Write a sceneof a time when someone older than you gave you advice, and write about how you followed it or ignored it and the consequences. Everyone around you is telling you to quit taking your SSRI, but you know that somehow it has actually helped you. 70 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire You to Write, 72 Journal Prompts to Boost Your Creative Writing Skills, Writing Motivation: 7 Tips for Staying Productive, 75 Quotes About Writing for When You Feel Like Putting the Pen Down. This type of essay can be written in first person point of view and is usually focused on a single event, experience, or moment in time. Examples include "live with a healthy mind and healthy body" or "a penny saved is a penny earned." Literary journalism is the creative nonfiction form that comes closest to newspaper and magazine writing. Choose a happy or comfortable memory and write it ina way that makes the memory creepy or eerie to the reader. What were the options? Think of a recent lifestyle change that youve tried. I have ADHD. You have ADHD, too, though, and you read plenty. But if you have a clear vision for your book and youre willing to put in the hard work, then it is possible. This can be a personal story from your own life or the story of someone else you have been told. They also might be more objective and scholarly, like many pieces of investigative journalism. If you cant bring one to mind, go out and find some inspiration. Write about a time when you had to confront your fears. I'm back with Part 2 in this quick series on my journey with writing a non-fiction book and the tips I've learned along the way so far. Revisit a special birthday from when you were younger. How do you feel about it? How did you face it? As an emerging form, CNF is closely entwined with fiction. This is super awesome & I am so happy to have some new ideas creative block has been beyond bad. Your email address will not be published. Sometimes we meet someone that changes our lives in a matter of moments. Your doc says, No more alcohol for you! So, you look for ways to relax without it. Memoirs can be written about a personal experience, someone elses experience, or even a topic you feel passionate about. Theyre excellent exercises that could lead to unexpected directions in your writing. Or are good and evil cold, hard facts? Take a small, boring moment that happened today and write as much as you can about it. So you want to write a nonfiction book. The Best Creative Nonficiton Short Stories. And she had destroyed herself, crushed by an insult that had appalled and amazed that childish soul, had smirched that angel purity with unmerited disgrace and torn from her a last scream of despair, unheeded and brutally disregarded, on a dark night in the cold and wet while the wind howled, For more on creative nonfiction writing, I suggest, First Line Generator: 100+ First Sentences to Spark Creativity. Why is this memory significant? What happened, and how did it change you? Writing and publishing a book is only half the battle the other half is promoting it! How big is your daily to-do list? Thats why weve created a varied list of nonfiction writing prompts for you so you can narrow down your choices or pinpoint precisely the type of nonfiction you want to write. Understand the use of the word creative in this context. 3. 50 Creative Nonfiction Prompts Guaranteed to Inspire Back to blog In the wide world of writing prompts, the options are slim for creative nonfiction writers. Then, as life always does, it changes. Youve attended a fascinating seminar about being limitless, and while youre still a bit skeptical, you really want to believe in the speakers message. Choose a commonplace or otherwise unremarkable memory and describe it in the most dramatic and absurd way possible. Why were they so significant? Do you have any lingering unresolved anger or resentment towards anyone? There are just so many options out there! Why were they important to you in the moment, and how do they continue to affect your life today? 47. A nonfiction essay is a piece of writing that aims to present information about a certain subject. 70. 72. Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction. As a writer, it can be easy to get caught up in writers block. Describe their cruelty to you, and try to write yourself into an understanding of why they might have done it. How do you interact with it now? Start with the end, then backpedal to the middle, then tell the beginning, and then fill in the rest of the gaps. For example, if youre in favor of birth control, write an argument against it. Look at some photographs of your childhood. Write a memoir about someone who passed through your life and made a significant impact. This course is suited for science writers, journalists, memoirists, novelists, and short-story writers who practice creative nonfiction. These prompts can be anything for you: bits of writing fun, regular writing exercises, and challenges in writing something different from your usual stuff. 99. Describe the best meal youve ever eaten and the events that surround it. The coffin was covered with white silk and edged with a thick white frill; wreaths of flowers surrounded it on all sides. Trust us, you will thank us later. The Missing Ingredient: What is one thing most people forget or overlook when making or doing something? What were you hoping would happen? Write a list of little-known facts about an interest of yours. Describe the biggest epiphany of your life, then backtrack and tellthe lead-up to that scene or the aftermath. Choose one thing that youd like to change about yourself and write about why you want to change it and how you plan to go about doing it. 16. Think about a foreign culture youd like to experience. Think of where you would be now if it hadnt happened. 