David Sedaris/Creative Nonfiction

 David Sedaris on NPR:

http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/lists/sedaris/


http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/Me%20Talk%20Pretty%20One%20Day%20by%20Sedaris.pdf

http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/dashton2/autobiographywebpage/index.html



Some good websites for the topic:
http://www.creativenonfiction.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_nonfiction
http://www.class.uidaho.edu/druker/nonfic.html

Goals of creative non-fiction

1. Deal with an issue/problem people are concerned about or find a way to make them concerned or interested.

Consider your audience
Use non-fiction techniques to draw the reader in:

narration

characterization

setting/place

personal involvement

Give background to educate your readers
Give your readers new information to help them understand themselves, the world better

2.Provide accurate data.

Be truthful.  Be honest.
Research thoroughly and carefully (the more you look, the more you’ll find)
Use a variety of sources:

primary (interviews, trips to the place, personal experience, surveys)
secondary (library research . . . .)

Cite your sources so readers know how you gathered the information

3. Report fairly.

Be objective.
Be logical.
Select information carefully.
Provide details.
Use facts, real people, real situations. Be frank. Don’t be too personal.

4. Interpret your information.

*Introduce
*Give facts, examples, quotations, . . .
*Analyze, interpret, explain, synthesize.

5. Draw conclusions.
6. Organize your information.

Put your information in a logical order (chronological, spatial, dramatic, general to specific. . . .).
Put your information in an interesting order.
Use clear paragraphs (topic/purpose).
Deal with information in blocks.
Consider using headings.

7. Use interesting language.

vivid, useful details
quotations / vernacular
metaphor
imagery
humor
rhythm, pacing