“Nonfiction is in the facts. Creative nonfiction is in the telling. It goes far beyond reporting. The creative nonfiction writer is intrigued by an event, a life, a conflict… goes out to uncover facts, details and opinions … and shapes it all into a piece of artistic truth delivered in a compelling narrative voice.” Philip Gerard
One of the most important things to remember when writing nonfiction is you cannot tell a lie. Not even a little one. If anything other than factual events is introduced into the story, it shifts from nonfiction to fiction in a matter of words. However, that’s not to say that a nonfiction piece has to be dry and disengaging. I’m of the personal opinion that reality is far more engaging than fantasy. Where else can I struggle along side climbers traversing Mt. Everest? Or feel empathy toward a family struggling to pick up the pieces after a natural disaster? Nonfiction includes essays, memoirs, nature pieces, travel diaries, political analyses, investigative exposés, personality profiles and biographies all of which make up just a small sampling of the potential for creative nonfiction.
Steps Necessary to Create Enticing Nonfiction
When drafting nonfiction, some key components to keep in mind include:
1) Understanding the story first-hand. If possible, visit the site where the story took place, take in the sights and smells of the area, immerse yourself in the community’s culture and get to know some of the people. There’s nothing better than writing from the perspective of someone who’s been there.
2) How will you tell the story? Personal essay, investigative exposé, memoirs?
3) If you are at a loss as to where to begin, draft your opening and closing first. Then go back and fill in the body of your paper later. For those who do not like to create outlines, being able to draft and work from a beginning and an end often helps the writer to build the story from there.
4) Engage the reader. Nonfiction doesn’t have to be dry. Utilize fiction elements like dialogue, plot and conflict to tell the story.
5) Choose your voice. In order to engage the reader, decide which perspective the story will be told from, who is the narrator or omniscient character that can fill in blanks as the story progresses. Is this person believable? Is this person someone you would want to read about or follow his or her narration?
6) Choose your writing style carefully. In order to do so, you have to know your audience. Briefly reviewing the demographics of your reading audience will help tremendously when it comes to crafting your piece. If you are uncertain, research other interests your readers may have.
7) Edit, review, revise, and begin again, if necessary. Edit your paper for clarity of language, review your paper to make sure your editorial license in the crafting of your paper did not alter the truth, and revise based on the advice of an editor or mentor as well as your own conclusions about your work.
Excitement over nonfiction is on the rise. The overwhelming plethora of “real-TV” programs invading the airways each day, it’s not surprising that viewers are taking interest in real TV. Shows like COPS, Survivor, Fear Factor, American Idol, Meet the Parents and so on, TV watchers are glued to the screens cheering and jeering the participants. Real-TV is to the Networks what creative nonfiction can be to the readers. It’s a matter of researching the subject, finding your voice and putting pen to paper.
Remember, “there are true living stories riding the highways of America, in the lines on people’s faces, hiding behind today’s headlines, looking down from where the gargoyles live… stories worth writing.” Gerard
