NONFICTION 4.

Plot and plot structure: The main

events that make up the story
 wide kind of compositions that
5. Figurative language: helps the writer to
incorporates all books that are not
provide aesthetics to the piece. It gives
established in an anecdotal account
a vibrant effect to the story.
CREATIVE NONFICTION 6. Imagery: Helps also to add color in
writing a nonfiction piece.
 can be classified in history and 7. Angle/Point of view: Most of the time
biography; it might be instructional; it nonfiction adheres with the use of First
can offer publication and humor; and it Person Point of View since the
can mull over philosophical requests. experiences are being told.
Fact- The core of nonfiction 8. Dialogue: This can help to make the
story run within the characters.
Extensive research- provides accurate and 9. Theme: It is the central idea or
reliable information that you may use in writing universal truth presented in the work.
your nonfiction write-up.
The 5’Rs of Creative Nonfiction
Reportage/reporting- Documenting the
gathered information like interviews and Lee Gutkind writer, professor, and expert on
reports helps you keep records and files for creative nonfiction.
future usages. 1. REAL LIFE
Personal experience and personal opinion-  Creates concepts of a story using the
main source of contents; it makes an easy way vital and real information about the
to write a piece. subject which can be associated with
close attributes of the real experiences.
Explanation/Exposition- expected to attain the 2. REFLECTION
objectives of the piece.  After gathering information, the writer
Essay format- The outputs in creative nonfiction needs to scrutinize and analyze the
are often in essay format. Examples: Procedural gathered information. It will help the
Essay, Personal Essay, Literary essays, writer to be more factual based.
descriptive essay 3. RESEARCH
 find out relevant and vital information
COMMON LITERARY DEVICES about the subject.
1. Storytelling/narration: to help the  finish investigating and weighing
readers understand the flow of the information that will be included in the
story. story.
2. Character/Characterization. The main 4. READING
character serves as the core or central  Reading while conducting research is
idea of the storyline. not enough. The writer must recall the
3. Setting, atmosphere and scene: The components through reading to
writer creates scenes that are action- improve and make some modifications.
oriented; include dialogue; and contain 5. WRITING
vivid descriptions.  Writing imaginatively true to life is both
a workmanship and specialty
TYPES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION 1. Narrative Structure. telling the story
chronologically, from beginning to end.
1. Personal Essay: based on personal
2. Braided Structure: Telling a story by
experience or a single event; the writer uses
weaving or combining two, sometimes
the first person “I.”
three, narratives or stories.
2. Memoir: real story within a time or period
3. Collage: Using a thematic and
of life; the writer uses the first person “I” in
segmented approach that combines a
the story.
quotation or two, poem, scene,
3. Literary journalism essay: output on an
metaphor, simile, allusion,
issue or topic using the understood literary
personification, image, vignette,
devices, such as the elements of fiction and
anecdote, a short, short, true story,
figurative languages.
with an epiphany.
4. Autobiography: own life story of the
4. Frame: Telling a story by opening with a
author, from birth to the present, using the
particular scene or reflecting and
first person “I”
closing with a particular scene or
5. Travel Writing: The writer creates article
reflection.
narration about travel using literary devices
5. Narrative with Flashback: Telling a
and figurative languages.
story using scene, summary, reflection,
6. Food writing: about food and cuisine using
and flashbacks.
literary techniques that mat lead to a
review and recommendation.
 Distinctive Voice (persona age), Style
7. Profiles: The writer constructs life stories of
(persona on the page), Intimate Point of
people using literary devices
View (perspective)
THEME  Detail and Description.

 a thread that runs throughout a whole Scene and Summary.

book Green (2018)
1. Setting – time and place of the story
 broader message of the story.
2. Action – something that happens
CENTRAL IDEAS 3. Dialogue – something being said
4. Vivid description – concrete and specific
 most essential ideas of a text; the key details
points the author wants to make; The 5. Imagery – language that invokes reader’s
BIG idea. sense of sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing
 Central idea is directly stated near the 6. Point of View – first, second, third persons
beginning of the text. 7. Figurative language – simile, metaphor, etc.
8. Beginning, middle and ending – a scene has
TOOLBOX OF TECHNIQUES (Hood, 2012) a beginning, middle and end

