Ever wonder what elements make autobiography different from memoir? Or memoir different from personal narrative?
In this episode, I’m giving you an overview of 5 different types of creative nonfiction to show you how these forms differ, and what they have in common.
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Episode at a glance:
[01:49] What’s the difference between creative non-fiction and fiction?
Learn why even biographies and autobiographies, while sticking to the facts, are fictitious to varying degrees.
[02:48] 1. Biography
Your entire life told by someone else, usually in chronological order.
[06:11] 2. Autobiography
Your entire life told by you. These are most often celebrity driven and don’t have deep reflection as a memoir.
[08:28] 3: Literary Journalism
Also called an immersion story, this is where the author plunges him or herself into an experience outside his or her typical milieu, and becomes part of the story.
[12:52] 4. Memoir
This is the most well known form of creative non-fiction. Learn about the two voices essential to memoir and what makes it distinctive from all the other forms of creative non-fiction.
[17:13] 5. Personal Essay
Learn what makes personal essays personal, and how it differs from memoir.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Fearless Confessions: A Writers’ Guide to Memoir
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