A reader and I got into a discussion a few weeks ago about what the term "creative nonfiction" means. I had always thought of it as actual events presented with the same flair that a fictional piece would have: that is, not just a listing of facts in chronological order, but a narrative with the details drawn out slowly so that character has time to be developed, suspense a chance to be built, scenes the opportunity to be firmly set, mood the time to be effectively transmitted. To me, the difference between "report" and "creative nonfiction" is not in the facts but in the style and deliberation with which those facts are presented.
Since this reader pointed it out to me, I've noticed that a number of writing contests I review for posting on my Writer Resources page go out of their ways to define creative nonfiction.
And really, it's no wonder. In the past few years, a few particularly egregious scandals in the publishing world have called into question where the border is that divides nonfiction and fiction. When a book labeled as nonfiction is discovered to be true only on a few points, the backlash can be severe. Not only the author but his publisher, agent, and editors are punished widely by media, industry, and public opinion. And readers feel their trust has been betrayed.
So just how much literary license can a writer take in a nonfiction piece before crossing the line into fabrication? Is it acceptable to leave out facts that are related to the event but not relevant to the point being made? Is it all right to change minor details, like a character's name or hair color, in order to protect real people's identities? What about combining the traits of several real people into a single composite character? And how is perception to be handled? A thing may seem to be true when considered by a person on the inside of an event, while an uninvolved witness may not see things the same way. Does that mean the inside character cannot possibly be a teller of unvarnished truth?
These are not easy questions. The lines are not always clear. Further, there are definitions of "creative nonfiction" out there, and they vary widely. Here are three examples that demonstrate some of that range.
1) From the submission guidelines of the literary journal called, appropriately, Creative Nonfiction:
What we're looking for:
- Strong reportage
- Well-written prose, rich with detail and a distinctive voice.
- An informational quality or instructive element that offers the reader something to learn (an idea, concept or collection of facts, strengthened with insight, reflection and interpretation.)
- A compelling, focused, sustained narrative that is well-structured, makes sense and conveys meaning.
It's interesting to note that while the "creative" portion of the term is well-defined, in this case the "nonfiction" part is not addressed at all.
2) From Write From Home, a resource and network for aspiring writers:
Creative Nonfiction: nonfiction in the 1st person.
It seems that in this source's opinion, the definition of "creative" doesn't matter, only the point of view.
3) From the University of Southern Maine's Stonecast MFA program:
a broad range of nonfiction genres, spanning the lyrical, personal, and meditative essay, as well as literary journalism and memoir
This is indeed an inclusive range; many other definitions, by contrast, only include literary journalism as THE genre defined as "creative nonfiction."
With this degree of variation, what's a writer to do? Of course, if you're writing for a contest or a call for submissions, your best bet is to peruse the complete guidelines and determine whether a specific type of work is being sought. Be sure your work conforms to that definition strictly. But when no guidance is offered, as is often the case, it may be best to err to the conservative. If a detail makes you question even for a moment whether someone else would view it as less than factual, consider revising or even eliminating it (when elimination will not create a "lie of omission," that is).
For more in-depth reading on the subject of creative nonfiction, try these sources:
Barrie Jean Borich Web Site
from the University of Idaho's Phil Druker
resource list compiled by Endicott College
© 2008 by AnnaLisa Michalski