Readers are embracing creative nonfiction like never before, even if they may not know that what they are reading is defined as such. That is forgivable, as writers, editors and instructors in the creative nonfiction space are still struggling with defining creative nonfiction, or CNF. Perhaps more accurately, they are struggling to define its boundaries …
Continue reading Rebecca Skloot on Producing Creative Nonfiction
I remain obsessed with "truthiness" in memoirs. I know I'm not alone; my March post on the subject generated 187 comments. I believe I have arrived at three key principles for writing a memoir that is worth reading without truthiness. It is as follows: 1. Believe in your story. 2. Rely on your writing to …
Continue reading What Drives Some Memoirists from Truth to Fiction?
"Did that really happen?" It's a question every memoirist and personal essayist faces. Ideally the writer will answer "Yes." It gets awkward when you have to say, "Yes, but..." In the October 2005 debut episode of his influential TV show, Stephen Colbert gave the world the word truthiness. He said truthiness is when you're talking …
Continue reading Avoiding ‘Truthiness’ When Writing Your Life
The Artist's Road 