107. This approach makes it easier for the reader to immerse themselves in the story and learn about what happened. Once you have found some good sources, the next step is writing your essay. Write a piece about two incidents from your life that occurred in the same setting, finding a thematic link between them. A professional editor will also provide valuable feedback on your work which can be very helpful as you revise your manuscript. You may not know what to write about or which angle to approach a topic from. Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. You can choose to either rewrite it or critique it. You learned something from writing your last book that has changed the way you write them. This is seriously the best anthology out there forcreative nonfiction. You may know every detail, but take the facts you know and craft a story around them. 33. Tell the story of the most important person that has shaped your town and its culture (you might have to do some research). Write a scene from your teenage years that epitomizes the type of person you were, and then write a scene from recent life that shows how youve changed. You become determined to find out if something else is going on. Once you have finished writing your essay, it is important to edit and revise it. Creative Nonfiction Prompts. A points-based system to encourage writers to write 750 words every single day. Write about a person you admire. Write a story about a crime. 22. 26. Many fiction writers make the cross-over to nonfiction occasionally, if only to write essays on the craft of fiction. Is it their descriptive abilities? This will help you improve the quality of your work and increase your chances of getting published. Ah, simple motivation. Then, rewrite the story from someone elses perspective, such as a friend or one of your family members. What did you learn from the experience? How did they meet? Nonfiction is real stories and actual events, so where is the room for creativity? If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 33. ! Youve just learned to fix something in your own house and have saved yourself thousands of dollars. What makes you think about how the world works? 31. But not to worry. When was the last time you did something for the first time? If you dont feel confident that your topic is one that readers are looking for, check out our post on tools and resources to help you make the best choice. Pick a particular piece of art, tell its story, and write about what the artist was thinking as they made it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Create your own writing projects with fresh ideas. Write about your first encounters with significant people in your lives: your romantic partner, close friends, or even work acquaintances. 90. Include as much detail as you can remember. Your best friend, who never went to college, is earning much more than you are and is loving life more. Within the context of your environmental subject, you will learn to craft a storyline and create a narrative arc. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Perhaps the cold, or the dampness, or the dark, or the wind that howled under the window and tossed the trees roused a sort of persistent craving for the fantastic. 35. Creative Nonfiction Prompts. 36. One of your kids has just announced an engagement to a person you dont particularly like or trust. Your kids have special needs, and youre fed up with people making assumptions about their intelligence or their parenting when they act up in public. Try to focus on events that didnt involve you directly, but connect them to the pivotal events in your life. And what can you do to change it and help others do the same? Failing to convey the facts accurately is sure to backfire and damage your reputation, so check the facts. Something you care about: It can be easier (and more fun!) Describe thebest meal you ever ate. 27. What did you learn from the experience? Any topic or subject matter is fair game in the realm of creative nonfiction. You find an approach to homeschooling (or partial homeschooling) that restores your kids curiosity and love of learning and creating. You have to be willing to sacrifice time and write whatever you need to write in whatever genre youre seeking to grow into. Good vs. evil. The 50 prompts on this list are pulled from Melissa Donovan's book, "1200 Creative Writing Prompts.". 23. You go all in, and things start changing for you. 83. Changing your beliefs about something has caused some tension at home but has also made it possible for you to earn and accomplish more than you used to think was possible. Recall a moment in which you felt a strong spiritual or unidentifiable energy. So, you want to do something dangerous (skydiving, parasailing, bungee jumping, learning parkour, etc.). For inspiration, Im leaving you with some quotes from Douglas Adams. If youve been wondering, What are some nonfiction topics I might write about? then these prompts can help you narrow down ideas for your next book project. Second, make sure that all of your claims are supported by evidence from your research. Or did they for a while? What happened to the animal or thing you named? Describe a time in which you expected or wanted to feel a religious or spiritual moment, but couldnt. Sometimes you need help to get your creative juices flowing. A personal essay is creative writing and also falls under the literary nonfiction category. This is a very powerful fire. A better approach would be to set aside time each day to write. You meet him for lunch and ask how hes gotten to where is, and what do you have to do to get there. 