Week 1

In some ways, creative nonfiction is like jazz—it’s a rich mix of flavors, ideas, and techniques, some of which are newly invented and others as old as writing itself. Creative nonfiction can be an essay, a journal article, a research paper, a memoir, or a poem; it can be personal or not, or it can be all of these.

The words “creative” and “nonfiction” describe the form. The word “creative” refers to the use of literary craft, the techniques fiction writers, playwrights, and poets employ to present nonfiction—factually accurate prose about real people and events—in a compelling, vivid, dramatic manner. The goal is to make nonfiction stories read like fiction so that your readers are as enthralled by fact as they are by fantasy.

Lee Gutkin

Tools of the trades

Begin your life as a writer. Do not squirm, twitch or reject the title. Own it.

THIS IS TRUTH

To be a writer one must write. 

To be a writer one must read.

To be a writer one must think, then write, then read some more. 

See how it works? 

Let's do a puke about what we see in this picture.
No matter what you plan to write about you need to see the details in moments.

How to puke

Use this technique to work on all of your projects. I promise that you will see a difference

You cannot do this wrong - The only thing you can do incorrectly is to not to do it.

What does it mean when I ask you to "puke on the page?"

It means that you write.
You write to have a conversation with yourself.
You write to figure out what it is that you understand.
You write to refine your ideas.
You write for no one but yourself. 

TOOLS FOR PUKING

1. A notebook that no one looks at or in but you.
2. A pen that you trust (and other pens or pencils nearby)

Puking must take place on paper and not on a computer. You can re-write (which is where you real writing happens) on the computer but get used to puking with a writing utensil in your hand. 

HOW TO PUKE
You start to write and you do not stop for any reason. 
Hand cramp? 
Too bad! 
Roommate Drama? 
Lock yourself in your car.
Be Brave. 
You can say anything and only share what you want. The important thing is that you write it down. 

Let's talk about what you want to write about.

Let's talk about Hero's Journey. 
Here is more about the Journey with graphics. 
Here you can see it in the movies you know. 

For next week  
Read this post - How to think like a writer
Read the assignment sheet in the Google Drive

It is due by Friday, September 7 for discussion of Monday, September 10.  
Submit it by posting it in your Google Drive folder you share with me.