What is Creative Nonfiction?
Creative writing includes more than just fiction and poetry. Creative nonfiction is a wide category of writing, which includes memoir and biography, food and travel writing, personal essays, literary journalism, and a host of other narrow writing categories.
Creative nonfiction is a relatively new field in writing, and only in recent years have works that are considered to be creative nonfiction started to receive the kind of attention from both critics and readers as fiction and traditional nonfiction.
It’s likely that creative nonfiction will continue to emerge as a dominant force in the world of writing. The world wide web continues to grow at an astounding rate, and much of the content on the Internet is considered creative nonfiction. Take blogs, for example. Many blogs would be considered creative nonfiction.
Creative Nonfiction Defined
How can you tell the difference between a literary novel and any other kind of novel?
Generally, what makes a work literary is the way it’s written. A literary novel is more than simple storytelling. Special attention is paid to language, word choice, rhythm, and voice. Creative nonfiction is factually accurate writing that lends credence to the craft of writing.
According to Wikipedia:
Creative nonfiction (also known as literary or narrative nonfiction) is a genre of writing truth which 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.
Unlike fiction and poetry, the creative nonfiction genre calls into question research, fact, and credibility. While these facts might be examined by the writer and opinions can be interjected, the material must be verifiable and accurately researched and reported.
Due to the factual nature of creative nonfiction, ethics may come into play. In recent years, some memoir authors have been heavily criticized for straying from the truth. There may be some wiggle room here, however. Since a memoir is not considered journalism, a writer may decide to take creative liberties with the facts, however, this may cause an uproar among critics and may even lead to a controversial reception of the work.
Creative nonfiction continues to grow and become more widely accepted and recognized as a valid form of both literature and nonfiction.
Have you written creative nonfiction? How strictly do you feel a memoir or other work of creative nonfiction should stick to the facts? Do you feel that nonfiction works should focus on content and not creativity? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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[...] 21, 2008 by maplemuse So, I came across a book meme that I thought I’d contribute [...]
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[...] separates creative writing from other types of writing is not drawn between fiction and nonfiction. Creative nonfiction is a wide genre, and includes memoirs and biographies, personal essays, travel and food writing, [...]
Hey,
I have tp go figure out what is wrong with my subscription to Amy cause I missed that- going to go find it!
Books DO tell us a lot about a person don’t they?
I’ll be doing this, it looks like fun but I’m going to put in on a little shelf in the blog closet because I think there will be a perfect time for it in a little while when I finish up one more behind the scenes project.
In the meantime- sitting next to me right now-hmm-(looking over at the stack)-
Simple Abundance,by Sarah Ban Breathnach; The Copy-editor’s Handbook,Amy Einsohn; Getting Things Done,David Allen-plus several cookbooks, Cookinglight magazines and three Archaeology magazines. And my trusty, worn-down Bible.
I’m very excited to do this meme — right up my alley! A huge smile spread across my face when I saw Charlotte’s Web…makes me want to read it yet again.
I’ll post my responses soon…
Ah, Anne McCaffrey. Not only did I use a quote from one of her Pern books in my college yearbook. (“Ah, but a man can sleep any time. A laugh restores the soul.”) but I also owe to her three of my other favorite authors, all because she said that she liked them. Sharon Shinn, who I adore, and the team of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, whose Liaden books are absolutely fantastic…
And, you DO know I run a weekly reading meme, right? Every Thursday, a new question: http://www.btt2.wordpress.com (Actually, I might borrow this one for next week!)
Hey Melissa,
It was fun to read your answers and comforting to see that I am not the only one who wasn’t fundamentally changed by a book.
@Wendi, Yep, I think the books we read do reveal a lot about us as individuals. Heheh. Wow, it sounds like you are doing a lot of reading these days. I can’t wait to see your version of this meme and the inspirational twist I’m sure you’ll give it
@Zoe, If I had a dollar for every time I read Charlotte’s Web. Plus, I watched the movie just as many times (the original animated film). I still have the book (a newer, hardcover) and both versions of the movie. Needless to say, it’s one of my all time favorites.
@Deb (Punctuality), Anne McCaffrey is awesome for so many reasons that I’m not sure our counting system would hold them all
Weekly reading meme? How did I miss that? I shall remedy it immediately 
@Amy, Hehe, How do people get fundamentally changed by just one book? I can see it having a profound impact but for a book to totally change a person? I’d like to write a book like that!
I read Catcher in the Rye when I was 25. Everyone says what a great book it is
But I’m going out on a limb here and I’ll admit, I didn’t get it. I just didn’t get it.
As for Holden Caulfield. He had issues. I found him painful to read. I just couldn’t relate to him.
Hmmm…does this mean I’ll have my Tortured Intellectual status revoked, then?