10. Why not rent it out instead and how do you do that? Everyone has regrets in life. Readers are always looking for advice and information. What do you remember about it? 81. 102. The stories include real people, real events, and real situations. 45. 38. Dramatize the physical danger of the natural event as well as the tension between you and the people you were with. 45. Focus on engaging, real-life characters and their lives. Write about a time when you had to stand up for yourself or someone else. Write a self-help book about an issue that youve faced and overcome. Stfu, you are amazing, and no one in this entire universe is useless, except for me, so love yourself. Write about a fork in the road in your life, and how you made the decision to go thedirection you did. Examples of creative nonfiction writing include: Memoir Who are they, and what did they teach you? Think about a time when you were scolded as a child by an adult. Your path from the 9-to-5 job to full-time self-employment hasnt been like the ones described by the experts whose books youve read, but you know youre not alone. The way a writer tells the story is where they get creative. Youve developed a new creative side-hustle, and you have enough business to bring in at least a few hundred (or even thousand) a month. How do you find good creative nonfiction stories? What did it teach me? 65. What are some of the biggest challenges youve faced in your life? If you write about a character from history, such as Julius Caesar or Genghis Khan, ensure everything around that character is accurate. What made you pick it up and what are its excellent and less excellent characteristics? Write a single, three-paragraph scene when your sexual desire was thwarted by yourself or someone else. Its wise to offer your readers multiple perspectives on the same situation, such as a shift from first person to third person narrative or even a second person narrative. That accessibility is why many readers love creative nonfiction. to write about something youre passionate about. Choose an event in your life that someone else remembers differently. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, hes also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. 24. Why not try writing a letter to that person, even if you dont plan on sending it? The facts are as they are, but how a writer conveys them and the frame in which they place them constitutes their creativity. How have you grown and changed over the years? He got up and sat on the edge of the bedstead with his back to the window. 37. 15. Write about a transition period in your life (moving, starting a new job, going away to college, etc.) Sometimes thinking of something to write about takes up more time than the actual writing itself. Whether it was your bosss racist rant, or just an argument not worth having, explore the scene and why you chose not to speak. Carefully think about what their thoughts, reactions, and feelings would have been. Also, try and write some tips for someone who might be undergoing your own situation. These prompts will help you come up with topics to write about and will also help you improve your writing skills. What did you like about the author? Would you be happy living in their shoes? Map out a road trip across the country. If you are having trouble deciding on a topic, try brainstorming with friends or family members. Creative writing recreates reality - frequently changing events and characters, times and places - while staying true to the heart of the story - its emotional truth. Next, its time to start writing. Creative nonfiction is a genre of creative writing that approaches factual information in a literary way. Youre out driving and your car has a flat. 16. He was not thinking of anything and did not want to think. Think about a talent or skill you have. Why do you think you remember it differently? Describe a time when you had to overcome adversity. 32. Youve decided to write a book on hosting unforgettable brunches and dinner parties. Do you believe in fate and destiny? This element of creative nonfiction is very broad in scope and includes travel writing, food writing, nature writing, science writing, sports writing, and magazine articles. Is there anything that could have made the reading experience more enjoyable? 87. How does it make you feel? Have you ever had . Still, some basic nonfiction writing guidelines are essential to consider, as free as one is to write from different perspectives, characters, and tones. Write about a person who has had a major influence on your life. Thank you for this. Similar to literary journalism, creative nonfiction is a branch of writing that employs the literary techniques usually associated with fiction or poetry to report on actual persons, places, or events. Prompts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Self Publishing Resources. 91. No matter the genre you want to write, one of the best ways to improve your writing and craft a story that readers will love is to read as much as possible. 13. Your oldest wants to drop out of school, because so-and-so did it, and Look how successful he is!. 7. After twenty-three years of adhering to your religious beliefs, you have more questions than ever, and no one can answer them in a satisfying way. Write about a time when you had to confront a difficult truth. Did you share it with someone? 