 Topic and Question. Summary: tells the readers what happened

 Narrative Structure or Shape of a TECHNIQUES OF FICTION
Story.
 Setting-time and place and context,
5 POPULAR NARRATIVE STRUCTURE which provides the backdrop to the
true story
  Narrative Arc ( inciting incident, conflict experimentation, and a creative mind, to
and setback, climax, epiphany, write creatively, to write poetry, to write
resolution) fiction, to write a personal essay, to write
 Point of View- first person “I”, Second anything.
Person “You”, third person “He/ She”  Declarative (statement of fact),
 Character development- Developing Interrogative (ask a question), exclamatory
character through action, dialogue, (emphatic) sentences
description  Inverted sentence. E.g. The book of poetry
 Vivid Description-descriptions that are he wrote…The film, the script, the special
concrete and specific ∙ Use of imagery- effects, the story, I enjoyed.
literal imagery through description;  Lose sentence and periodic sentences. main
figurative imagery with simile or idea and clause are at the end of the
metaphor sentence. The main idea and independent
 Theme- the meaning of the story clause are at the beginning of the sentence.

Poetic Devices-Figurative Language: Lyrical Language. to express emotion and

evoke emotion in the reader. This is often the
 Simile case when writing a lyrical essay. The writing
 Metaphor style is based on the following:
 Symbolism
 Personification  repetition of words, phrases, clauses;
 Imagery  parallel structure;
 Assonance and alliteration  rhyme, both rhyme and internal rhyme;
 Allusion  alliteration and assonance; and
 sensory imagery.
Personal Reflection:

 Personal thoughts and feelings

 Opinions
 Ruminations
 Personal perspective
 Stream of consciousness
 Mediations

Word Choice/Diction. Avoid using clichés and

jargon.

Sentence Variety (Length and structure).

 Intentional Fragment. E.g. A pen. Pad of

paper. Time, lots of time. Experimentation.
A creative mind. These are the
requirements of creative writing. ∙ Simple,
compound, complex, compound-complex
sentences
 Parallel structure in sentences, e.g. I require
a pen, pad of paper, spare time,
Different Literary Elements 3. Interest hooks the reader. Without
literary devices, there is a huge
5Rs
possibility that the story will be dull and
 engage you that reality is considered as boring. By incorporating literary
the core of creative nonfiction. techniques in your writing, you add
vivid color and interests to your words,
LITERARY ELEMENTS and avoid being dull.
 help the author to express their 4. Use abstract information. More
thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions common in fiction stories, literary
in the most aesthetic ways and devices can help the author convey
sometimes also used to conceal and to abstract concepts or information to the
lighten up the choice of words. reader. They can help communicate the
 the fundamental building blocks of work’s overall meaning or theme,
writing without the writer having to directly
 Helps us to write, read and understand state the purpose.
literature. 5. Establish clear and vivid pictures with
your words. Literary devices like
Hartgers (2020) imagery can help to create visual
pictures or imageries in the reader’s
 writing techniques used to create
imagination.
artistic special effects, that immerse
the reader into a narrative, story, or Some common reasons why authors use literary
text devices are to:
 specific ways that storytellers use words
in specific patterns to tell their stories. 1. Illustrate the storyline
2. Clarify certain points or concepts;
 considered as main tools in a writer’s
3. Convey abstract information;
toolbox
4. Draw attention to important pieces of
 Popular literary devices include
the story or topic;
allusion, diction, foreshadowing,
5. Engage and captivate readers;
imagery, metaphors, similes and
6. Encourage readers to interact with the
personification.
story a little deeper; and
Here are the MAIN REASONS to use literary 7. Enhance the reader’s experience.
devices in your writing:
Hartgers (2020)
1. Include special effects in writing. Some
portion of appearing, and not telling,  also provided some examples of literary
through your story includes the elements
utilization of literary devices and  similes, metaphors, personification,
different strategies in your narration. hyperbole, and symbolism.
2. Establish connection with your
audience. You can bring the reader into
your story, and urge them to connect
with the content. Literary devices can
stimulate the reader’s mind, and giving
them a deeper reading experience.
REASONS TO USE LITERARY ELEMENTS IN Imagery - A literary device that appeals to the
WRITING: reader’s physical senses.

