Introduction to Introduction to Creative Nonfiction!Creative Nonfiction!

The Memoir, The Narrative The Memoir, The Narrative Essay, and moreEssay, and more

The MemoirThe Memoir

Story retrieved from the writer’s Story retrieved from the writer’s memory with the writer as the memory with the writer as the protagonistprotagonist

Almost always uses first personAlmost always uses first person Often involves self-reflection and Often involves self-reflection and

commentary of eventscommentary of events– Like Like The Wonder YearsThe Wonder Years

Memoirs You May Have Memoirs You May Have ReadRead

Elie Wiesel, Elie Wiesel, NightNight The Diary of Anne FrankThe Diary of Anne Frank Maya Angelou, Maya Angelou, I Know Why The I Know Why The

Caged Bird SingsCaged Bird Sings Tim O’Brien, Tim O’Brien, The Things They CarriedThe Things They Carried Alice Sebold, Alice Sebold, Lucky: A MemoirLucky: A Memoir

Difference between a Memoir Difference between a Memoir and a Personal Essay (or and a Personal Essay (or

narrative)narrative) Goal of Memoir: sets up dialogue Goal of Memoir: sets up dialogue

between writer and his/her past. between writer and his/her past. Predominantly narrative, typically over Predominantly narrative, typically over extended period of time, usually extended period of time, usually chronological.chronological.

Goal of Personal Essay: set up Goal of Personal Essay: set up dialogue between writer and audience, dialogue between writer and audience, usually to make specific point.usually to make specific point.

Techniques: Image and Techniques: Image and VoiceVoice

Often Often – conversational toneconversational tone– storytelling tonestorytelling tone

NOT NOT – Authoritative tone Authoritative tone – formal toneformal tone

Vivid personal imageryVivid personal imagery

Technique 2: ScenesTechnique 2: Scenes

Not like settingNot like setting Like snapshots or scenes in a filmLike snapshots or scenes in a film Division of story into detailed Division of story into detailed

moments, discoveries, and decisionsmoments, discoveries, and decisions Can fit into Freytag’s pyramid BUT Can fit into Freytag’s pyramid BUT

does not have todoes not have to

Technique 3: CharacterTechnique 3: Character

Detail: vivid and HONEST depictions Detail: vivid and HONEST depictions of self and othersof self and others

DialogueDialogue– Attempt to recreate voices from Attempt to recreate voices from

memorymemory– Does not have to be word for word Does not have to be word for word

conversationsconversations– Summaries and important quotesSummaries and important quotes

Technique 4: Self-reflectionTechnique 4: Self-reflection

Often focused on an epiphany or Often focused on an epiphany or revelationrevelation

Usually frames scenes Usually frames scenes – Thoughts at beginning and thoughts at Thoughts at beginning and thoughts at

endend– NOT LIKE AN INTRODUCTION AND A NOT LIKE AN INTRODUCTION AND A

CONCLUSION but your own thoughts on CONCLUSION but your own thoughts on the relevance of that particular moment.the relevance of that particular moment.

Practice!Practice!

Please open your writer’s notebooksPlease open your writer’s notebooks Make a list of 6 topics Make a list of 6 topics

(things/events/places/values/ideas) (things/events/places/values/ideas) that you would like to write aboutthat you would like to write about

Make a list of 6 topics that you would Make a list of 6 topics that you would not like to write aboutnot like to write about

Make a list of 6 titles using the word Make a list of 6 titles using the word “On”“On”– On My Way, On Falling In Love…On My Way, On Falling In Love…

Practice!Practice!

Freewrite for 5 minutes on one of Freewrite for 5 minutes on one of each of your topics (like, don’t like, each of your topics (like, don’t like, on)on)

Review readingReview reading– Underline any interesting Underline any interesting

words/phrases/sentenceswords/phrases/sentences