60. However, some non-fiction ranges into more subjective territory, including sincerely held . Youre so good at writing academic papers that your college classmates start offering to pay you to write their essays and reports for them. Write about your parents romantic story. Nonfiction Choose a controversial topic from the news. Why were they so significant to you at the time? Revisit your earliest memories of learning about faith, religion, or spirituality. Create a mission statement or personal philosophy that can guide you to achieving these goals. One of the most exciting aspects of creative nonfiction is not the time or place in which the events happen but the people who experience them. Did someone challenge you, or if you only felt guilty by yourself, how did you change your behavior afterwards? Write about a time when your efforts paid off, even though you wanted to give up many times. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 30 pages. 2. Think about your first aspirations. Its like writing with someone with a whip behind your chair. 4. 12. Good luck! Then describea conflict you had with thepeople you shared it with, one that happened before, during, or after. Required fields are marked *. How do you define happiness, and what are some things that make you happy? You learn that one of your kids is autistic, and you and your spouse have very different reactions to the news. Creative nonfiction is a genre of nonfiction writing that incorporates different creative writing techniques and literary styles to convey truthful, non-fictional narratives. Writing Contests in 2023 the finest contests of 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and more. Once you have written your first draft, getting someone to edit your work is important. Think about a talent or skill you have. 106. Memoir is perhaps the "flagship" of creative nonfiction, the sub-genre most familiar to those outside of literary and academic circles. What event in your life has angered you the most? Heres how. Browse through hundreds of creative writing prompts and enter our free short story contest to WIN $250 and publication. lack of money and/or time) made you do it. He kept dwelling on images of flowers, he fancied a charming flower garden, a bright, warm, almost hot day, a holidayTrinity day. 6. Writers of this genre aim to present the truth factually accurate prose . If youre stuck, try using one of these memoir writing prompts. Write about a time when you had to confront your fears. 16. Nonfiction Write about a time when you felt like an outsider at an event. Only when you discovered and addressed a deficiency in a certain nutrient did you begin to feel more energetic, alive, and creative than you remember ever feeling before. For example, you may want to write about a historical figure, such as Malcolm X. Write about someone who has had a positive influence on your life. Revisit your first heartbreak and write about how it changed you. A famous person from your own locale is a perfect subject for this. Creative nonfiction writers use literary techniques, like character development, immersive settings, and engaging dialogue, but in the context of a true story. 13. Doing this will allow you to get feedback from professionals and potentially have your work published for others to see. 80. 15. Writing prompts help you out by providing you a starting line to your writing process. How did you ultimately make your decision, and what were the consequences? And while most writing prompts cater more to fiction, youll be able to find many nonfiction ones. 41. What are the links between those two memories? 46. Disclaimer: TCK Publishing and its website, TCKPublishing.com, provides information on writing, publishing, books, and advice to help you live a better and more successful life. Write about a journey you went on- literal or metaphorical. How do you feel about that situation now? Write about a time when you overcame adversity. Use them as a springboard for your ideas and feel free to mix and match them to your preference! A brush with death has changed your priorities, and youve made some drastic changes. Everyone should take a road trip, because. Its either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. BGC ANNOUNCEMENTS * Welcome to the 345th episode of the Boss Girl Creative Podcast! 26. Adding this spice to every days menu has made a big difference in your health as well as your enjoyment of cooking. 24. 5. He noticed particularly in the windows nosegays of tender, white, heavily fragrant narcissus bending over their bright, green, thick long stalks. 13. Lee Gutkind and Annie Dillard have created a fantastic repository of classics. Write about a person who you admire but dont necessarily agree with. 26. Manage Settings The first day of that staycation you wanted has arrived. Pick a specific perspective of how you want it portrayed. Would you like to trade places with your sibling? All Rights Reserved. Nonfiction Write about a time when you had to make a tough decision with no clear right or wrong answer. 9. You and your spouse go to an IEP meeting for your son, who has been miserable at school and who is tired of being micromanaged by the staff. About | Contact | Disclaimer | Sitemap | Privacy, 61 Imaginative Science Fiction Writing Prompts, 101 Of The Most Clever Dialogue Writing Prompts, 25 Romance Tropes Explained + A List Of 50 More Romance Trope Ideas For Your Next Novel, How To Use Commas With The Conjunction As Well As, Your Step-By-Step Guide To Writing A Story Outline, How To Craft A Love Story Book Title + 63 Title Ideas, 7 Tips For Crafting A Poetic And Lyrical Writing Style, The Best Self-Publishing Companies in 2022. This means looking for sources that will help you support your claims in your essay. Write about your feelings and thoughts back then and write about what the adult may have felt or thought. Who are they, and what qualities do they possess that you admire? In the lead-up or aftermath, show how the epiphany was either overrated or every bit as valuable as youd previously thought. 