples of creative nonfiction • Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker • On a lighter note, journalist Bianca Bosker brings us Cork Dork, her firsthand account of the fascinating world of wine, sommeliers, scientists, and producers. • Follow her dive into underground tastings, exclusive restaurants, and mass-market factories as Bosker seeks an answer to the question many of us wonder about: What’s the big deal about wine? • With her insightful reporting and delightful storytelling, you may just find yourself becoming a “cork dork,” too. Examples of creative nonfiction • Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer • Jon Krakauer unfolds the story of Christopher Johnson McCandless, a young man who gave $25,000 in savings to charity and abandoned most of his possessions before walking alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. • McCandless’s decomposing body was found four months later by a moose hunter. In this book, which also became a feature film, Krakauer explores how this young man came to die, and what led him on such a journey in the first place. • Through remarkable storytelling, Krakauer brings this pilgrimage out of the shadows and shines a light on McCandless’s motives with a rare understanding. Examples of creative nonfiction • I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara • Michelle McNamara, true crime journalist and creator of the site TrueCrimeDiary.com, became obsessed with finding the violent psychopath known as the “Golden State Killer,” a serial rapist and murderer. • McNamara studied police records, interviewed victims, and joined the online communities of people who were as obsessed as she was with this case. • This book offers a chilling account of a criminal mastermind, while also providing a portrait of Michelle’s obsession and pursuit of the truth. Tips for Writing Creative Nonfiction • Know how to take great notes. • Practice your observation skills. Your first responsibility is to present people and events accurately, so keeping a notebook or journal handy is important for scribbling down all those important details that you won’t want to forget.
