Introduction to Creative Nonfiction! The Memoir, The Narrative Essay, and more

The Memoir Story retrieved from the writer’s memory with the writer as the protagonist Story retrieved from the writer’s memory with the writer as the protagonist Almost always uses first person Almost always uses first person Often involves self-reflection and commentary of events Often involves self-reflection and commentary of events –Like The Wonder Years

Memoirs You May Have Read Elie Wiesel, Night Elie Wiesel, Night The Diary of Anne Frank The Diary of Anne Frank Maya Angelou, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried Alice Sebold, Lucky: A Memoir Alice Sebold, Lucky: A Memoir

Difference between a Memoir and a Personal Essay (or narrative) Goal of Memoir: sets up dialogue between writer and his/her past. Predominantly narrative, typically over extended period of time, usually chronological. Goal of Memoir: sets up dialogue between writer and his/her past. Predominantly narrative, typically over extended period of time, usually chronological. Goal of Personal Essay: set up dialogue between writer and audience, usually to make specific point. Goal of Personal Essay: set up dialogue between writer and audience, usually to make specific point.

Techniques: Image and Voice Often Often –conversational tone –storytelling tone NOT NOT –Authoritative tone –formal tone Vivid personal imagery Vivid personal imagery

Technique 2: Scenes Not like setting Not like setting Like snapshots or scenes in a film Like snapshots or scenes in a film Division of story into detailed moments, discoveries, and decisions Division of story into detailed moments, discoveries, and decisions Can fit into Freytag’s pyramid BUT does not have to Can fit into Freytag’s pyramid BUT does not have to

Technique 3: Character Detail: vivid and HONEST depictions of self and others Detail: vivid and HONEST depictions of self and others Dialogue Dialogue –Attempt to recreate voices from memory –Does not have to be word for word conversations –Summaries and important quotes

Technique 4: Self-reflection Often focused on an epiphany or revelation Often focused on an epiphany or revelation Usually frames scenes Usually frames scenes –Thoughts at beginning and thoughts at end –NOT LIKE AN INTRODUCTION AND A CONCLUSION but your own thoughts on the relevance of that particular moment.

Practice! Please open your writer’s notebooks Please open your writer’s notebooks Make a list of 6 topics (things/events/places/values/ideas) that you would like to write about Make a list of 6 topics (things/events/places/values/ideas) that you would like to write about Make a list of 6 topics that you would not like to write about Make a list of 6 topics that you would not like to write about Make a list of 6 titles using the word “On” Make a list of 6 titles using the word “On” –On My Way, On Falling In Love…

Practice! Freewrite for 5 minutes on one of each of your topics (like, don’t like, on) Freewrite for 5 minutes on one of each of your topics (like, don’t like, on) Review reading Review reading –Underline any interesting words/phrases/sentences