Nonfiction Writing Challenge

 


Nonfiction is a literary genre that has a strong field of books and talented authors that have captivated readers since the beginning of publishing. Nonfiction can be a form of historical or academic writing, but it is also so much more than that. The genre encompasses a wide variety of educational writings, historical research, and coverage of current events and thoughts. But beyond just recording history or teaching people, many nonfiction writers also write to entertain the reader and draw you into their book through the stories that can flow as beautifully as a well-written work of fiction. 

Many nonfiction writers use literary devices that are common in fictional pieces. For example, writers of both fiction and nonfiction use the idea of “show, but don’t tell” to engage the senses of the readers and give them a deeper connection to the story being told. The authors use recurrent imagery, dialogue, and vivid descriptions of the setting including textures and smells to connect with readers on multiple levels. 

Examples: 

Into Thin Air

Brave Companions by David McCullough

Death of a Soldier by Louisa May Alcott


Literary nonfiction can be written by students using the same approach they would take with fiction. Nonfiction works have a tone, a plot, point of view, a unique setting, and a list of characters. They have themes running throughout the work, and they are also packed with symbolism. 

Challenge: 

Write a creative nonfiction essay about your own life or about the life of a family member. This project doesn't have to cover your/their entire life. It can cover one event or time period you think readers would find interesting. You can choose the length of this creative essay. 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

While Pencils Move: A Short Story for Mothers

Image
While Pencils Move ©Chris Pepple 2013                It’s that time of day again. It’s two o’clock in the afternoon. The laundry smells fresh from the scent of my fabric softener I used this morning. A warm spinach and feta cheese aroma lingers in the kitchen from our pizza we completely devoured. The cats have settled into their comfy spots for an afternoon siesta. My children are stretched out in the floor in front of me. One has an open math book. The other one has her history book opened to a section on World War II. She is reading and taking notes.                These moments are times I cherish. I look over my computer screen and watch my children learning and growing. I remember when their legs didn't stretch out this far. I also remember when their homework involved mostly coloring or cutting and gluing. Now they think...
Read more

November 5 Writing Challenge

Greetings! Welcome back to another week of writing challenges. Here are some questions to make you think: Are you setting aside time to write daily if you have big projects you are working on? Are you reading daily? Are you writing in a setting that works well for you? Are you willing to revise what you write? Here’s a challenge for you to consider: Set aside one writing project you are working on for at least a full day. When you read through your writing after the day has passed, try to look at the piece with fresh eyes. Do you think your piece still flows well? Do you see edits that need to be made? Now, back to other business…This week, let’s talk about secondary or minor characters in a book. All books start with main characters that readers can sympathize with or relate to. Books and stories also need the supporting cast, however. These can be friends or enemies of the main character. Consider allies, enemies and mentors to be the supporting characters in a story. Allie...
Read more

A Writing Challenge: Atavistic

Here’s a word I have been thinking a lot about lately: atavistic. Many people consider the word to have a negative connotation. Atavism means to revert to an ancestral type. People often use this in the sense of going backwards or reverting to an out-dated way of being or thinking. The word can be used to imply that something or someone is flawed or primitive by today’s standards. However, I like to think of the word in a different sense. I like to think that the reappearance of a characteristic from an ancestor could be strength for some of us. For instance, I have discovered letters written by my grandmother and her sisters that contain beautiful imagery and are written in a unique writing style. A few people have commented that I get my writing talents from some of my ancestors on my maternal grandmother’s side of the family. Other people wonder where their musical talents come from only to discover that their great-grandfather was noted in his area for his musical ability. So...
Read more