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Creative Nonfiction
Quarter 2 – Module 4:
Express Yourself through Creative
Nonfiction

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Creative Nonfiction
Quarter 2 – Module 4: Express Yourself through Creative Nonfiction

Republic Act 8293, Section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of
the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency
or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for
profit. Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the
payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this book are owned by their respective copyright holders.
Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from
their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim
ownership over them.

Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Joyce T. De Guzman

Reviewer: Honesto M. Pesimo Jr.

Camarines Norte Division (headed by Emma Dasco)

Layout Artist: Joyce T. De Guzman

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 QUARTER 2, MODULE 4

• Express Yourself through Creative Nonfiction

Hurrah on your finale episode of creative nonfiction self-learning
module! It had been a fun, wonderful, and yes, challenging journey
through creative nonfiction, and we know that all of these have been
worth your while. But before you finally say goodbye to this module,
here in this lesson, you will try at creating your very own creative
nonfiction work based on whatever memorable life experience you have
had while incorporating all your learnings and insights. Does it sound
overwhelming? Why not give it a try? Read on, then, and
congratulations!

Learning Competencies:
1. Write a draft of creative nonfiction piece based on the learner’s memorable real-
life experience.
2. Peer-edit and revise each other’s draft based on desirable qualities of well-
written creative nonfiction.
3. Write the final version of one’s own creative nonfiction in a composition of five
paragraphs or more.

Learning Targets:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. Craft an original creative nonfiction piece based on a memorable real-life
experience.
2. Edit at least one peer’s work based on a set criterion.
3. Revise one’s work while taking in consideration the peer feedback given.

KEY WORDS

memorable
experience

real-life

your creative
nonfiction work

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VOCABULARY LIST

1. Memorable Experience. It refers to the significant event in the life of the

learner/writer.
2. Real-life Experience. It refers to knowledge, involvement, practice that are
experienced by the writer.
3. Creative Nonfiction Work. It refers to the factual written output by the writer.

PRE-TEST
Directions: Write AGREE if the statement is true. Write DISAGREE if the statement is
false.
1. Creative nonfiction work is a product of the writer’s imagination.
2. Real-life experience must be significant.
3. Anything that is factual can be a part of creative nonfiction.
4. Creative nonfiction work, when written, must be devoid of errors in facts and
logic.
5. Creative nonfiction work is only done by great writers.
6. Discussing a philosophy or an ideology is an example of creative nonfiction.
7. Creative nonfiction must be sensible and artistic.
8. In writing a creative nonfiction, one must go into research.
9. Poets can be creative nonfiction writers.
10. Journalists can be creative nonfiction writers.

LEARNING ABOUT IT

It helps beginning writers to get help from some writing prompts. By responding to
these prompts and spontaneously writing down the ideas in one’s head, writers can get
past the so-called “writer’s block.”

Here are question prompts which can help you get creative. Try responding to
any of these by writing your answers spontaneously on your writing notebook. You can
use your responses later in the activity in this lesson.

NOTE: You do not need to write your responses in complete sentences or paragraph
form yet. You can simply write down your thoughts as they come – whether in words,
phrases, or whichever way you are comfortable.

1. Look out of the window. What do you see right now? What is the weather like or
what do you wish were going on outside that window?
2. Recall your most recent dream and write about it.
3. What is your friendship like with someone?
4. Did you overhear a conversation recently? If so, turn that conversation into a short
story or a journal entry.

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5. What are you addicted to? Go into detail about your addiction.
6. Housework is for everyone. Write about your everyday housework chores and
activities.
7. What numbers or any other figures are important to you and why?
8. What are some things that you dread doing?
9. What scares you and how do you react to fear?
10. Spending money is fun. Talk about how you spend money and what you have on
your wish list.
-adapted from
https://www.eliteessaywriters.com

Writing Creative Nonfiction

Now that you have finished learning about creative nonfiction, you are ready to
write your own creative nonfiction work. Melissa Donovan (2015) of Writing Forward
gives you this guide on how to write creative nonfiction.

1. Get your facts straight. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing your own story
or someone else’s. If readers, publishers, and the media find out you’ve
taken liberties with the truth of what happened, you and your work will be
ridiculed and scrutinized. You’ll lose credibility. If you can’t refrain from
fabrication, then think about writing fiction instead of creative nonfiction.

