TYPES OF

CREATIVE
NONFICTION
By Dr. Maricon C. Viduya
MOST POPULAR TYPES OF
CNF
 Personal Essay. The writer crafts and essay that is based on personal experience or a single
event, which results in significant personal meaning or a lesson learned. The writer uses the
first person “I.”
 Memoir. The writer constructs a true story about a time or period in his/life, one that had
significant personal meaning and a universal truth. The writer composes the story using the
first person “I.”
 Literary journalism essay. The writer crafts an essay about an issue or topic using literary
devices, such as the elements of fiction and figurative language.
 Autobiography. The writer composes his/her life story, from birth to the present, using the
first person “I.”
 Travel Writing. The writer crafts articles or essays about travel using literary devices.

 Food writing. The writer crafts stories about food and cuisine using literary devices.

 Profiles. The writer constructs biographies or essays on real people using literary devices.
TYPES OF CNF ACCORDING TO BARBARA
LOUNSBERRY
AND GAY TALESE
According to Barbara Lounsberry and Gay Talese
1. lives (diaries, memoirs, autobiographies,
biographies)
2. events (histories, journalism)
3. places (travel writing, nature writing, science
writing)
4. ideas (essays, including religious and philosophical
works)
 PERSONAL ESSAY MEMOIR
   

can be about almost anything tends to discuss past events

can be a relatively light reflection tends to focus more on striking or
about what’s going on in your life life-changing events
right now
the personal essay explores, free interprets, analyzes, and seeks the
from any need to interpret deeper meaning beneath the
surface experience of particular
events
What’s my idea or opinion about a Why was this event of particular
life experience e.g. why I believe in significance?
angels, why I fast What did it mean?
Shorter than a memoir Longer than a personal essay
Can be narrative or non narrative (it Usually but not necessarily narrative
can tell a story in a traditional way
or in an improvised way of doing so
THE NARRATIVE ESSAY
Narrative Essay
 A narrative essay tells a story that has a point to be made. The reader may
receive an idea or a lesson from the essay. The story is told using sensory
details and emotional language.
 Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-
tips/tips-for-writing-a-personal-narrative-essay.html#rjvX1y2Qcq1d2BZp.99
THE NARRATIVE ESSAY
 Narration is telling a story from a certain viewpoint, and there is usually a
reason for the telling.
 All narrative essays will have characters, setting, climax, and most
importantly, a plot. The plot is the focus of the story and is usually revealed
chronologically, but there are sometimes flash forwards and flash backs. 
 In writing a narrative essay, remember to:

 Include sensory and emotional details, so the reader will experience the
story, not just read about it
 Have the story support the point you are making, and make reference to
that point in the first sentence.
 Write in the first or third person
 A narrative essay usually reflects something of a personal nature so many
times it becomes a personal narrative essay. 
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
A personal narrative essay is about a personal
experience, so it is usually written in the first
person.
To maximize its impact, the essay should:
 Be written to have an emotional impact on the
reader
 Include a lot of references to sensory
perceptions and emotions
STRUCTURE OF THE ESSAY
 The opening of the essay needs to let the reader know the
essence of what you will be describing and your point of
view.
 The body of the story needs to give the reader a very clear
idea of what happened and how you (the author) feel
about that. The story can be told chronologically or the
facts may be grouped by importance or type.  
 The final paragraph needs to wrap up and state the point
of the story, whether it is a lesson, an idea, or just a
learning experience.  
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Writing a good narrative essay requires you to include interesting
information in an engaging way.
 Record yourself telling the story. That will help your organize your story and
make the writing flow.
 Include anecdotes and dialogue in the essay.

 Use transitory words to connect sentences like: therefore, however, or for

example.
 Vary the structure of your sentences to make the writing more interesting.
Try adding some compound, complex, or interrogative sentences. 
 Make the words lively, descriptive, exciting, active, emotional, and precise.
 
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Here is an example of writing used in a personal narrative essay. Notice the tone and words that set the mood.
You can almost feel the heat and humidity.

“It was the middle of springtime and across from my

house where the incident took place. There was a lake
there in which my brother and I loved to explore from time
to time. The humidity and water drops where reminiscent
of a fully functional sauna. The onslaught of heat and
burning glow of the sun was relentless.”
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/tips-for-writing-a-personal-narrative-
essay.html#w2zzAj6GBhJFVtfi.99
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Focus
 One specific topic, explored through one’s own personal experience

Organization
 The essay should have some kind of coherent organization
 No matter how you choose to organize, make sure that your paragraphs
and ideas flow from one to the next, connected by a common theme
Form
 There is no form, no formula, no tried and true method that you use to be
effective.
 Choose a form and style that suits you and is fitting from the experience
that you are describing.
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Diction/Language
 Use language to enhance what you are writing about and not just a means
to say it
 Be creative
 Use appropriate linguistic play to explore your topic and your own relation
to it in new and complex ways

Choosing a topic
 Choose a significant event in your life
 This can be about almost anything, but something about it should matter
to you.
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Questions before writing
 What can writing about this experience each others?
 What can you learn from revisiting the memory?

In writing a personal essay, the importance of the word “personal” is not to

be undervalued. Whatever you choose to write about must be important to
you, hinge around your experience, and have some impact on you.
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Voice
 Sad? Happy? Serious?
 Is your voice consistent throughout the piece?
 Does it reflect the tone of the piece?

Showing vs. Telling

 A personal does not necessarily need scenes but it does need a well
formed focus or point and imagery can help establish that.
THE PERSONAL ESSAY
Character development
 If the personal essay has characters, make sure they are developed clearly
and that the relationship between characters are developed.
 Create dialogues between characters
 Describe the characters through details