Creative Nonfiction: Subgenres

We’ve already defined creative nonfiction as a genre, but what about all the sub-genres that it encompasses?

What about an article or an essay? What about a biographic piece of travel writing?

What about blogging?

Creative nonfiction is a wide category of writing, and although it’s a young genre, it already includes a host of sub-genres. By learning how to identify the difference between creative nonfiction and other types of nonfiction, we can start to build a list of those sub-genres.

The Line Between Creative Nonfiction and Other Nonfiction

There is something distinctly different between creative nonfiction and other types of nonfiction, though the line between them is not always easy to define.

Certainly, you would never confuse the creativity that goes into an article about food, one that actually makes your mouth water, and the history textbook you swallowed in junior high while holding your nose and squinting your eyes.

After scouring around the Internet for a bit, I found that Wikipedia had the best explanation:

Creative nonfiction …uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service to its craft.

The main difference then, is that creative nonfiction puts greater emphasis on language and artistry. The purpose is not only to inform or educate, but also to entertain or intrigue.

Creative Nonfiction Sub-genres

Technically, any type of nonfiction could be considered creative nonfiction, depending how it is written. We tend to think of textbooks as nonfiction, but one that is written in a literary style would certainly earn the creative nonfiction label.

A blog may also qualify, depending on its content and the way it is written.

Yet there are some types of writing that almost always constitute as creative nonfiction:

• Memoir
• Food writing
• Travel writing
• Personal essays
• Literary journalism
• Biography and autobiography

Keeping in mind that creative nonfiction must be rooted in fact and should also be well-researched, can you think of any sub-genres to add to this list?

Do you write creative nonfiction? Which sub-genre is your favorite? Share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments.

Read More Like This:

• What is Creative Nonfiction?
• Creative Nonfiction and the Personal Essay
• Creative Nonfiction: The Autobiography