Nonfiction is a genre of literature that is based on facts, real people, or actual events. 3.

3. Travel Writing- good travel writing helps your readers to imagine and
Nonfiction is the broadest category of literature and can be found in many different experience an unfamiliar place. Travel writers thus use evocative prose that
forms, including essays, articles, memoirs, scientific papers, and textbooks. engages the senses with the details of a world you may not otherwise
There are two subcategories of nonfiction: informational and literary. encounter.
Informational nonfiction is writing that describes or expresses facts, while literary 4. Literary Journalism- Sometimes called “immersion journalism,” “narrative
nonfiction is meant to entertain the reader while still containing facts. Literary journalism,” or “new journalism,” literary journalism is a type of nonfiction that
nonfiction is also known as creative nonfiction. It uses literary techniques to report on combines reporting with techniques and strategies associated with creative
real people, places, and events without altering facts. writing, such as character development.
5. Features- A feature is a form of journalistic writing that is longer than a news
Fiction vs Nonfiction story, whose primary goal is to keep the reader up-to-date on the facts of a
Fiction refers to stories that are made up and imagined by the author, while story. Features can either offer a more in-depth cover, or provide a different
nonfiction is based on real events, people, and facts, meaning it is grounded in reality perspective of a developing story.
and aims to provide information rather than entertain through imagination. 6. Flash nonfiction refers to essays that range from a few hundred to 2,000
words, though most publications cap the word count at 1,000. Flash nonfiction
How to Write Creative Nonfiction: the 5 R’s emphasizes compression and precision.
CNF pioneer Lee Gutkind developed a very system called the “5 R’s” of creative 7. Biography- a written account of a person's life written by someone other than
nonfiction writing. Together, the 5 R’s form a general framework for any creative the subject. Biographies can provide insight into how a person lived their life
writing project. They are: and how they felt about the world around them.
1. Write about real life: Creative nonfiction tackles real people, events, and 8. Autobiography- a written account of a person's life written by the subject.
places—things that actually happened or are happening. Autobiographies are written in the first person using "I". Autobiographers may
2. Conduct extensive research: Learn as much as you can about your subject use personal memorabilia, letters, and photographs to develop their story.
matter, to deepen and enrich your ability to relay the subject matter. (Are you 9. Hermit Crabs- The hermit crab is an essay that repurposes forms from
writing about your tenth birthday? What were the newspaper headlines that everyday life – forms that we don’t generally regard as “literary” – as forms for
day?) creative nonfiction. For example, a hermit crab might use the forms of a how-
3. (W)rite a narrative: Use storytelling elements originally from fiction, such as to-manual, recipe, FAQs, or even a crossword puzzle.
Freytag’s Pyramid, to structure your CNF piece’s narrative as a story with
literary impact rather than just a recounting. Theme is the central idea, or thesis or overall message the story conveys. The theme
4. Include personal reflection: Share your unique voice and perspective on the is the central idea, or thesis or overall message the story conveys. It is what the text is
narrative you are retelling. about. It is the critical belief of the author about life that conveys in the writing of a
5. Learn by reading: The best way to learn to write creative nonfiction well is to novel, play, short story or poem. It may be exemplified by the actions, utterances, or
read it being written well. Read as much CNF as you can, and observe closely thoughts of a character in a novel.
how the author’s choices impact you as a reader. Examples of theme: love, peace, self-discovery, grief, etc.

Types of Creative or Literary Nonfiction: How Does a Writer Develop a Theme?

1. Memoir- memoirs tell a story of the writer’s own life. Unlike autobiographies, It really comes down to what the writer believes about life. If a writer has a
however, memoirs do not need to be exhaustive. belief system or feels strongly about certain things – and most people do – then, those
2. Essays: strong life views will be reflected in his or her writing. For a work to last, it needs
a. The personal essay draws from the writer’s personal life and depth, and depth in writing reflects depth in the writer.
perspective, and often creates an intimate experience for the reader.
However, personal essays are less narrative-driven. Instead, the FOUR (4) WAYS TO ANALYZE THEME
action is often more internal and driven by thought. 1. Look for recurring images
b. Ekphrasis, which comes from the Greek word for “description,” – Students can easily analyze theme through the repeated images and other motifs
traditionally describes poems written about a work of visual art. throughout the novel. Once students identify the theme, the recurring images can also
c. An expository essay attempts to explain a topic, making it clear to be explained what this theme might be. If there are a lot of images representing
readers.
sadness, like cloudy days or gray colors, the reader can extrapolate more of what this b. Mood- the feeling of the readers upon reading a text
means to the overall story. 4. Angle refers to the specific or particular standpoint from which the narrative is
told.
2. Ask questions (and make a note of them) 5. Setting- time and place of the story
– Questions are sure to come up when trying to analyze theme, and while reading 6. Techniques in writing:
novels in general, and it is best to use these questions to further the analysis. Having a. Flashback is an interruption in the chronological sequence of a story
students question what they read is a great skill for students to master, and will only by the narration of events which occurred earlier than the time of the
allow for a more in-depth analysis. For example, if the images are dark and depressing, story.
the students could question why is this. What does this bring to the story? It is b. Foreshadowing - The presentation of events or scenes early in a story
important to write these questions down, to link all the theme of the novel. Another which hints at something which occurs later in the story.
question ask is, why this theme essential to the story? c. Symbol is a person, object, image or event that suggests more than its
literal meaning: something concrete that stands for or evokes some
3. Identify the different tools the author uses to express the theme abstract concept.
– To understand the theme of the story even more so, analyzing the specific literary d. Imagery - The writer uses the language that appeals to the senses to
devices is an integral part of the analysis. The devices add layers to the theme, and create “word pictures” in the mind of the reader. The writer can use
once the students take notice of them and look closer, the analysis will only be the imagery that appeals to the sense of sight (visual), smell (olfactory),
better for it. An example of what a student could notice in literary devices would be touch (tactile), hearing (auditory) and taste (gustatory).
multiple mentions of metaphors, and as the last way suggested, they could ask e. Figures of speech- examples: simile, metaphor, personification, irony,
questions about this. Why are there multiple metaphors throughout the story? What etc.
does that mean for the overall theme. 7. Dialogue- if applicable and necessary, becomes the meat and body of the text

4. Make notes while reading, then compare all once finished reading
-One of the best ways to read a book while trying to analyze different aspects of it,
theme specifically, is to keep notes of what you’re reading so you can understand the
specifics of it. This allows the reader to see the similarities and differences form
throughout the book that he or she wrote while in the midst of reading, that maybe he
or she wouldn’t have noticed if it was not written down. Things to make a note are
character traits, literary devices, passages the reader likes, imagery, and exciting plot
points.

Elements of Nonfiction:
1. Plot
a. Scope- boundaries of a plot: setting, focus, beginning and end,
background info and details.
b. Sequence- the order of events
i. Freytag’s Pyramid
ii. In Medias Res
iii. Non-linear narrative
c. Pacing- the speed and fluidity; fast or slow
d. Scene- subdivision of acts thru single setting
2. Characters
a. Characterization- development of characters thru actions,
descriptions, and dialogue
3. Point of View
a. Tone- emotions that the author wants to convey