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Week 1: Finding The Story + Researching: ENG: 3217 Creative Nonfiction

The document provides an overview of creative nonfiction writing. It discusses finding stories by researching true events and characters in detail rather than inventing elements. The key aspects are: 1) Creative nonfiction brings literary techniques like narrative arcs, drama/conflict, and complex characters to tell true stories from a particular perspective. 2) Research is important, using primary sources like interviews and memoirs over secondary sources. Steps include making source lists and getting archive access. 3) Finding stories requires gathering rich character details from true interactions rather than inventing elements, and shaping narrative perspective and order of events.

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Ligafel Benito
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88 views

Week 1: Finding The Story + Researching: ENG: 3217 Creative Nonfiction

The document provides an overview of creative nonfiction writing. It discusses finding stories by researching true events and characters in detail rather than inventing elements. The key aspects are: 1) Creative nonfiction brings literary techniques like narrative arcs, drama/conflict, and complex characters to tell true stories from a particular perspective. 2) Research is important, using primary sources like interviews and memoirs over secondary sources. Steps include making source lists and getting archive access. 3) Finding stories requires gathering rich character details from true interactions rather than inventing elements, and shaping narrative perspective and order of events.

Uploaded by

Ligafel Benito
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Week 1:

Finding the Story +


Researching
ENG: 3217 Creative Nonfiction
What is nonfiction anyway
• Creative nonfiction: the art of
brining all the strategies of
storytelling to the narration of
factual events.
• Telling true stories from a
particular perspective using
literary techniques
• Writing creative nonfiction is
about finding your voice and
perspective.
Types + Elements
• Types: memoirs, memos, e-mails,
reports, biographies, lit
journalism, news…
• The Contract: we are not allowed
to make things up!
• But…that doesn’t mean we can’t
tell the story using literary
elements like point of view,
description, or dialogue.
• Set a vivid scene + tell the story
(that happens to be true) in great
detail
Finding the Story
• Every story must have
momentum
• Choose your characters
carefully
• Make the reader think about
your narrative arc
How might you write
this story?
12:05 p.m., Café Dufrain. Present:
girl, wearing heels, red lipstick,
cute; guy, out of breath, foreign
accent. Introductions. Girl orders
double vodka. Guy orders
espresso. Guy: “Sorry to be late,
I was just….”
Finding the Story
• If fiction, rewriting this story
would be simple
• But in nonfiction, we cannot
invent anything.
• So why nonfiction: the power of
true human experience.
• To find the story, you have to
gather as many details bc
characters are in the details.
Finding the Story
• If fiction, rewriting this story
would be simple
• But in nonfiction, we cannot
invent anything.
• So why nonfiction: the power of
true human experience.
• To find the story, you have to
gather as many details bc
character is in the details.
Focus the Lens
• When characters meet,
something has to happen to
create dramatic tension
• You can’t create dramatic
moments, but you can decide
which order to present them
• Where you shift the “camera” is
the POV and that’s what makes a
story your story.
• E.g. focusing on lipstick says
what about the character?
Three Elements of a
Good Story
• Narrative Arc: series of events
filled with dramatic tension
• Drama/Conflict: opposition and
struggle is interesting
• Character: one who is capable
of transformation; characters who
struggle against each other with
different goals/aims.
– Characters must be complex to be
interesting.
Researching
• The most challenging/most
important aspect of writing
CNF
• Think: where might you find
materials? What kind of
information can you get access
to? How is what you have
groundbreaking?
• CNF = new material, new
perspective, new research.
Primary v Secondary
Sources
• Primary: the person
him/herself
• Interviews, memoirs, letters,
oral histories, direct exp or
testimony
• Secondary: books/resources
written by someone about
someone/thing.
Where to find info
• Bibliographies in books
• Bibliographies of
bibliographies
• Digital databases
• Historical archives
(some digital others not)
• Genealogy sites
(ancestry.com)
• Library of Congress
Steps to Researching
• Make a list of primary sources
+ track them down + seek
permission from the archivist
• Know before you go: what
you’re going to see, who can
give you access, how much
time you’ll have, and how
you’ll track, copy, and annotate
archival information.
Evaluating Sources
• Does it have a bibliography?
• Is is an academic source? A
government source? A
business?
• What biases are apparent?
• Anonymous or
identifying/contact
information?
Homework
Wiki
Discussion Boards
Reading
In-Class Exercise

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