2. Issue a disclaimer. A lot of nonfiction is written from memory, and we all

know that human memory is deeply flawed. It’s almost impossible to recall
a conversation word for word. You might forget minor details, like the color
of a dress or the make and model of a car. If you aren’t sure about the
details but are determined to include them, be upfront and include a
disclaimer that clarifies the creative liberties you’ve taken.

3. Consider the repercussions. If you’re writing about other people (even if

they are secondary figures), you might want to check with them before you
publish your nonfiction. Some people are extremely private and don’t want
any details of their lives published. Others might request that you leave
certain things out, which they feel are personal. Otherwise, make sure
you’ve weighed the repercussions of revealing other people’s lives to the
world. Relationships have been both strengthened and destroyed as a
result of authors publishing the details of other people’s lives.

4. Be objective. You don’t need to be overly objective if you’re telling your

own, personal story. However, nobody wants to read a highly biased
biography. Book reviews for biographies are packed with harsh criticism
for authors who didn’t fact-check or provide references and for those who
leave out important information or pick and choose which details to include
to make the subject look good or bad.

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 5. Pay attention to language. You’re not writing a textbook, so make full
use of language, literary devices, and storytelling techniques.

6. Know your audience. Creative nonfiction sells, but you must have an
interested audience. A memoir about an ordinary person’s first year of
college isn’t especially interesting. Who’s going to read it? However, a
memoir about someone with a learning disability navigating the first year
of college is quite compelling, and there’s an identifiable audience for it.
When writing creative nonfiction, a clearly defined audience is essential.

Creative Non-Fiction Prompts

Creative non-fiction is often personal in tone, and because of that it can be

difficult to get started. Below, find some prompts to help you get started writing creative
non-fiction.

A. Truth is Stranger than Fiction: Impose a well-known story structure, such as

that from a generic romantic comedy or fairytale, on a true story. Write within and
against this familiar form, breaking expectations, to highlight the contrast
between the complex reality and the fictional stories we are accustomed to
seeing.
B. Writing through Fear: What's the one thing you are afraid to talk about, or
alternately, what was the scariest moment of your life? Write a personal essay
about that subject or moment.
C. Tourist at Home: Visit a landmark, historical site or important place in your city.
Write about the significance of this place to your city and to you. What was your
experience there? What was it like to enter this place? What kinds of interactions
did you have there? What other important things have happened in this place?
D. Belief: Write about a time you remember having a belief fundamentally shaken
or broken.
E. Astrological Omens: Horoscopes and astrological signs are an interesting way
to evaluate ourselves. Read your current horoscope, or read up on the qualities
associated with your sign, and use what you read as a framework to write a
personal essay about your personality.
F. Read and React: Read a favorite poem or listen to a favorite song. Take some
time to consider the message of the piece, then write about your reaction to the
poem or the lyrics. How do you feel? What about it resonates with you?
G. Inside Joke: Think about an inside joke you have with someone, or a word that
has a different meaning or association when you're around certain people. Write
about the origin of this joke or word as though your definition would appear in a
reference book.
H. Forgive Me: Write about a time when you had to beg for forgiveness, or when
someone begged you for forgiveness.
I. Soundtrack: Create a playlist of songs that remind you of certain moments in
your past. Listen to the playlist and write a short memoir-style vignette inspired

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 by each track. Each piece can only be as long as you can write within the length
of the song.

References:
Donovan, M. (2015). A Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction. From
https://www.writingforward.com/creative-writing/writing-creative-nonfiction

Davis, N. (n.d.) Creative Nonfiction Writing Prompts. From

https://study.com/academy/popular/creative-nonfiction-writing-prompts.html

Task 1
Directions: Go over your responses in the “Warming Up” Activity in this lesson. Choose
one of the topics to develop into a creative nonfiction work. Use your responses as your
guide in writing a five- to more than five-paragraph creative nonfiction work applying the
literary conventions learned in the previous lessons. Be guided by the pointers below in
writing your work.