A. The number one rule to writing is to “show, Juxtaposition - When a writer places two
don’t tell”. contrasting concepts, people, or events directly
side- by-side in a sentence or paragraph.
B. Help you to have vivid illustrations.
Motif - When a recurrent element (such as an
C. Form an interesting and unforgettable
image, sound, or concept) is found throughout
experience.
a story, to help develop the theme, or central
D. Effective way to captivate readers on any message.
topic.
Metaphor - An implicit comparison between
LITERARY ELEMENTS two or more things

Alussion - refers to external people, events, or Simile - An explicit comparison be- tween two
things. These are people who are not part of or more things using the words "like" or "as."
the story itself.
Personification - When a writer gives inani-
Alliteration - device where an initial consonant mate objects or inhuman beings (like animals)
sounds is being repeated in the words of a human characteristics or attributes.
phrase or a sentence.
Onomatopoeia -A word or phrase that conveys
Anaphora - repetition of the same word or the sound of something
phrase at the beginning of successive
Oxymoron - A combination of contrasting, or
sentences.
opposite, words.
Diction - specific choice of words used helps
Paradox - A sentence or a phrase that appears
determine the style in which the person is
contradictory, but implies some kind truth.
speaking or writing. It can be a formal, informal,
colloquial, slang or poetic. Assonance - Repetition of vowel sounds in
every word in a line or a sentence.
Euphemism - a mild or indirect word or
expression substituted for one considered to be Consonance - Repetition of consonant sounds
too harsh or blunt when refer- ring to within the words in a line or a sentence.
something unpleas- ant or embarrassing.

Epistrophe - The repetition of a word or phrase

at the end of a sentence.

Flashbacks - It is an interjected scene that takes

the narrative back in time from the current
point in the story.

Foreshadowing - A clue at what will happen

next, or at some point, in the story.

Hyperbole - Extreme exaggeration of a real

event or situation.
LITERARY TEXTS 4. Impart Dialogues and other
conventions if necessary. Makes the
Narrative Nonfiction Writing
piece more interesting and appealing to
 Purpose- To provide personal insights the readers. The diction plays also
and emotions while experiencing the important thing in your writing.
event or the topic Remember your target audience.
 Other language features- Use Past tense 5. Think of possible titles of your piece.
of the verb to discuss what happened. Make at least three possible titles of
Dialogues may be used your piece. Should be interesting and
catchy to the target audience.
Informative Nonfiction Writing 6. Read your draft. Will help to review
 Purpose- To provide information about and comprehend the things and
the topic information that you have written.
 Other language features- Ideas shall be
presented in present tense. The use of EVALUATING ONE’S DRAFT
formal diction is appropriate
1. Clarity of the Idea Presented. Clear
Argumentative Nonfiction Writing ideas are characterized as one which is
 Purpose- To encourage the readers; to caught to the point that it will be
present a position on an significant and perceived by any place it is met with;
current topic and support it thus, no one will be confused with it.
 Other language features- Diction shall 2. Appropriate Choice of Literary
be considered especially with the Elements. Mastery is needed. Literary
target audience. Present tense shall be elements that are not applicable to a
used in presenting the arguments. particular genre or type of nonfiction.
3. Appropriate Use of Element
4. Effective Combination of Ideas and the
DRAFT OF A SHORT PIECE USING LITERARY Chosen Element. This is much like the
CONVENTIONS effect literary devices have over the
ideas presented in the text. The devices
Prewriting/Planning- thinking of the possible
used in others are used to express and
concept or ideas. Conceptualizing helps to
elevate certain types of emotions and
determine the flow of the write-up.
meanings that poet wishes to convey.
1. Identify your topic. Shall be interesting This is done so that the readers feel
with your target audience. and respond in a certain way.
2. Outline your story/output. Help you
organize your thoughts.
3. Use the learned styles, elements and
techniques. Guide you to adhere to the
aim of your writings. The use of these
elements and techniques provide vivid
impact to the readers once you are
done writing it.