The term ‘creative nonfiction’ is applied to a diverse range of writing – from narrative and journalism to autobiography and history. Whilst many regard creative nonfiction as a genre, it is actually a method that can be applied to any kind of writing. In order to start writing creative nonfiction, you will need to develop a number of skills, including how to structure your sentences and paragraphs, and how to organise and use your sources.
The Basics Of Creative Nonfiction
As the name would suggest, creative nonfiction is a bit of a misnomer. First, it is not necessarily ‘creative’ in the traditional sense of the word. Indeed, much of the time, the process of creating non-fiction can involve a lot of drudgery. Writers have to source their facts and figures, and then verify them through meticulous fact-checking. This is a painstaking process, and one that is required irrespective of whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction. Second, ‘nonfiction’ implies that your work is ‘true’ or ‘factual’. Whilst this may be the case for some works of creative nonfiction – such as journalism – the term can also be applied to highly subjective works, such as novels and memoirs. Finally, ‘fiction’ is often used as a synonym for ‘nonfiction’ in the context of creative nonfiction.
Why Should You Write Creative Nonfiction?
Well, that’s a good question. After all, there is a wide variety of niches that you could write about, and many different ways that you could ‘fictionalise’ your experiences. Memoirs, for example, have recently seen a boom in interest as our society increasingly turns to digital storytelling – gifs, podcasts, and live-streaming – to engage with others and to find meaning in the often chaotic mundanity of everyday life. The rise of the ‘micro-blogger’ has also contributed to the boom in popularity of memoirs and autobiographies as an outlet for self-expression.
Perhaps a better question to ask is: Why should you write at all? After all, there are many established writers who have achieved great things and have made a lot of money from the traditional ‘literary market’. Why should you choose to go the extra mile and take a different route, writing nothing more than creative nonfiction?
The Benefits Of Creative Nonfiction
There are a number of obvious benefits to writing creative nonfiction. First, by applying this method to your writing, you are expanding your potential audience beyond the conventional ‘books-on-tract’ market. If you are able to attract a wider range of readers to your work, the chances of securing a publishing deal are increased. Second, the range of subjects that you can cover with this method is virtually endless. Not only do you have the ability to explore your experiences in detail, but you can also use your new-found freedom to write about a range of topics that you are passionate about.
A final, and perhaps the most important, point to make is that writing creative nonfiction is a great way to develop your skill set as a writer. Many famous authors and memoirists began their careers as journalists, and having covered a range of topics, learnt a great deal along the way. To cite just one example, Truman Capote learned how to structure a narrative from his experience writing about society and fashion for the New Yorker – two areas of expertise that he then applied to his highly regarded nonfiction novel, In My Darkest Moment. It was a great way to expand his skill base, and it subsequently won him many accolades and made him a household name.
How To Start Writing Creative Nonfiction
So, how can you start writing creative nonfiction? Begin by picking your topic. You need to have a burning desire to write about something that is important to you – something that you feel passionate about. If you can find a way to put your experiences and feelings into words, you will find that your writing will effortlessly flow. Once you have your topic, it’s time to begin researching. Begin by gathering as much information as you can. Dive into books and academic journals, consulting experts, or simply browsing through online encyclopedias and dictionaries. This is especially important if you want to create a scene that is highly descriptive, but doesn’t exist in reality. For example, you might want to write about a mythical creature that you have created in your mind’s eye. You will need to know everything that you can about this creature – how it looks, what it eats, how it lives, and so on. If you find that you are getting frustrated with the amount of information that is pouring in, take a step back. You are only as good as your last edit. Once you have drafted a rough draft, it’s time to move onto the next step.
Get Inspired
As previously stated, your writing will flow more easily if you are passionate about your topic. If you are not yet writing creatively, it may be hard to put into words how or why you feel inspired to write. However, if you are searching for a topic that you feel strongly about, you are more likely to be able to articulate your inspiration. If you can’t put your finger on it, just go with your gut. If you feel genuinely inspired by a particular topic, even if it is not ‘sexy’ or ‘powerful’ in the conventional sense, it’s okay to be influenced by these things. Find the beauty in the mundane, and celebrate the simple things in life. Don’t be afraid to be a little ‘tricky’ – after all, that is how you came up with the idea in the first place. You can never really go back and change what you wrote originally, so it is better to just let it be. Your raw, initial inspiration will be your guide.
Get A Creative Brain
If you are searching for information online, you will come across many articles from established websites and blogs. These articles will often provide you with a small glimpse into the mind of a creative writer. You can learn a great deal from these types of articles, especially if you want to start writing creatively. Creative writers will often describe the process of brainstorming and coming up with ideas, using a combination of everything that they have – books, memory, experience, and intuition. To learn more, read the articles of creative writers, who will often describe their brainstorming process in detail.
Learn How To Structure Your Sentences
In order to write creatively, you will need to start learning how to structure your sentences differently. You will want to avoid vague, jumbled sentences that make no sense. Begin by picking your subject. Then, take some time to read a few samples of written text in the chosen genre. If you want to write an article for a newspaper, for example, you will need to familiarise yourself with the structure of an editorial. If you have decided that you want to write a novel, you will need to familiarise yourself with the structure of a novel. Once you have done this, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. Write a few paragraphs in the form of an outline, or ‘story-board’. Then, take a short break, and come back with a fresh set of eyes. From there, you can edit, rework, and improve your work until you reach the final, polished product.
Learn How To Use References
When writing an article for a magazine or newspaper, you will need to be able to back up your assertions with facts and figures. Whilst this may not be too much of an issue in a casual article, for a more in-depth piece, it can be extremely helpful to be able to cite your sources. As a general rule, avoid plagiarism. If you want to paraphrase something, do so directly and clearly. It is never acceptable to simply take someone else’s words and pass them off as your own. Learn to use references, and learn how to track down the information that you need for your article. If you do this effectively, it will make a huge difference to the overall quality of your work. At the very least, it will make your work much more interesting and accessible to your audience.