Need Help for question about creative nonfiction

shinobi12 · Aug 28, 2006

Can any one give me specific examples or genres of nonfiction works that wouldn't be considered creative nonfiction?

I thought that reports would go into that category, such as the 911 Commission Report.

DeniseK · Aug 28, 2006

http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/current/28brown.htm

Creative non fiction has a prose element to it. No, it is not straight up reporting or business writing, not by a long shot.

That site will help you understand it, I think.

shinobi12 · Aug 28, 2006

Thanks for the help.

Kristen King · Aug 28, 2006

I generally thing of noncreative nonfiction as reports, as you mentioned, biography, and, unfortunately, a lot of newspaper writihg. However, it really depends on the piece and the author. Any nonfiction can (and should!) be creative, but I generally think of creative nonfiction as essays and memoir. However, if you look at something like John McPhee's Oranges, which is neither, that kind of blows it because it's decidedly both creative and nonfiction. It all depends on what the author brings to the table.

Kristen

Kate Thornton · Aug 29, 2006

Other things that are non-fiction, but not creative non-fiction would be instruction manuals, most business writing (business plans) and software manuals, financial reportage, medical books and articles, and automotive (or other mechanical) books.

Kristen King · Aug 29, 2006

Great examples, Kate.

kk

Tish Davidson · Aug 29, 2006

Kate Thornton said:
Other things that are non-fiction, but not creative non-fiction would be instruction manuals, most business writing (business plans) and software manuals, financial reportage, medical books and articles, and automotive (or other mechanical) books.

Any kind of textbook or teacher's manual, recipes, instruction sets on how to build something or put it something together, test question sets, many product reviews, white papers.

Sassenach · Sep 2, 2006

Sam Adams said:
Two excellent examples are Truman Capote's IN COLD BLOOD and John Berendt's MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL. Their genre is kind of an oxymoron -- True Crime Novels.

On the contrary, IN COLD BLOOD is considered the first creative nonfiction, and pioneered the subgenre.

AncientEagle · Sep 2, 2006

Sassenach said:
On the contrary, IN COLD BLOOD is considered the first creative nonfiction, and pioneered the subgenre.

Sure did. And it seems to me that MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL would fall in the same category.

Silver King · Sep 2, 2006

Sam, as the quote you selected in your first post elaborates, shinobi12 was asking for examples that "wouldn't be considered creative nonfiction." Then you brought up "In Cold Blood."

Maybe you misunderstood the question, but as Sassenach points out, "In Cold Blood" is a seminal work of creative non-fiction, which the OP expressly asked us NOT to consider in our responses.

Sam Adams · Sep 3, 2006

Sorry. Sleep deprivation strikes again. I misread the question. I have deleted my previous comments, so please disregard.

Silver King · Sep 3, 2006

Sam, why would you delete your posts? Couldn't you keep them up so the rest of us wouldn't look like we're responding to ghostly apparitions?

We should have a rule around here which denies the deletion of posts at the expense of others. We've all made regrettable posts. So what? Learn to live with it. Isn't that the job of the writer, to stand behind what's said?

Lauri B · Sep 4, 2006

shinobi12 said:
Can any one give me specific examples or genres of nonfiction works that wouldn't be considered creative nonfiction?

I thought that reports would go into that category, such as the 911 Commission Report.

Other examples would be how-to guides: coaching guides, parenting books, diet books, etc.

Sam Adams · Sep 13, 2006

Silver King said:
We should have a rule around here which denies the deletion of posts at the expense of others. We've all made regrettable posts. So what? Learn to live with it. Isn't that the job of the writer, to stand behind what's said?

I don't think this is at anyone's expense, and my posts weren't regrettable -- just in error. I simply misread the original post, so my replies confused the issue. I deleted them and posted the reason.

Silver King · Sep 13, 2006

Hello Sam. I get cranky after midnight. Can you tell?

Actually, I was upset by another poster that day who started a thread, debated an issue through about forty responses, and then deleted all of his posts. You can imagine how his actions left that thread in shambles.

Your deletion is miniscule by comparison; it's just the timing coincided badly with my mood.

Sam Adams · Sep 15, 2006

No problem. Late night posting has its perils.

Need Help for question about creative nonfiction

shinobi12

DeniseK

shinobi12

Kristen King

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

Kristen King

Tish Davidson

Sassenach

5 W's & an H

AncientEagle

Old kid, no need to be gentle.

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Sam Adams

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Lauri B

I Heart Mac

Sam Adams

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Sam Adams