Creative non-fiction writing is a genre that blends fact and fiction, relying on the power of stories to create an engrossing experience for the reader. It can be a simple technique, such as re-telling a classic anecdote in an engaging manner, or a more complex technique, such as creating a character who is based on yourself and weaving a story around that character.
Creative non-fiction writers can be journalists or bloggers who engage with their audience through compelling narratives which are backed up by fact. The writing should reflect the fact-based narrative, with all the elements (characters, settings, style etc) working in tandem to create a cohesive whole.
Why Should You Pursue Creative Non-Fiction Writing?
Creative non-fiction writing can be a powerful tool in your arsenal, helping you to engage with your audience, develop your skills and tell compelling stories about current events and everyday life.
If you’re looking to develop your journalistic skills and want to read the most authoritative opinions and analyses on the most pressing issues of our time, then creative non-fiction writing is a genre you should explore.
Here are some of the biggest reasons why you should pursue creative non-fiction writing as a career:
The Wide Appeal Of This Genre
Creative non-fiction writing can be a very versatile genre. It can consist of an autobiographical essay about your experience as a journalist, for example, or a more creative take on current affairs, such as a travelogue about an imaginary country or a biography of an influential person. Whatever you write, the goal is to entertain your reader while educating them about relevant issues.
The fact that creative non-fiction writing can be so varied makes it ideal for a diverse range of writers. If you’re looking to develop your skills and explore new genres, then this is an area you should pursue.
The Great For Research
One of the significant advantages of creative non-fiction writing is that it is a very useful genre for research. Thanks to its non-linear narrative structure, you can use it to your advantage, dipping in and out of different time periods as you see fit, to provide your audience with a greater understanding of a particular event or issue.
You might want to use it to great effect in your final year dissertation, for example, taking a closer look at a certain historical figure or event, or you could tackle a topical issue such as modern sexism or cyber-bullying and weave a tale around that topic.
Whether you’re exploring a sensitive issue or a pivotal moment in history, creative non-fiction writing allows you to do so in a way that is both engaging and enlightening.
The Industry Awareness
Another significant advantage of creative non-fiction writing is that it tends to get you noticed by the right people. Investigative journalists, magazine editors, historical biographers and novelists are just some of the people who may be interested in your work.
The reputation of a creative writer is often enough to gain them an audience, landing them commissions and potentially big-name publishers. There are numerous well-known fiction writers who began their careers as journalists, including Barbara Kingsolver, John Grisham and Megan Abbott.
The reverse is also true. Investigative journalists, such as David Gratton and Mark Boyle, have used their skills to uncover the facts behind some of the biggest stories in recent history, including the unsolved World Trade Center bombing and the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
The ability to tell exciting stories about the most compelling issues of our time is what makes creative non-fiction writers special. No wonder Hollywood is so enamoured of this genre. Just look at the films that have used the format to great effect over the years. From All The President’s Men to Black Swan, these films have shown the versatile nature of creative non-fiction, allowing it to be used as an effective tool for both journalists and fiction writers alike.
The Flexibility
Creative non-fiction writing is a very malleable genre, allowing you to experiment with new formats and techniques as often as you please. It tends to encourage experimentation and self-expression, so if you’re looking to develop your skills and want to explore new directions, then this is the kind of writing you should be pursuing.
An experienced creative non-fiction writer can take a plain, factual story and blend in fascinating characters, lively dialogue and evocative descriptions to bring it to life. They then can mold the story into a compelling narrative with a clear beginning, middle and end, allowing the reader to follow along and experience the events as the writer did.
The narrative non-fiction genre has exploded in recent years, with a wealth of platforms, such as Curio.com, allowing users to upload and share their own stories and creations. If you’ve got a talent for creative non-fiction, why not explore this new world and see how far you can take your writing career.
Above all else, creative non-fiction writers should be bold and confident in their approach to narrative. This genre tends to favour writers who can harness the power of story to engage with the reader and make them feel as if they are part of the narrative experience. Creativity should be the order of the day, with the aim being to entertain while enlightening your audience about relevant issues. If these sound like recipes for success to you, then Creative Non-Fiction Writing may be the career for you.