As much as I consider myself a fiction writer, it seems my most successful (and when I say successful, I mean published...and when I say published, I mean twice) writing projects have been memoir or personal essays. The biggest mistake many writers can make is to pigeonhole themselves into one particular genre, simply because … Continue reading Turning Memories into Memoir–Where to Begin?
Tag: personal essays
Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #7
Hello, hello, dear readers! I hope you had as much fun with this as I did; so much fodder! Anyway--feel free to tag me with your response, or however you'd like to get it to me. As always, the links to all of the prior prompts (and my responses) are below. Enjoy! Limber Up Before … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #7
The Road Less Traveled, Revisited
I've been thinking about choices today. We all know Robert Frost's take on making decisions based on which choice is easier--you're a slacker if you do. OK, well, maybe not a slacker...but surely Bobby F would think less of you if you did take that road on the right. And, sure--taking that sketchy, overgrown road … Continue reading The Road Less Traveled, Revisited
Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #5
I hope you're all enjoying lovely, balmy spring weather; here in Maine, the temps have been slow to rise... Anyhoo, here is my response to last week's prompt. Enjoy--and then go write something! Recall a photograph from your life and describe it in a way that suggests (but doesn’t specifically name) why it matters. (Remember … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #5
Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #4
Better late than never--here is my own response to last week's prompt; if you'd like to see the previous posts, I'll include links at the end of this post. Now--go write something! Prompt: Describe a presence in your house (childhood home/current place of residence)—a person, a pet, a piece of furniture, an illness, … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #4
The Role of Imagination in Creative Nonfiction
Writing the truth as we see it — writing honestly — is not just about writing the facts, the way things are. Sometimes, it’s the way we hope things are, or how they could have been, or could be, or even were, as the case may be. Yes, sometimes, writing the truth is about imagining a different reality.
But let me back up.
The expectation of creative nonfiction, as its name implies, is that the writing is true. Indeed, when it’s not true — when we find the writer has “made stuff up,” has intentionally deceived us — we feel betrayed as readers, as though the sacred contract between the writer and reader has been broken. But this intentional kind of deception is not what I’m referring to when talking about imagining a different reality in creative nonfiction.
Rather, I am writing about imagination as truth.
One of the things…
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Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Prompt #4
The wait is over! I'm sure you've all been chomping at the bit for me to post the next prompt--so here it is! I'll be sure to post my own response next week; I've also included links to the previous three prompts and my responses here, here, and here. In the meantime, let's go write … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Prompt #4
Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Prompt #3
Time to get those creative juices flowing again, kids! Take a gander at the prompt below; in my opinion, this one is a bit more challenging than the last two, but see what you think. Mull it over for a bit--but don't overthink it. Just start writing about the first thing that pops into your … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Prompt #3
Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to prompt #2
So for those of you that have been following along, I've attached my response to last week's prompt (see below); I'll be posting prompt #3 early next week. Describe a memorable event--positive or negative--and how it felt to you...but do not name the feeling. Instead, tell how it felt in your body (damp hands, metallic … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to prompt #2
Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #1
Well, better late than never, I always say--here is my response to the prompt I posted on March 14th...I've included the prompt itself below. PROMPT: Describe a memorable “first”–first day at college, first crush, first big disappointment, first airplane ride, first day after the death of a loved one–you get the idea. Be as descriptive … Continue reading Limber Up Before Letting Loose: Response to Prompt #1
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