Literary Non~fiction – contains facts and has story

elements like character, setting and plot.

Some examples of literary nonfiction include personal, diaries,
memoirs, letters,and essays.

What is Literary Non~fiction

If you’re a nonfiction writer,
chances are you’re interested in literary nonfiction.
Whether you’ve written nonfiction for your entire writing
career,
or you’re just starting out,
literary nonfiction can help take your writing to the next level.
Literary nonfiction employs creative techniques that will likely
hook your readers quickly.
While the term itself may seem a bit overwhelming and
ambiguous,
we will break it down so you have a better understanding of
exactly what it is and why to use it
What is literay Non~fiction?
Literary nonfiction is simply a synonym for creative nonfiction.
If you know what the term creative nonfiction is, then you know
what the term literary nonfiction is.
According to Senjuti Patra on the Book Riot, literary nonfiction
is, “An umbrella term that includes all writing that is based in
reality and has been written with specific attention to the craft of
writing, using literary techniques to talk about subjects that are
not made up.”
Writers are often taught to employ the creative writing
techniques they learn to their nonfiction.
Just as fiction must have great characters, a compelling plot, and
a worthy villain, nonfiction must be just as compelling.
A great way to ensure this happens is by writing in a way that
uses creative techniques.
For instance, if you are writing your memoir, consider you
yourself as the protagonist.
The plot is the story of your life. Employing creative writing
techniques to your nonfiction writing will help engage readers
and keep them turning pages.
Literary nonfiction is simply a way to present nonfiction in a
creative, engaging way.
Regardless of genre, there is a crossover in writing techniques
between both fiction and nonfiction.
here is an important topic to discuss before jumping into writing
literary nonfiction:
Employing creative writing techniques to nonfiction must not
negate the truth of your writing.
When plotting a fictional book, there is an understanding
between you, the writer, and your readers that not everything in
your book will be fact.
You get to create whatever you want and you get to determine
the rules of your storyworld.
However, when you apply fiction writing techniques to
nonfiction, this mutual understanding does not apply.
In nonfiction, there is a mutual understanding between you and
your readers that what you write is fact.
While you can employ fiction techniques to your writing ( tips
for creating a standout protagonist, story structure,
or using the five senses to draw your reader into the moment)
what you write must be truthful.
The difference between creative fiction writing and literary
nonfiction writing is that fiction does not need to be all fact,
while literary nonfiction must.
If you want to maintain your credibility as a writer and honor
your readers’ investment in your story, your literary nonfiction
must hold up to factual scrutiny. This leads into the question…

What are examples of literary nonfiction?

One example of literary nonfiction is a personal essay
An essay is nonfiction, but writing it from your point of view
allows you to use creative writing techniques.
However, just as there are types of fiction, there are types of
literary nonfiction.
Other examples include lyrical memoir, narrative journalism,
and narrative history.
An example of lyrical memoir is I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings, by Maya Angelou.
In a review, James Baldwin says, “…Maya Angelou confronts
her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous
dignity.
” Lyrical memoir crafts prose much like poetry, while still
employing nonfiction to communicate a larger theme.
For more info on memoirs, check out this article.
An example of narrative journalism is Into the Wild, by Jon
Krakauer and The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession
in the Amazon, by David Grann
Both stories cover factual events as a journalist would, but add
in narrative that creates a more engaging read.
An example of narrative history is 12 Years a Slave: A Slave
Narrative, by Solomon Northup.
Northup’s memoir provides a detailed account of his experience
being born free in New York, kidnapped in 1841, and rescued
from a cotton plantation in 1853.
Goodreads says, “He provided details of slave markets in
Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, as well as describing at
length cotton and sugar cultivation on major plantations in
Louisiana.”
This book is a prime example of narrative history.

Is literary nonfiction informational?

At its core, literary nonfiction is informational as its present
facts in a way that draws readers in.
Some may argue that literary nonfiction has even more power to
present information because of the engaging way in which it is
portrayed.