Introduction of Nonfiction

How this class will work (and why the subject is important and why you’ll like it! Plus, why parentheses are

bad. Exclamation marks, too!)

What is nonfiction?

• Nonfiction is writing that states fact.• Examples: Autobiography, biography, essays,

history, journalism, user manuals, and let’s not forget creative nonfiction (the subject of this course, of course)

So what is this “creative nonfiction”?

• Creative nonfiction can also be known as narrative nonfiction.– Narrative: a telling of some true or fictitious event

or connected sequence of events, recounted by a narrator to a narratee (although there may be more than one of each). Narratives are to be distinguished from descriptions of qualities, states, or situations, and also from dramatic enactments of events (although a dramatic work may also include narrative speeches). – Literary Dictionary

Huh?

• Pretty confusing definition, I know.• Here it is simply put: creative nonfiction is

writing that tells a narrative, which is a story.• That long definition brings us to the first rule

of writing:– #1: Keep it Simple

Mr. Del Muro’s Rules

• Throughout this course, I will present “rules,” for lack of a better term, that will help you in all of your writing—creative or academic.

• Honesty note: I have stolen most of these rules from other sources, who had stolen those rules from other sources.

What this class consists of…

• Reading—Articles and Books • Writing—Compositions written without the

restrictions of literary analysis. Free your voice.

• Tests and Quizzes—After the first two days of class, you will have a test or a quiz every class.

What this class won’t consist of…• Essay writing—Erase the word “essay” from your

vocabulary while you are in this class. The stuff you will be writing is not “academic” in nature. Rather, the stuff you write will be things people outside of the classroom will want to read.

• Formal writing—Please use contractions and some slang Please use short sentences. Please use short paragraphs.

• Boring reading—With the possible exception of the “text” for this class (On Writing Well), which is awesome, all the other books and articles assigned are exemplary and enjoyable.

• Note Taking—Why take notes when you’ll always have access to these slides?

Take a breath

• Wait two minutes on this slide.• Think of everything you were taught about

how to write “properly.”• Now forget those rules.• Think about what you like to read. If

necessary, grab one of those books, or magazines. Try to figure out what you like about it.

• OK, continue.

Things you’ll need before you begin

Create a Blog

• Now that you’ve signed up for a Google Account, you are ready to start a blog

• There are several sites you can use to host your blog. I’ll recommend two:– Blogger.com – you have one already if you have a

Google Account.– Wordpress.com

• Now, pick a creative blog name and style it any way you want. You are ready to go.

Return to Moodle. You are ready to begin!