Composing the Writer’s Manifesto

Creative WritingProf. Kirsten Ogden

REMEMBER

There is no wrong way to do the manifestoUse the manifesto samples and links as guidesYour ONLY GOAL is to convey your ideas AS A WRITER about the goals, purposes, reasons for Creative Non-Fiction in the world.

What is a writer’s manifesto?

• An extended piece of nonfiction where the writer explores process, inspiration, and artistic progress.

• The form of the manifesto can be creative itself (such as a poem, or a dialogue, or a visual piece of text) or can be more traditional

• The manifesto is a statement that ‘bookends’ a period of creative writing – for you, that’s a semester!

Why write one?

• Famous writers throughout history have argued over the purposes, reasons, and ideas concerning art and art-making

• As a writer in the 21st century, it’s your duty to “weigh in” on these crucial and critical discussions about the role of writing and of creativity in OUR world and OUR time

How to get started:

• Reread your work from a couple of months ago and take notes.

• Pay attention to what makes you cringe or wince

• Were you trying to sound “writerly”? Confident? Teacher-pleasing?

• How is your writer’s voice before different from the writer’s voice now?

How to develop your ideas:

• Try to gather at least 6-10 observations about your own work

• Combine these observations with quoted examples from your own compositions—lines from freewrites, quotes from prose, and so on

• Accentuate these quotes and observations with commentary from you—reflect on your self and your process

• Consider expanding your support and research to include quotes from other writers or from the work of writers you admire

What form should the manifesto take?

• Your imagination will lead you in this• You may feel more comfortable with a

straight, reflective essay, or you may wish to “collage” your ideas into a visual AND textual piece of art!

There are lots of manifestos out there! Just GOOGLE IT!

Do what works for you.