This Week's IWW Practice Exercise

Creative Non-Fiction

Prepared by: Patricia L. Johnson and Gary Presley
Reposted and revised on: Sunday, 26 April 2009

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In 400 words or less, tell us a true story that resulted in your learning something important about yourself or others. Write about the truth in an accurate and informative style, as if you were a reporter, but see if you can incorporate the techniques of other genres (novel, poetry, memoir) to heighten the interest.
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Creative non-fiction is as old as storytelling itself. A true-life event or character sparks a story. The storyteller builds the tale using a palette of writing techniques to add color and life that might not have been present in reality. He or she can use all the techniques of fiction and poetry, as well as those found in memoir, narrative journalism, and reportage to teach life lessons and expose the human condition by transforming something seemingly insignificant into something universal.

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In 400 words or less, tell us a true story that resulted in your learning something important about yourself or others. Write about the truth in an accurate and informative style, as if you were a reporter, but see if you can incorporate the techniques of other genres, novel, poetry, memoir, to heighten the interest.

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When critiquing creative non-fiction, give us specific comment on examples of how the author used fictional, journalistic, or even poetic techniques to bring us into a 'real' situation. Are characters and situations well-developed? Does the author manage to keep enough distance to allow the reader to experience emotions? Is the piece coherent and interesting. Above all, do you believe it? Or do you think it would have been better written as fiction?

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These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop.