Composing the Writer’s
Manifesto
Creative Writing
Prof. Kirsten Ogden
REMEMBER
There is no wrong
way to do the
manifesto
Use the manifesto
samples and links as
guides
Your ONLY GOAL is to
convey your ideas AS
A WRITER about the
goals, purposes,
reasons for Creative
Non-Fiction in the
world.
What is a writer’s manifesto?
• An extended piece of nonfiction where the
writer explores process, inspiration, and
artistic progress.
• The form of the manifesto can be creative
itself (such as a poem, or a dialogue, or a
visual piece of text) or can be more traditional
• The manifesto is a statement that ‘bookends’
a period of creative writing – for you, that’s a
semester!
Why write one?
• Famous writers throughout
history have argued over
the purposes, reasons, and
ideas concerning art and
art-making
• As a writer in the 21st
century, it’s your duty to
“weigh in” on these crucial
and critical discussions
about the role of writing
and of creativity in OUR
world and OUR time
How to get started:
• Reread your work from a couple of months
ago and take notes.
• Pay attention to what makes you cringe or
wince
• Were you trying to sound “writerly”?
Confident? Teacher-pleasing?
• How is your writer’s voice before different
from the writer’s voice now?
How to develop your ideas:
• Try to gather at least 6-10 observations about
your own work
• Combine these observations with quoted
examples from your own compositions—lines
from freewrites, quotes from prose, and so on
• Accentuate these quotes and observations with
commentary from you—reflect on your self and
your process
• Consider expanding your support and research to
include quotes from other writers or from the
work of writers you admire
What form should the manifesto take?
• Your imagination will lead you in this
• You may feel more comfortable with a
straight, reflective essay, or you may wish to
“collage” your ideas into a visual AND textual
piece of art!
There are lots of manifestos out there!
Just GOOGLE IT!
Do what works for you.