PART 1

Introduction to Creative Nonfiction

At the end of this module, you are expected to attain the following learning
outcomes:
A. Know what creative nonfiction is;
B. Identify creative nonfiction from creative fiction.

What is creative nonfiction?

This type of writing begins with the facts, elaborates on the facts, interprets
them, and more importantly, presents them in an interesting and engaging
way.

In other words, it is a “more imaginative approach to the reporting of facts”.

Common literary examples of nonfiction include expository, argumentative, functional, and

opinion pieces; essays on art or literature; biographies; memoirs; journalism; and historical,
scientific, technical, or economic writings (including electronic ones).
 ACTIVITY 1
Based on the definition above, identify if the following books are nonfiction
or fiction.

Write your answers in yellow pad.

Book Nonfiction or Fiction?

1.

2016 — by Rey E. De la Cruz and Tenni Magcase

The author tells the story of growing up with his family in the small town
of Ballesteros in the Province of Cagayan, Luzon, in the Philippines.

2.

When Lakas and his dad go shopping, they meet a very special fish
that can jump, play, and more. his fish won't stay put in his fish
tank! Once it leaps out, a cast of unusual Manilatown characters
chases it down Kearny Street and all the way to San Francisco
Bay. ill Lakas and his friends ever catch this sly and charming fish?
Will Lakas's dearest wish come true?
 3.

"A little known story about the friendship between the great singer
and the great scientist, Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein, and a
lesson that true friendship knows no bounds. It's 1937, and Marian
Anderson is one of the most famous singers in America. But after
she gives a performance for an all-white audience, she learns that
the nearby hotel is closed to African Americans. She doesn't know
where she'll stay for the night. Until the famous scientist Albert
Einstein invites her to stay at his house. Marian, who endures
constant discrimination as a Black performer, learns that Albert
faced prejudice as a Jew in Germany. She discovers their shared
passion for music—and their shared hopes for a more just world."
4.

From the celebrated team of Nikki Grimes and Elizabeth Zunon

comes a child’s imagination-fueled adventure out at sea—or maybe
it’s just the bathtub! Night has fallen and Mom and Dad need to get
their little one in the tub. To make it more fun, Mom brings a
magical adventure out at sea to life, where the faucet is a waterfall,
a rubber ducky is a sea creature, and the splashing water is a
raging sea! In their ocean journey, Mom and Dad manage to get
their little one clean just in time to dock for bedtime.
 5.

"In a small village in India, a boy grows up to make a huge

difference in his community by planting trees to celebrate the birth
of every girl. Based on a true story, this book celebrates
environmental sustainability, community activism and ecofeminism.
This is the story of Sundar Paliwal, who is from a small Indian
village ruled by ancient customs. As he grows to be a man, Sundar
suffers much heartbreak and decides it is time for change to come
to his village. Sundar is determined to live in a place where girls are
valued as much as boys and where the land is not devastated by
irresponsible mining. Sundar's plan? To celebrate the birth of every
girl with the planting of 111 trees.
Activity 2

Read the stories below and answer the questions that follow.

Grey Goose and Gander

Once upon a time, there was a peaceful kingdom. The king heard rumors that barbarians
were going to attack his castle soon. So he called his two favorite pets - the huge grey
goose and gander.

“My dear goose and gander, our kingdom is in danger. Take my daughter to a safe place
on top of the tallest hill," said the king. So the grey goose and gander flew the princess
who sat in a red sheet over the one-strand river to the top of the tallest hill.

Six months had passed but the kingdom was not attacked. The king regretted his decision
and told the grey goose and gander to bring home his daughter. Then the king
understood that he had to be careful before taking actions based up the rumors which
need not be true. The king was aware of his discretion before taking any decision.

1. What is the moral of the story?

a. You do not have to overreact just because you overheard rumors.

b. You have to have pets because they will be helping you in the future.
c. One needs soldiers in order to protect the king and his kingdom.
d. You have to protect yourself from rumors.

