10-Easy-Steps to Become a Creative Nonfiction Writer

This post will teach you how to write creative nonfiction through discovery of what impacts your life with meaning. Often times, writers will first focus on the formal structure of sentences and how paragraphs should flow. However, to do it that way, puts us at risk for dry writing. There is another way, a way that will show your feelings and get your inner message out to your readers, and more so, make them wet their lips. You'll do this by investigating your senses and your memories.

Tools needed:

·      Object of personal memorabilia

·      Pen and paper (or pencil or computer; any implement in which you most comfortably write)

·      Uninterrupted time. Allotted time is up to you. I’d estimate between twenty minutes and an  hour. If you go over or under in time, no worries.  

1. Pick an object from your personal surroundings (like in your favorite room, hobby nook, or formal entry way). It should be an object that you keep because you just can’t part with it or else life just wouldn’t be the same. The object might not even have any real purpose—or it may; either way is fine. You’ll need to be able to clearly see this object as you write.

2. Look it over and let your mind wander for but a moment, no more than a moment.

3. Write down your description of it. Pretty? How is it pretty? Ugly? How is it ugly. Is it sharp, dull, smooth? Let a paragraph flow out of you to describe what it truly looks like.

4.  Write down, in your next paragraph(s) of where it came from. How did you acquire it? Don’t focus on why, but how you got it.

5. Who do you think of when you observe this object? If the object is reminiscent to someone, write about the personal correlation. If on the other hand, you are the only person who comes to mind, describe how you are related to the object.  

6. What event brought about this correlation? When was that event? In the paragraph(s) following your explanation of who is associated with it, detail the instance this person and you connected with this object.

7. And flowing from your last few words, where were you when that person, the object, and you came together? Can you remember something happening in which this object played a featured role in your relationship to one another? If so, share this through your writing.

8. Again, another “how” question to answer in your writing. How has the meaning of this object evolved over time? Or, if it has lost its value or meaning, how so?

9. In our concluding paragraph(s), delve deep into why this object has remained with you, rather than passed on to someone else. Why didn’t it make it into your last garage sale? Why didn’t it get tossed in the bag you handed to charity? Describe why you feel attached to this object.

10.You have now completed a full page of creative writing, perhaps more. If you’d like, do a spell check or run through for grammar, but don’t change any logistical wording. It is what is is; it is about what brings meaning to your life.

It is factual, (it is nonfiction), but written creatively. Take pride in a piece of completed creative nonfiction writing. Allow your work to let you know yourself better, as a creative nonfiction writer. And if you’d like, submit your accomplishment for review in a publication of which you admire. For more ideas on how to write creatively, follow my blog. Thus far, I’ve been updating here each Sunday.

-Elle-