1. Consider why you are writing the piece. What can you learn from it? What do you
want readers to get from your work? Whatever topic you choose to write, it
should hinge upon your personal experience. Then as you start writing, bear in
mind the nonfiction contract you have to keep.
2. Seek a deeper or underlying theme within your description of an event that the
reader can relate or connect to. Use a lot of description and imagery, and if
possible, make the readers feel they know what you are talking about intimately.
3. As you write, remember that the main character is you. This can be challenging,
because it can expose your vulnerabilities as a person. You must remember,
however, that vulnerability is one thing that fuels your work. You cannot learn
from the experience unless you are honest with yourself, and readers will not be
able to understand why this experience is significant if you hide yourself from
view. Your character in the story can only develop if you claim the story as your
own.
4. There is no specific form or style required as you write your work. Let your writing
reflect your personal style.
5. Have fun and enjoy writing!

-adapted from “Writing in Your Major, Tips from Tutors.” Retrieved from
http://www.uvm.edu/wid/writingcenter/tutortips/nonfiction.html

Task 2

Have your peer edit your work while you also edit your peer’s work. Below is the
suggested standard for your creative nonfiction work.

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WRITING
DESCRIPTION
DIMENSIONS
• One specific experience is highlighted (If several incidents
or experiences, it is clear what connects those several
experiences together).
• Writer’s original insight is clearly articulated in the work.
• The writer’s reflection reveals a new understanding of him
Focus
or herself or world.
• Author’s voice is developed through honest, passionate
treatment of the topic
• The paper is open, honest, and thought provoking.
• The message is clear and easy to interpret.
• Ideas flow from one to the next, connected by a common
theme (allowing the reader to follow your experience).
• The organization of the essay guides reader purposefully.
• Details seem to fit right where they are placed.
Organization
• An inviting introduction establishes the importance of time
and place. A satisfying conclusion ties up loose ends.
• The entire piece has a strong sense of direction and
balance.
• Form and style are appropriate and fits the experience
being described (form makes poignant the experience being
told).
• Writer’s connection to the piece is evident.
• Precise, vivid, and natural language contributes to the
originality and clarity of the paper.
Form
• Colorful and/or figurative language breathes life into the
writing.
• Thoughts are clearly expressed and create a vivid
impression of an important experience. Significant detail,
including relevant dialogue, enhances the meaning of the
experience.
• Specific examples, language, and dialogue are used to
paint a picture of the experience for the reader.
• Employs dialogue when appropriate to show rather than tell
what happened.
• Describes specifically what happened rather than focusing
on generalizations.
Diction/Language • Uses literary devices such as irony, metaphor, and imagery.
• Errors (in spelling, punctuation, quotation marks,
capitalization, sentence structure, etc.) are few and minor,
and don’t interfere with the meaning of the paper.
• The paper is clean, edited and polished.
• The narrative is of sufficient length and complexity to
demonstrate appropriate control of conventions.

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As you edit your peer’s work, you can make constructive comments and suggestions by
writing them clearly below the written work. Bear in mind that the purpose of peer
editing is to make improvements to the paper, not to ridicule your fellow learner’s work.

COOLING DOWN
After editing your peer’s work and having your work peer-edited, you are now
ready to revise your draft. Here are some steps you have to take in revising your work.
1. Go over the comments made by your peer. Work on the necessary changes as
applicable. You may ask your peer to explain further the comment given if it is
unclear or vague to you.
2. Reread the revised work, noting overall readability, coherence, and impression.
As you do this step, try putting yourself in the shoes of your reader.
3. Rewrite your draft.

POST-TEST

Directions: Write AGREE if the statement is true. Write DISAGREE if the statement is
false.
1. Short story writers can be creative nonfiction writers.
2. Creative nonfiction work is a product of dreams and speculations.
3. In writing a creative nonfiction, one must go into inquiry and study.
4. Real-life experience must be significant to readers.
5. Creative nonfiction work, when written, may have errors in facts and logic.
6. Creative nonfiction work is also done by beginning writers.
7. Discussing an idea or personal experience is an example of creative
nonfiction.
8. Anything that is imagined can be a part of creative nonfiction.
9. Not everybody can write a creative nonfiction.
10. Bloggers are creative nonfiction writers.

ASSIGNMENT
Directions: Write one autobiography, one memoir and one diary entry. They should
be written in your notebook.

1. Autobiography

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

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 2. Memoir

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

3. Diary Entry

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

*Rubrics
5 – Correct use of language/grammar; clarity of ideas; presence of factual
information; correct example of a creative nonfiction work

3 – Minor errors on language/grammar; clarity of ideas; presence of factual

information; correct example of a creative nonfiction work

1– Major errors on grammar; unclear presentation of ideas; presence of factual

information; incorrect example of a creative nonfiction work

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 References

Department of Education. (February 2014). K to 12 Senior High School Humanities and

Social Sciences Strand – Creative Nonfiction Curriculum Guide.

https://www.eliteessaywriters.com

Melissa Donovan (2015) of Writing creative nonfiction.

Donovan, M. (2015). A Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction. From

https://www.writingforward.com/creative-writing/writing-creative-nonfiction

Davis, N. (n.d.) Creative Nonfiction Writing Prompts. From

https://study.com/academy/popular/creative-nonfiction-writing-prompts.html

-adapted from “Writing in Your Major, Tips from Tutors.” Retrieved from
http://www.uvm.edu/wid/writingcenter/tutortips/nonfiction.html

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ANSWER KEY

Pre-Test
1. Disagree
2. Agree
3. Agree
4. Agree
5. Disagree
6. Agree
7. Agree
8. Agree
9. Agree
10. Agree

Task 1
(Answers vary)

Task 2
(Answers vary)

Task 3
(Answers vary)

Post-Test
1. Agree
2. Disagree
3. Agree
4. Agree
5. Disagree
6. Agree
7. Agree
8. Disagree
9. Agree
10. Agree

Assignment
(Answers vary)

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 BIBLIOGRAHY

A. BOOK

Department of Education. (February 2014). K to 12 Senior High School Humanities and

Social Sciences Strand – Creative Nonfiction Curriculum Guide.

B. E-SOURCES

2020 The Oxbridge Research Group Ltd. A Complete Guide to Writing a Reflective
Essay. From https://www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog/complete-guide-to-writing-a-
reflective-essay/

6 Reasons to Use Informational Texts in Primary Grades. From

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/6-reasons-use-
informational-text-primary-grades/

A short guide to close reading for literary analysis. From https://www.wisc.edu

-adapted from “Writing in Your Major, Tips from Tutors.” Retrieved from
http://www.uvm.edu/wid/writingcenter/tutortips/nonfiction.html

Close reading a text and avoiding pitfalls. (2020). Purdue online Writing Lab College of
Liberal Arts. From https://www.owl.purdue.edu/owl

Close reading a text and avoiding pitfalls. (2020). Purdue online Writing Lab College of
Liberal Arts. From https://www.owl.purdue.edu/owl

Davis, N. (n.d.) Creative Nonfiction Writing Prompts. From

https://study.com/academy/popular/creative-nonfiction-writing-prompts.html

Department of English and Related Literature, University of York. (n.d.). Close Reading
Writing Resources from www.york.ac.uk/english/writing-at-york/

Donovan, M. (2015). A Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction. From

https://www.writingforward.com/creative-writing/writing-creative-nonfiction

https://academichelp.net/creative-writing/write-travelogue.html

https://classroom.synonym.com/what-is-a-personal-narrative-13709363.html

https://www.eliteessaywriters.com

https://www.freelancewriting.com/business-writing/8-tips-for-writing-a-travelogue/

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https://www.time4writing.com/writing-resources/narrative-essays/

Laran, J. (2020). How to Write an Autobiography and Make the Bestseller List. From
https://blog.udemy.com/how-to-write-an-autobiography-2/

Nyakangi, E. (2020). Literary Journalism. https://kenyayote.com/literary-journalism

what-is-literary-journalism-and-history-of-literary-journalism/

Purdue University. Purdue Online Writing Lab. (2020). from

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/teacher_and_tutor_resources/writing_instructors/creative_no
nfiction_in_writing_courses/literary_journalism.html

Tizon, A.“My Family’s Slave”. From

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/06/lolas-story/524490/

Walker, C. (2011). “Testimonio”. From

https://serendipstudio.org/exchange/cwalker/evolution-genres-latin-american-literature-
birth-testimonio-testimonial-narrative

Wright, D. (2019). Why read literature? From www.memoriapress.com

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