Elements of Creative Nonfiction

QUEZON MEMORIAL ACADEMY
Progreso St. Poblacion West Umingan, Pangasinan
CREATIVE NONFICTION
Week 2- Second Semester
I. Title:
TYPES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION
II. Objectives:
After going through this module, students are expected to:
A. define and explain creative nonfiction;
B. identify the types, literary elements and guidelines of creative nonfiction;
C. analyze Gutkind’s 5R’s in creative nonfiction; and
D. construct a creative autobiography.
III. Anticipatory Guide:

Included in this unit is the discussion of some of the types, literary elements, 5R’s, and guidelines of
creative nonfiction. Students also understand that creative nonfiction involves writing about personal experience,
real people, or events. It is writing about fact, rather than fiction. The writer can write about anything, such as a
personal experience, current events, or issues in the public eye. The writer can also inject personal thoughts,
feelings, or opinions into the writing. Often, the writer uses the first person “I.” Popular types of creative nonfiction
include the personal essay, memoir, autobiography, literary journalistic essay, travel writing, and food writing.
Creative nonfiction is also known as “Literary Journalism.”
IV. Lesson Content:

Types of Creative Nonfiction
Types of Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is about fact and truth. The truth can be about a personal experience, event, or issue in the
public eye. There are many categories or genres to choose from, such as the personal essay, memoir, and
autobiography. The following is a list of the most popular types of creative nonfiction:
 Personal Essay. The writer crafts and essay that is based on personal experience or a single event, which
results in significant personal meaning or a lesson learned. The writer uses the first person “I.”
 Memoir. The writer constructs a true story about a time or period in his/life, one that had significant
personal meaning and a universal truth. The writer composes the story using the first person “I.”
 Literary journalism essay. The writer crafts an essay about an issue or topic using literary devices, such
as the elements of fiction and figurative language.
 Autobiography. The writer composes his/her life story, from birth to the present, using the first person “I.”
 Travel Writing. The writer crafts articles or essays about travel using literary devices.
 Food writing. The writer crafts stories about food and cuisine using literary devices.
 Profiles. The writer constructs biographies or essays on real people using literary devices.
Elements of Creative Nonfiction
The creative nonfiction writer often incorporates several elements of nonfiction when writing a memoir, personal
essay, travel writing, and so on. The following is a brief explanation of the most common elements of nonfiction:
 Fact. The writing must be based on fact, rather than fiction. It cannot be made up.
 Extensive research. The piece of writing is based on primary research, such as an interview or personal
experience, and often secondary research, such as gathering information from books, magazines, and
newspapers.
 Reportage/reporting. The writer must be able to document events or personal experiences.
 Personal experience and personal opinion. Often, the writer includes personal experience, feelings,
thoughts, and opinions. For instance, when writing a personal essay or memoir.
 Explanation/Exposition. The writer is required to explain the personal experience or topic to the reader.
 Essay format. Creative nonfiction is often written in essay format. Example: Personal Essay, Literary
Journalistic essay, brief essay.
Literary Elements
Creative nonfiction is the literature of fact. Yet, the creative nonfiction writer utilizes many of the literary devices of
fiction writing. The following is a list of the most common literary devices that writers incorporate into their
nonfiction writing:
 Storytelling/narration. The writer needs to be able to tell his/her story. A good story includes an inciting
incident, a goal, challenges and obstacles, a turning point, and resolution of the story.
 Character. The nonfiction piece often requires a main character. Example: If a writer is creating his/her
memoir, then the writer is the central character.
 Setting and scene. The writer creates scenes that are action-oriented; include dialogue; and contain vivid
descriptions.
 Plot and plot structure. These are the main events that make up the story. In a personal essay, there might
be only one event. In a memoir, there are often several significant events.
 Figurative language. The writer often uses simile and metaphor to create an interesting piece of creative
nonfiction.
 Imagery. The writer constructs “word pictures” using sensory language. Imagery can be figurative or
literal.
 Point of view. Often the writer uses the first person “I.”
 Dialogue. These are the conversations spoken between people. It is an important component of creative
nonfiction.
 Theme. There is a central idea that is weaved through the essay or work. Often, the theme reveals a
universal truth.
The 5’Rs of Creative Nonfiction

Lee Gutkind, who is a writer, professor, and expert on creative nonfiction, wrote an essay called “The Five R’s of
Creative Nonfiction.” In this essay, he identified five essential elements of creative nonfiction. These include:
1. Creative nonfiction has a “real life” aspect. The writer constructs a personal essay, memoir, and so forth,
that is based on personal experience. He also writes about real people and true events.
2. Creative nonfiction is based on the writer engaging in personal “reflection” about what he/she is
writing about. After gathering information, the writer needs to analyze and assess what he/she has collected.
He then must evaluate it and expression his thoughts, views, opinions. Personal opinion is permissible and
encouraged.
3. Creative nonfiction requires that the writer complete research. The writer needs to conduct research to
learn about the topic. The writer also needs to complete research to discover what has been written about the
topic. Even if a writer is crafting a personal essay, he will need to complete secondary research, such as
reviewing a personal journal, or primary research, such as interviewing a friend or family member, to ensure
that the information is truthful and factual.
4. The fourth aspect of creative nonfiction is reading. Reading while conducting research is not sufficient.
The writer must read the work of the masters of his profession.
5. The final element of creative nonfiction is writing. Writing creative nonfiction is both an art and craft.
The art of creative nonfiction requires that the writer uses his talents, instincts, creative abilities, and
imagination to write memorable creative nonfiction. The craft of creative nonfiction requires that the writer
learn and deploy the style and techniques of creative nonfiction in his/her work.
Guidelines for Writing Creative Nonfiction

Not only must the aspiring writer of creative nonfiction learn the techniques, but he/she also requires a
good understanding of the guidelines. The following are 12 guidelines for writing any type of creative nonfiction:
1. Research the topic. Both primary (interview, personal experience, or participant observation) and
secondary research (books, magazines, newspaper, Web)
2. Never invent or change facts. An invented story is fiction.
3. Provide accurate information. Write honestly and truthfully. Information should be verifiable.
4. Provide concrete evidence. Use facts, examples, and quotations.
5. Use humor to make an important point.
6. Show the reader what happened, don’t tell them what happened. To do this, dramatize the story.
7. Narrate the story. A story has an inciting incident, goal, conflict, challenges, obstacles, climax, and
resolution.
8. Write about the interesting and extraordinary. Write about personal experiences, interesting people,
extraordinary events, or provide a unique perspective on everyday life.
9. Organize the information. Two common techniques are chronological or logical order.
10. Use literary devices to tell the story. Choose language that stimulates and entertains the reader, such as
simile, metaphor, imagery.
11. Introduce the essay or other work with a hook. Its purpose is to grab the readers’ attention and compel
them to reader further. Popular hooks include a quotation, question, or thought-provoking fact.
12. End the creative nonfiction piece with a final, important point. Otherwise the reader will think, “So
what!” “What was the point? It was an interesting story, but how does it apply to me or my life?
V. Activity
Write your autobiography.
VI. Assignments
Write the biography of a writer or a person who made a big impact in your life.
Prepared by:
LORIELE P. LANTION
Subject Teacher

Elements of Creative Nonfiction

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QUEZON MEMORIAL ACADEMY

Progreso St. Poblacion West Umingan, Pangasinan

III. Anticipatory Guide:

IV. Lesson Content:

Types of Creative Nonfiction

Elements of Creative Nonfiction

The 5’Rs of Creative Nonfiction

Guidelines for Writing Creative Nonfiction

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