Teachers Notes
on Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft, by Janet Burroway
by
Geraldine Cannon Becker
Chapter 7: Essay
Kinds of Essay
Essay Techniques
Fact and Truth
Creative Nonfiction: Telling a true story by stretching the real truth to fit the greater truth of your story, your essay, your personal narrative, your memoir, your try.
Creative nonfiction is also writing that is free from malicious deception (252).
The ritual of writing changes the writer--putting words on the stage of the page or the screen, the writing changes the reader as it is taken from the page or the screen, and the written word changes the actual event as it shapes it on the page or the screen.
How do we fill up the white spaces of our lives?
We could make detailed lists describing what happened, where, and to whom.
We could speculate in great detail about why, but would this rough sketching be effective
to present to a reader? What if we knew one or more of the persons involved would not want to be included in our writings? We could write anyway or we could change the story to protect the people involved, still keeping the greater truth.
What is the greater truth--the truth you feel compelled to tell? Why tell this?
The motive you have for writing can give meaning to this truth.
How will you present this truth (243-44)?
Kinds of Essay (244):
Expository: Gives information, usually in great detail--explains.
Narrative: Tells a chronological story, although there may be flashbacks or forshadowing.
Descriptive: Paints pictures for the reader, touches the readers senses.
Persuasive: Tries to change the readers mind or outlook.
Article: Newspaper/Journalistic, distant writing that strives to remain objective about the content presented.
A feature: Journalistic human interest story to balance out the objective writing.
Profile: Like a feature, but usually longer, in-depth concentration on a person or a place.
These can overlap and be combined depending upon your Purpose and Audience.
J.B. says a variety of techniques will enrich the texture of nonfiction (247).
The try this on page 249 interests me. I may try this with the house I lived in the longest as a child. My favorite childhood home... We lived for almost nothing in the large house for the owner so the house her father built wouldnt go to ruin, while she worked out of state. We kept it up and moved out when we were given notice that her children wanted to use it for a summer home. I might try to find out more about it now. How interesting.
The try this on page 250 is also intriguing. If you do this keep your notes. You never know. Future generations might treasure them.
Experiment with point of view, as JB says (250). Select the one that works best for you--that best suits your purpose.
You can tell readers what that purpose is, if you do not think they will figure it out from the context. Readers of essays expect some authorial intrusion to a point, but it needs to be incorporated into the text with care. You do not want to alienate readers.
Remember your intent and your audience. If you have a good purpose, write regardless of audience. Write for yourself, first and formost. Then you can decide whether or not to share your work, and whether or not to change it. You can also decide how to change it, if you feel you must (253).
What an interesting try this on page 253!
What do you think?
Your Own Notes: