Creative Non-Fiction

Module 7
By: Group 1 Reporter
 TARGET
This module will be an avenue for you to apply the things that
you have learned about the elements of nonfictional writing and the
different
literary conventions of genre in assessing a form of creative nonfiction.
After reading this module and finishing all required activities, you are
expected to:
1. differentiate the different forms of creative nonfiction;
2. determine ways on how to write the different forms of creative
nonfiction;
and
3. present a commentary/critique on a chosen creative nonfictional text
representing a particular type or form.
Creative nonfiction is genre of writing that combines
different literary styles

and techniques in presenting factual information

which differentiates it from the

usual genres of nonfiction. Though it is regarded as a

relatively young genre of

writing, creative nonfiction comes in different forms.

 A. Autobiography
Etymologically, the word autobiography is composed of the Greek words
auto meaning “self”, bio, bios meaning “life”, and gráphō, graphien meaning
“write”. Thus, autobiography can be defined as any of the following: 1) a written
account of the life of a person written by that person himself or herself, 2) a written
record of the author or writer’s life, or 3) a narration that tells the life story of the
author or writer.

In contrast to autobiography, biography is a description or account of a

person’s life story presented through the eyes of another person. The person who
writes someone else’s life story is called a biographer. In this genre of writing, the
biographer has to extensive research in order to tell accurate facts about the
person’s life.
Basics in Writing Autobiography and Biography
1. Jot down all life events and arrange them in a timeline. Using a timeline
makes it easier for you to chronologically arrange the events. Also, it helps
you not to mix up events that may have similarities with one another.
2. Identify the people involved in each event. Every good story has interesting
characters, friends and foes who help move the plot along. Knowing the
names of the people involved as well as their roles in each event helps you in
making the story more accurate and real.
3. Determine the best events. The entire life story will start to get pretty long-
winded and you are going to make some choices about what stories you are
going to include and to discard. Start by writing the key stories that will be
put together to create an image of your life.
4. For autobiography, write down the story using the first person point of view
pronouns such as “I”. For biography, write down the story using the third
person point of view pronouns such as “he/she/they”.
5. Reading the output helps in identifying strong spots to be retained and weak
spots to be enhanced while rewriting it is the chance for you to improve and
polish the autobiography/biography.
 B. Reportage/ Literary
Journalism
Reportage also known as literary journalism
reports an event, history or an
actual case based on direct observation,
investigation or thorough research and
documentation. Writers use interviews and reviews
in order to look outside of the
straightforward, objective world that journalism
creates. It uses literary practices to
capture the scene or setting of the assignment or
the persona of the person being
interviewed. It can often be narrative or heavily
imagistic.
Basics in Writing a Reportage / Literary Journalism
1. Get the facts straight by observing and researching. Keep all your interview
and observation notes in order not to miss out relevant information. Take
note of all details from smallest ones to biggest ones.
2. Conduct interviews. First-hand information about the topic help in
describing and detailing the subject matter.
3. Outline the story. Outlining helps you in organizing the events according to
your style.
4. Use literary elements and devices in writing. Using the different literary
elements helps you not to leave important elements that enhance the
reportage. Also, the literary devices help you to make the reportage more
dramatic, appealing, and interesting.
5. End with a point. Your goal is to get your readers entertained, informed, and
enlightened. Make sure to leave your reader an important point for them to
reflect from.
C. Personal Narratives
Personal Narrative is a person’s true story. The
author narrates what
happened to them in a particular event which
makes it autobiographical in nature.
A personal narrative is close to an autobiography;
however, they differ in scope. An
autobiography tells the author’s life story which is
composed of several events,
while a personal narrative focuses only on a
specific event that the author wants to
share.
 Basics in Writing a Personal Narrative
1. Think of an event in your life that you want to
share through a story.
2. Focus on the topic and write down all the
details of that event in order to
recall the event well. Remember to use the 5Ws
and 1H in identifying details.
3. Organize your ideas according to your own
style. Using an outline helps you
in organizing the details.
4. Write the story and use language in expressing
what you really mean to say.
You may utilize different devices in order to
successfully show rather than
tell the story.
 D. Travelogue
A travelogue is an account of a person’s
experiences while touring a place for
the pleasure of travel. It includes vivid
descriptions, illustrations, historical
background, and possibly maps and diagrams.
 Basics in Writing a Travelogue
1. Write all the things that you notice like the sceneries,
community, food,
culture and others while on travel.
2. Get the facts straight about the place, people, events, culture,
etc. Factual
accuracy must be observed so that the readers will be well-
informed.
3. Start with a clear story line. Make sure that the storyline arouses
the
curiosity and interest of your target audience.
4. Describe the things that you are going to include in your
travelogue using
the different kinds of imagery so that the readers can also visualize
what you
witnessed in your travel.
 E. Reflection/Reflective Essay
Reflective essays describe an event that happened, then
analyze the meaning
and what can be learned from that experience. What makes an
essay insightful is
that the writer analyzes present-day historical occurrences.
To paint a true picture of their past, temperament, and human
characteristics, reflective essays allow the writer to open up
about their thoughts
and emotions. They should contain a vivid summary and
description of the
experience in order for the reader to feel the experiences as well.
They should also

