Creative Nonfiction Writing Insights

Oct 19, 2024

Week 6 Lecture Notes

Readings

  • Write Moves: A Creative Writing Guide and Anthology
    • "Writing Personal Essays" (pg. 173)
    • Ivan E. Coyote, "This, That and the Other Thing" (pg. 256)
    • Brian Doyle, "Leap" (pg. 264)
    • Evelyn Lau, "An Insatiable Emptiness" (pg. 301)
    • Donald Murray, "War Stories Untold" (pg. 339)
  • Grammar: The Dash and Parentheses
    • Chapters 18 and 19 of The Canadian Writer’s Handbook

Lecture Topics

  • Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
  • Range of Creative Nonfiction
  • Creative Nonfiction and Responsibility
  • Truth in Creative Nonfiction
  • Writing About Personal Experiences for an Audience
  • Grammar: Dashes and Parentheses

Key Points

Introduction

  • Discussing creative nonfiction alongside grammar topics for the week.
  • Expanding the understanding of creative nonfiction beyond serious tones.

Range of Creative Nonfiction

  • Creative nonfiction is diverse: can be serious, funny, quirky, intellectual, etc.
  • Important for assignments like Flash Creative Nonfiction.
  • Encouragement to explore a variety of tones and subjects.
  • Consider comfort level with sharing personal stories for class workshopping.

Creative Nonfiction and Responsibility

  • Responsibilities categorized as Legal, Ethical, and Social.

Legal Responsibilities

  • Importance of understanding libel and defamation, especially if publishing.
  • Stories involving others may require anonymization to avoid legal issues.
  • Legal vetting is advisable for sensitive topics.

Ethical Responsibilities

  • Distinguishing between personal stories and others' stories.
  • Importance of understanding and empathy (e.g., Ivan E. Coyote's work).
  • Avoid causing harm, even if ethically permissible.

Social Responsibilities

  • Considering the impact on relationships (e.g., Evelyn Lau's portrayal of her mother).
  • Balancing storytelling with relational impacts.

Truth in Creative Nonfiction

  • Honest recounting of personal experiences; lowercase truths vs. absolute TRUTH.
  • Obligation to check facts and verify memories.
  • Strategies for dealing with unreliable or incomplete memories.
    • Acknowledge memory gaps or changes to identify individuals.
    • Be honest about reliability issues.

Writing About You, but for Others

  • Creative nonfiction for an audience, not just personal expression.
  • Importance of crafting narrative using literary tools.
  • Avoid clichés and use specific details for originality.

Grammar Focus: Dashes and Parentheses

  • Dashes: Emphasize interruptions and dramatic twists.
  • Parentheses: Deemphasize and provide asides.
  • Using dashes for dramatic reveals and surprises.

Examples

  • Coyote's use of dashes and parentheses in "This, That and the Other Thing."
  • Doyle's "Leap" illustrating the dramatic use of dashes.

Questions for Self-Reflection

  • How are truth and responsibility handled in your creative nonfiction piece?
  • Is your work structured for an audience, utilizing literary tools effectively?

These notes should help guide your understanding and application of creative nonfiction techniques and grammar, ensuring a well-rounded approach to your writing assignments.