Blog Post 2

I must admit, being a fan of fiction, I had an initial curiosity and misnomer as to what Nonfiction is, and how it could possibly be creative; for obviously, (I thought) if it isn't truth it cannot possibly be nonfiction. The assigned readings have at least given me a bit of understanding and insight as to what creative nonfiction really is and to why it is still considered nonfiction.

Initially I thought it was embellished truth. With a bit of truth and a lot of imagination an author could easily pen a creative nonfiction piece, or in essence, a fiction piece with s factual or historical event inserted in.

I, as Lott has also admitted, cannot clearly identify what creative nonfiction is. Instead I can only grasp some core elements as to what can make nonfiction creative. What I've taken to be the most important and prevalent idea with creative nonfiction is not so much the truthiness (as Stephen Colbert would say) of the story but the personal dialogue and resulting understanding and realization that comes with evaluating underlying aspects of events and their impacts on our lives.

One big thing I've taken from attempting to create a definition of creative nonfiction is the importance of owning "I." In creating nonfiction you own the ideas, you own concepts, that might otherwise be inserted as a characters belief systems. This I found as intriguing as in fiction, you can insert your beliefs and use a medium character as modes of transmittal. Creative nonfiction allows the empowerment of owning the words and owning ideas.

It is a bit different for me to to be writing nonfiction as I cherish the ability to create fictitious environments, worlds, and scenarios. However it doesn't actually seem too far off, as many of my personality traits and ideas come through in science fiction and character traits as well.