Introduction to Creative Nonfiction The Memoir The Narrative

The Memoir n Story retrieved from the writer’s memory with the writer as the

Memoirs You May Have Read n Elie n The Wiesel, Night Diary of Anne

Difference between a Memoir and a Personal Essay (or narrative) n Goal of Memoir:

Techniques: Image and Voice n Often – conversational tone – storytelling tone n NOT

Technique 2: Scenes n Not like setting n Like snapshots or scenes in a

Technique 3: Character n Detail: vivid and HONEST depictions of self and others n

Technique 4: Self-reflection n Often focused on an epiphany or revelation n Usually frames

Practice! n Please open your writer’s notebooks n Make a list of 6 topics

Practice! n Freewrite for 5 minutes on one of each of your topics (like,

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Introduction to Creative Nonfiction! The Memoir, The Narrative Essay, and more

The Memoir n Story retrieved from the writer’s memory with the writer as the protagonist n Almost always uses first person n Often involves self-reflection and commentary of events – Like The Wonder Years

Memoirs You May Have Read n Elie n The Wiesel, Night Diary of Anne Frank n Maya Angelou, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings n Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried n Alice Sebold, Lucky: A Memoir

Difference between a Memoir and a Personal Essay (or narrative) n Goal of Memoir: sets up dialogue between writer and his/her past. Predominantly narrative, typically over extended period of time, usually chronological. n Goal of Personal Essay: set up dialogue between writer and audience, usually to make specific point.

Techniques: Image and Voice n Often – conversational tone – storytelling tone n NOT – Authoritative tone – formal tone n Vivid personal imagery

Technique 2: Scenes n Not like setting n Like snapshots or scenes in a film n Division of story into detailed moments, discoveries, and decisions n Can fit into Freytag’s pyramid BUT does not have to

Technique 3: Character n Detail: vivid and HONEST depictions of self and others n Dialogue – Attempt to recreate voices from memory – Does not have to be word for word conversations – Summaries and important quotes

Technique 4: Self-reflection n Often focused on an epiphany or revelation n Usually frames scenes – Thoughts at beginning and thoughts at end – NOT LIKE AN INTRODUCTION AND A CONCLUSION but your own thoughts on the relevance of that particular moment.

Practice! n Please open your writer’s notebooks n Make a list of 6 topics (things/events/places/values/ideas) that you would like to write about n Make a list of 6 topics that you would not like to write about n Make a list of 6 titles using the word “On” – On My Way, On Falling In Love…

Practice! n Freewrite for 5 minutes on one of each of your topics (like, don’t like, on) n Review reading – Underline any interesting words/phrases/sentences