@Friar, That’s pretty much how I felt about The Great Gatsby. I just didn’t see what all the fuss was about. I think that what made Holden Caulfield so great was that he was extremely realistic. The plot was so-so, but Holden jumped off the pages. Nah, you’ve still got your status, heheh.
Do comic books count?
(I’m talking Asterix and Tintin…).
I read them over and over and over and OVER….
They’re quite big in Canada (especially the original french versions, if you live in Quebec).
@Friar, Sure, why not include comic books? Actually, I love comic book or superhero movies, so I’m totally biased
Melissa, what a great meme. What you wrote in particular reflects the many interesting things I already like about you. Thank you for sharing and hey, on an unrelated note, how about we make plans and choose the same country when we decide to go…
Hi Melissa – This is a fab idea for a meme. I love hearing what thers are reading and I’ll definitely be joining in. It sounds like the Obama book is one I’m going to be adding to my future reading list.
I’m always told, as a writer, I should read a lot of books and read all the time. I’ve never been big on reading books as much as I think I should, and there are times I’ll see a book and say “hey, that looks good,” and that’ll be the end of it. Most of my book reading comes from high school and a little bit of college, but what I did read I enjoyed. Then I try to find the movie and compare them.
These days I’m reading articles, stories, poetry online and whatever magazines come to my house. So I think in a sense, perhaps it makes up for the lack of books. I currently have 3 I need to finish but it’s always out of sight, out of mind. I’ll work on that though.
And I agree with Catch in the Rye… I really didn’t get why that book was so great, and I read the book trying to figure out what was the point. No doubt Holden was a great character, I saw him as a darker, lonelier version of myself (at the time) but I was looking for something more.
A friend just got me “The Mastery of Love” for my birthday… So that will be the next book I read.
What I am currently reading is the “Communist Manifesto” which is absolutely nothing like I expected it to be. Picked it up for 10 cents at a garage sale. Written in the 1840s I think, it’s actually all about the bourgeoisie (today known at capitalists) and why it doesn’t work. It’s totally amazing. Haven’t gotten to the part about why communism does work. But the irony is that China is considered a communist country, isn’t it? But they are the reigning champions of what this book voices out against. All very interesting.
“Wuthering Heights” I have read more than once.
Bukowski books change the way I see life. Their dark grittiness makes me feel alive.
I like black and white photo cover designs and steer away from painted romance scenes.
Prefer fiction.
I need good writing and a gripping plot.
Characters that stand out: Holden and Heathcliff and Katherine
I gave up on “Atonement” half way through at page 174 I believe… It bored me to death. Great writing style though.
@Milena, I like the way you look at it – when you choose a candidate, you are in a sense choosing what kind of country you want to live in. Yep, let’s make that choice together!
@Cath, The Obama book helped me better understand his positions, philosophy, and the way he views America — past, present, and future. One of the things I like about Obama is that he’s a writer, just like us
@t. sterling, I have to agree that reading a lot of books will only help us all become better writers. There is some great stuff online but printed works are important, I think, especially for novelists. The trick for people who aren’t prone to reading is to find a really captivating book. It’s not always easy though, which is why recommendations are a great way to go.
@Jaden, I am not sure China is a good example of a successful nation because they have a lot of issues with human and civil rights (and do not get me started on how they treat animals over there). Also, they don’t properly regulate goods, which is why children and animals have died from consuming poisoned products that were made there. I do know Russia fell, which certainly says something about communism. On the other hand, I abhor McCarthyism. I’m a staunch believer in freedom, in any case.
Wuthering Heights — for years I heard that it was the greatest love story ever, and then I read it and was really disappointed. My less-than-enthusiastic response to that book may have more to do with unmet expectations than the story itself. I happen to think The Notebook is the best (if not one of the best) love stories of all time. Of course, that’s based on the film, not the book (which I have yet to read).
Melissa, Actually, I’m going to borrow this meme for this Thursday’s “Booking Through Thursday”–so you’re a week ahead of the game!
@Deb (Punctuality), Ah, this is a perfect meme for Booking Through Thursday!
Hi Melissa,
That is a great meme. The best I’ve seen in awhile.
Books on my nightstand: The World of Christopher Marlowe by David Riggs (research it’s been there awhile)
Second Sight by Judith Orloff MD It’s about clairvoyant psychiatrist. Then on the bottom of my nightstand is How Psychic are You? by Julie Soskin. Next to that book is a whole pile of Writer’s Digest mags.
Yes, a book has changed my life. The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker. The writing did something to me I can’t really put my finger on but it was transformative. Maybe it was just the way she made me feel when i read it.
@Ellen, I thought so too — what a perfect meme for writers and book lovers! I give you great kudos for reading about Christopher Marlowe and am intrigued by Second Sight and How Psychic Are You? You’ll have to tell me if those are any good. I’m going to go add the Alice Walker book to my wish list right this minute