Everyone has a story to tell. But what if you’ve only ever written fiction? Maybe it’s time to try something new. Writing your life stories is a great way to expand your writer’s craft toolbox and will add creative nonfiction to your writing portfolio.

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From Fiction to Creative Nonfiction

Everything we write, even fiction, includes a piece of us. We write our stories through our own life lens which includes who we are, our past experiences, and our childhood memories. As a writer, it’s a great exercise to experiment with all types of writing from prose to poetry, short stories to novels, and fiction to creative nonfiction. Learning new skills will advance your writing to the next level.

On a personal note, I just started my MFA journey with a concentration in Writing for Children. But I get to take an elective and I’m planning on taking the Creative Nonfiction module. In fact, it was one of my life stories that pushed me to write in the first place. When I was in fifth grade, my great aunt and I became pen-pals. She would fill five-pages (back and front) with stories about her childhood. I loved reading her letters about her shenanigans and my distant relatives. So, when I decided to write my first novel, I attempted a middle-grade novel that was a fictionalized version of her life. That manuscript is still in the drawer, and hopefully one day it will see the light.

You might wonder if you have the skills to write your life stories. You do! Here’s an overview of what you need to know about creative nonfiction to get you started.

What is Creative Nonfiction?

Creative nonfiction is retelling a true story using creative writing techniques just like you do in fiction. The main difference from fiction writing is everything is true. There are four major forms of creative nonfiction. Most familiar is memoir, followed by personal essays. There are also lyrical essays which experiments with unique styles or sentence structure, and literary journalism which is a report on real events but told in a literary way.

Elements of Creative Nonfiction

While you’ll use all of your creative writing skills, the following elements tend to be more prominent in creative nonfiction:

Narration: Just like fiction, voice is key, but also you need to consider the structure and style of narrative that best matches the story you want to tell.

Observation: In a true story, readers want to feel like they are eavesdropping, so using all five senses to describe key elements will make your story come alive. And dialogue that includes actions and expressions will help your reader visualize the real people in your story.   

Braiding: Some stories benefit from intertwining multiple narratives, or threads, that enhance the main idea or insight.

Insight: Your story will be deeper and feel more genuine if the reader can connect with your emotions, letting them discover the main insights along with you.  

Tips for Writing Creative Nonfiction

Don’t Be Afraid: Writing about your family can be exciting but also revealing. So, set aside any fears and write the first draft without your inner editor. The more honest you are, the better your story.

Decide on the Time Frame: You are not writing about your entire life, so once you decide on what event or part of your life that you’re going to write about, focus on the important details. You may have to summarize events to move the story along.

Use Your Authentic Voice: Readers will know if you’re trying to be someone else. It’s your life story, so show your true self and let your personality shine through.

Get Feedback: When you’re ready to share, get feedback from people you trust with your story. Then you can decide if you want to query to get it published, or maybe just keep it in your files for you to share with only family and friends.

For me, I’m planning to revisit the stories of my great aunt and turn them into a personal essay. Here’s hoping that you’ll also challenge yourself to write your life stories using these guidelines for creative nonfiction.

Happy writing!

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