Creative Nonfiction

[wildernesse]

Today in the NY Times, I read an article/story called Our Bodies, Our Imaginations (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/fashion/12LOVE.html) (reg. req'd). While I did enjoy the read, what took a bit for me to wrap my head around (besides that the author teaches at Valdosta State) was that the author writes and teaches creative nonfiction. Creative nonfiction? What on earth?!

From the journal, Creative Nonfiction (http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/whatiscnf.htm):

Dramatic, true stories using scenes, dialogue, close, detailed descriptions and other techniques usually employed by poets and fiction writers about important subjects - from politics, to economics, to sports, to the arts and sciences, to racial relations, and family relations.


At first, I thought that I'd never even heard of this concept--but I was wrong, because I've read In Cold Blood by Capote and All Over But The Shoutin' and Ava's Man by Rick Bragg. I guess what was so interesting about the idea in connection with the story in the NYTimes was that it was new and fresh and modern--sort of a real-life creative story. But the more I think about it, the more that I realize that I read a lot of creative non-fiction everyday and that it might just be the kind of writing I enjoy most--things like Real Live Preacher (http://blogs.salon.com/0001772/) and A Salvation Story (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=72552).

What are your thoughts about creative nonfiction?

[viscousmemories]

I was browsing in Borders a few months ago, and came across the Journal of Creative Nonfiction issue #22, subtitled from the name of the opening essay: Creative Nonfiction in the Crosshairs, by editor Lee Gutkind. The subtitle of the essay is "Lee Gutkind Responds to the Never-Ending Debate".

I had never heard of Creative Nonfiction. I have always had an interest in both creative and nonfiction writing, but have always thought the former too abstract and the latter too rigid. As such I think Creative Nonfiction is a fascinating and exciting solution, and I am intuitively drawn to it.

My first thought was of stories on NPR. The correspondents often set a scene when they report. For example it'll start with a little background noise, then the reporter will say something like, "I'm standing in the shade of a giant oak across a quiet city street from the capital building..." and then proceed to do a story about some legislation that was just passed or something. It invites the listener into the news report in a way that cold, monotonous regurgitation of the story doesn't.

Anyway thanks for reminding me of this. I bought that issue of the journal that I mentioned above and it has been sitting here on the counter, but I still haven't read it. I'm going to make a point to read it now.

[Adora]

It irks me, for a lot of reasons.

I don't like it, straight out. I'm sure if I sat down for 3 days and tried to dissect why, I could tell you, but not right now. There's just something about it that bores me.

Also, there's the simple fact that nonfiction has taken over the writing industry and business here in Australia. Trying to get published as a fiction writer (unless you have the words "based on a true story" tacked to the cover) is nigh impossible. Symptom of a fucking sick society, especially when so much of it is shit.

Then there are the lines it walks. People can end up mistaking the book-of-the-event for the true events. It can cast certain individuals in a certain light based on the author's whims, and not more objective truths to provide a balanced view. On top of that, it has issues of libel/offending someone, especially when it comes to family things.

I mean, c'mon, if I want "creative" nonfiction, I'll turn on the news or read the papers, or read a parlimentary press-release. :P There's too much fiction in truth these days, and not enough truth in fiction. I think we need to work on the latter, instead of encouraging the former.