include an explanation of your feelings, thoughts and reactions.

Basics in Writing a Reflective Essay
1. Think of what you want to consider as your topic in writing
your reflective
essay.
2. Assess your feelings towards your chosen topic. Construct
questions that
you will answer based on your experiences.
3. Answer the questions that you selected. Your answers will be
your basis in
making a reflective essay.
4. Based on your responses, enhance your reflective essay by
adding other
significant elements of writing as well as utilizing literary
devices.
5. Make sure to always have your strong introduction and
conclusion.
 F. True Narrative
A true narrative is a story based on real life
experiences or events; however,
its form is still undefined. The narrative must clearly
come from or be based on real
life situations and events or else it will be called a
fictional narrative as it includes
fictional embellishments. The purpose of it is to
express a point or observation.
 Basics in Writing a True Narrative
1. Think of an event in your life that you want to share true
a story.
2. Focus on the topic and write down all the details of that
event in order to
recall the event well. Remember to use the 5Ws and 1H in
identifying details.
3. Organize your ideas according to your own style. Using an
outline helps you
to easily organize the details.
4. Write the story and use language in expressing what you
really mean to say.
You may utilize different devices in order to successfully
show rather than
tell the story.
 G. Blog
Blog is the abbreviated form of the words “weblog”. It is a website containing
short articles called posts that are changed regularly. The person who writes blogs
on regular basis is called a blogger. Blogs are different from vlogs. The former is
textual in nature as it is a product of writing, while the latter refers to video
blogging or video log which is a social media account where a person regularly
posts short videos.
Some blogs are written by one person containing his or her own opinion,
interests and experiences, while others are written by many different people. The
following are some kinds of blog based on the blogger’s field of interest. A blogger
who has interests in food writes food blogs. A food blogger goes to different
restaurants, food stalls, snack houses, and others that offer food to eat and write
his or her own food review. Travel blogs are written by individuals who loves travel
and blogging. Travel bloggers experience and review different travel destinations.
Lifestyle blogs, mostly written by women, may focus on the following but not
limited to improving the quality life, happenings in everyday life, doing interests,
and attaining personal goals.
Basics in Writing a Blog Post
1. Plan your blog post by choosing a topic that is in line to your interest.
2. Create an outline of the information that you are going to put in you blog.
3. Craft a headline or a title that is both informative and captivating to the
reader.
4. Conduct a thorough research to check facts and attain accuracy of data
based on the outline that you crafted.
5. Write your post according to your style and technique however the
properties
of a well-written text: organization, coherence and cohesion, language use,
and mechanics should be considered.
6. Use images to enhance your post, improve its flow, add humor, and explain
complex topics.
7. Read to assess the strength and weakness of your output. Also, assess on
how interesting it is to make someone else read your work. Rewrite to ensure
that the necessary changes are incorporated.
 H. Testimonio
Through literature, it is an oral or written autobiographical
story known as
"testimonial literature." The word "testimonio" refers to a genre
of writing that
comes from Latin America dealing with human rights abuse
experiences. However,
its definition changed as time passed by. A testimonio is
generally defined as a
first-person narration of socially significant experiences in which
the narrative
voice is that of a typical or extraordinary witness or protagonist.
Basics in Writing a Testimonio
1. Describe the problem. Write a short description or the
background of your
problem to inform the reader about what you are going
through.
2. Tell the pros and cons. Share the effects, both good and
bad, of having the
problems. Tell the things that you did to solve your problems.
3. The closing of the testimonial. Tell what you have learned
from the problem
and what you want the readers to learn from you and from
the experience.