2. Is the story of the Grey Goose and Gander a creative fiction or a creative
nonfiction? Explain your answer.

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Activity 3

Read the stories below and answer the questions that follow.

Would Antonio Luna Have Been a Strongman?

Eyes flashing and fists clenched, Luna entered the house and ran upstairs, after sleeping
a sentry who had been too unnerved to salute. Upstairs, Luna was met by his mortal foe,
Felipe Buencamino, who told him that Aguinaldo had gone to San Isidro. (Nick J oaquin,
1997, 178)

1. What does the text say about Antonio Luna?

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2. Could the clenching of fists and flashing of eyes be documented by Nick
Joaquin?
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3. Did the text remain factual?

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4. Based on your answers above, would you say that the text is fiction or
nonfiction?
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 Types of Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction covers a very broad field in the writing discipline;

however, at the end of it is the term literary journalism or new
journalism- writing in a personal way about the facts in a news event, and
on the other end is the literary memoir, what Annie Dillard referred to when
she said “works of nonfiction can be coherent and crafted work of
Literature” (1995).

The earlier statement which is “a writer of creative nonfiction may not alter
the facts in the interest of improving his story (Hidalgo)”, may not
necessarily be applied in literary memoir or a travel essay where it may be
useful to say or invent a travelling companion who would serve as a foil to
the narrator by presenting entirely different expressions of the place
described.
Due to the extensive range it covers, creative nonfiction, aside from being
classified as a literary memoir and literary journalism mentioned earlier in
this module, there are still some terms to be considered in identifying the
types and classifications of writing under the mentioned two types, which
may be under literary memoir or literary journalism depending upon their
manners of construction and the information they ought to provide.

1. Profile- an in-depth article or essay that concentrates on one

person or a place.

2. Literary journalism or new journalism- writing in a personal way

about the facts in a news event.

3. Personal narratives or “life stories”- may be divided into

autobiographical narratives (e.g., journals, memoirs, travel
narratives, etc.); and biographical narratives (e.g., character
sketches, interview stories, etc.)

Activity 4

Write about your most memorable stay in a place in at least 3 paragraphs.

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PART 2
Now that you have an idea of what
creative nonfiction is and had even
(somehow) written your own which is
your most memorable stay in a place,
we will now proceed on our next lesson:

The Pre-Writing Process.

Pre-writing Process for Creative Nonfiction

These are the steps before writing a creative nonfiction:

1. Select a topic.

What are you interested in?

You should begin with something close to home or close to you, something
you are interested in or curious about, but it shouldn’t stop you from
reaching the world. However modest it may be, a work that pretends to be
literature should be both local and universal, both timely and
enduring. Alfred Gonzales (1947)

2. Determining the audience.

Who do you want to read your write-up?

All the facts in the world would be wasted on readers who are unable to
appreciate them.

Thus, it is necessary to handle and organize your essay depending upon

who the target audience is. Your choice of language is also a necessary
factor to consider- i.e., the choice of words, the length of sentences, the
images, the allusions. Your approach would also vary upon the audience-
i.e., personal narrative would not be so effective to children, yet, it may be
effective to adult people. The amount and type of information that the essay
or article should contain would also depend on the audience’s capacity to
absorb it.

3. Gathering Data

How much do you know about your subject?

In gathering information, you have to consider the following factors:

What kind of information?

Where to get it?
Keep current information?

It is also immensely important to develop in yourself the art of listening.

Think about 5 things that interest you most and complete the table below:
Here, I gave you an example from my own topic of interest.
TOPIC TARGET INFORMATION GATHERED ABOUT
AUDIENCE THE TOPIC
Example: I have gathered the following information from my
travels to Sagada:
-Sagada is a cold place.
- The Cordillera region of Northern Philippines is the
ancestral domain of the Igorots.
Travelling to Sagada Travelers -While they still live in their traditions and tribal homes,
Igorots also work as tour guides of whom I met many
during my travelling there.
-Although they are not tall, Igorots are good-looking.
Yes, like carrot man!

You can write the information you already know

(just make sure they are facts) and the information
you gathered from the internet or other sources.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.