Creative Non-Fiction Flashcards
what is it?
- aka: creative non-fiction or literary journalism
- literary techniques/devices used
- writer often present as character (ie. Hunter Thompson)
- narrative shape used
How does Lee Guldrid describe creative non-fiction?
“the job is still facts, but the shape is narrative”
How does the Malahat review describe creative non-fiction?
- based in reality
- enlightens/educates via insight
- compelling storytelling and language
- moves reader into apprehension of wider human issues
where did it come from?
- new journalism: Norman Mailer, Thomas Wolfe, George Plimpton, Hunter Thompson, etc.
- breaks down sense that hard journalism knows all, brings human/story-like aspect back to journalism
- writer’s INVOLVEMENT in the story enables him to write a more unique portrait, breaks down objectivity wall, gets invested, and still remains relevant to readers (ie. Shadow Box by Plimpton -> funny because of its incongruity)
hard journalism and technical writing (aka: what creative non-fiction IS NOT)
- objective
- author invisible
- facts only
where is it published? (articles vs. books)
- articles: client = magazines, media = print/online, ideas = pitch-driven, key rlnshp = freelancer and editor, compensation = fee (flat or per word)
- books: client = publishing house, media = print/ebook, ideas = proposal-driven, key rlnshp = author and editor, compensation = advance on royalties
categories/types of creative non-fiction
- books: memoir, autobiography, biography, immersive journalism, issue-driven books, theme books
- magazines: editorials and op-ed, criticism and reviews, travel-writing, food writing, investigative features, personal journalism, profiles
memoir
- focuses on one/a few notable instances in someone’s life
- relevant because people love reading about famous people
autobiography
- focuses on whole life story
- relevant because the way they lived life made an impact
biography
- relevant because the story of that person’s life often deal with relevant issues during their time of publication (ie. Black Count about Alexandre Dumas)
immersive journalism
- ie. Among the Thugs -> relevant because he infiltrated MLS fans, who were very violent, which was a really relevant issue at the time
issue-driven books
- ie. Slow Death by Rubber Duck -> relevant because it discusses toxicity of common household items and its health effects (relevant topic to readers)
theme books
- ie. “Salt” and “Cod” -> relevant because it unpacks the history of these things and its effects on the world’s development
editorials
- written in-house
- issue-driven and opinion-driven, current
op-ed
- “opposite the editorial page”
- written by outside experts
- issue-driven and opinion driven, current
criticism and reviews
help reader make choices about what to consume
travel writing
goes somewhere and reports back experience, almost always written in first person
food writing
helps readers decide if they want to invest in that food experience
investigative features
get in people’s faces, ask lots of questions
personal journalism
“all-in”, describes personal relationships, often funny and universal (ie. “Old Man at Burning Man” -> dad’s illness, incongruity makes it funny)
profiles
profiling someone interesting or famous
3 requirements of personal journalism
- compelling: there is a story
- impactful: enlightens, educates, offers insights
- relevant: story needs to be told now, connection to human issues
prep work
- do I need to do/experience something?
- do I need additional research?
- do I need additional interviews?
execution
- literary approaches (ie. stakes, characters, scenes, climax) with facts
- strong feelings without lecturing
- acknowledging sceptics/showing other side
