25 Structures to Explore Creative Non-Fiction

Combine facts and creative writing, what you find is creative non-fiction.

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What is Creative Non-Fiction?

Creative non-fiction draws on creative elements like storytelling, personal reflection and vivid description to create an essay. They can be based on true stories or real-life experiences but are not limited to just presenting the facts. Use of literary techniques to bring the story to life is what creative non-fiction is about.

Common elements include:

• personal experience and perspective even when writing about social or historical issues
• use of vivid details and figurative language to build the place and atmosphere
• emphasis on character and voice to engage the reader.
• openness to experimentation with form and structure
• commitment to accuracy and fact-checking

Has Creative Non-Fiction Always Been a Genre?

It’s not a genre that has been around for long. It was coined by Lee Gutkind, an American writer and editor around 1973. He used the term to describe combining traditional reporting with literary styles of fiction.