Creative nonfiction
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Creative nonfiction is a genre of literature, also known as literary journalism and narrative journalism, which uses literary skills in the writing of nonfiction. A work of creative nonfiction, if well written, contains accurate and well-researched information and also holds the interest of the reader. Creative nonfiction is contrasted to "research nonfiction" which may contain accurate information, but may not be particularly well written.
Forms of creative nonfiction include the personal essay and the memoir.
Narrative nonfiction is a type of creative nonfiction which tells a story, for example, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden. Black Hawk Down began as a series of newspaper and Internet articles. Its availability as an Internet series gave the author the benefit of extensive feedback from viewers. Bob Woodward of the Washington Post is also noted for his skills at narrative nonfiction, in books like All the President's Men and Bush at War.
Noted practitioners of creative nonfiction
Noted practitioners of creative nonfiction include
- Bill Bryson: writer of humorous travelogues
- Annie Dillard
- Frank McCourt: Angela's Ashes is perhaps the most widely known work of creative nonfiction.
- Joyce Carol Oates: On Boxing, which includes a portrait of Mike Tyson.
- P. J. O'Rourke: a humorous nonfiction writer with political interests
- George Plimpton: Paper Lion
- David Sedaris
External links
- Creative Nonfiction (http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/whatiscnf.htm), a journal devoted exclusively to the genre
- What is creative non-fiction? (http://www.class.uidaho.edu/druker/nonfic.html) Phil Druker, University of Idaho
- Lettre Ulysses Award for the Art of Reportage (http://www.lettre-ulysses-award.org/)
Audio/video links
- Audio CSPAN - Interview with Lee Gutking (http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/sound/gutkind/cnfis/cnfis1.ram) gives a definition of the genre
- Audio CSPAN - Interview with Lee Gutking (http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/sound/gutkind/cnfexamples/cnfexamples.ram) gives examples of authors who write in the genre