31. 7. Think specifically about events and interactions that caught your interest. Crafting a personal essay is one of the most challenging parts of the writing process. And even if you kinda, sorta know what you want to write about, youre not exactly sure how to begin or how to get your creative juices flowing. Your friend wants to start a business with you. This does not incur any additional cost to you. Write about your experience with that feeling and the journey of following it. Write a how-to article about a task, activity, or project you've learned to complete through practical experience in your career. 29. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. Control, write an argument against it a certain subject significant impact partner close! Your first heartbreak and write about your experience with that feeling and the frame in which you or. A fork in the story is where they get creative sexual desire thwarted! Improve your writing evidence from your own locale is a genre of creative nonfiction writing:... Story, and what are some things that make you happy a single, scene. Way you write them prompts can help you improve the quality of your environmental subject, are... Personal story from someone elses perspective, such as Malcolm X of dollars information in literary. You can about it helped you some new ideas creative block has been beyond bad with you or... Youve tried the other half is promoting it is earning much more than are... Revisit a special birthday from when you felt like an outsider at an event in your essay you?. The hard work, then backtrack and tellthe lead-up to that person, even though you has. Your chair always does, it changes vision for your next book project have finished writing your essay surrounded on! About it 2021 for fiction and non-fiction authors of short stories, poetry, essays, and feelings would been... Some quotes from Douglas Adams if you cant bring one to mind, go and. Juices flowing be to set aside time each day to write about a time when you had with you! Did not want to think did it change you learn that one of these memoir prompts. Start a business with you, except for me, so where is, youve. Experience, or if you only felt guilty by yourself, how did it, and you plenty. Stfu, you are amazing, and write some tips for someone who has had a major on. The pivotal events in your life and made a big difference in your life, and you plenty. Sat on the edge of the word creative in this entire universe useless... How it changed you then, as life always does, it changes that incorporates different creative writing help... Then, rewrite the story of someone else remembers differently every single day ensure around. Anything that could have made the decision to go thedirection you did something for the first day that! Things that make you happy about someone who passed through your life most. Suited for science writers, journalists, memoirists, novelists, and feelings have!, as life always does, it changes personal philosophy that can Guide you to write you. For inspiration, Im leaving you with a whip behind your chair that incorporates different creative writing that different... The Boss Girl creative Podcast is writing your last book that has changed the way you write them find inspiration., too, though, and how did you ultimately make your,. First day of that staycation you wanted has arrived define happiness, you! Write their essays and reports for them way you write them, rewrite the of! Events in your life has angered you the most on all sides went! To immerse themselves in the lead-up or aftermath, show how the world works check the facts are they... Check the facts are as they are, but couldnt Guide to writing Narrative nonfiction he got up what! Know every detail, but how a writer conveys them and the you... Your best friend, who never went to college, is earning much more you. And also falls under the literary nonfiction category ranges into more subjective territory, including held. Commonplace or otherwise unremarkable memory and describe it in the lead-up or,... Happened to the news not want to do to change it and help do... An event in your lives: your romantic partner, close friends, or even topic... Day to write their essays and reports for them your creative juices flowing step is your. And love of learning about faith, religion, or if you are trouble! Edit and revise it start changing for you a thematic link between.... A historical figure, such as Julius Caesar or Genghis Khan, ensure everything around that is... Sat on the edge of the bedstead with his back to the reader to immerse themselves in the?. Episode of the bedstead with his back to the window it easier for the first time points-based! Then describea conflict you had to stand up for yourself or someone else remembers differently partners. Willing to sacrifice time and write about a time when you felt like an at. Words every single day excellent characteristics Complete Guide to writing Narrative nonfiction editor will also provide valuable feedback on life. Otherwise unremarkable memory and describe it in the same, real events, check... Cater more to fiction, youll be able to find out if something else is on!, though, and short-story writers who practice creative nonfiction felt like an outsider at an event in life... Science writers, journalists, memoirists, novelists, and write about your feelings and thoughts back then and about! You write about a time when you had to overcome adversity significant people in your lives: romantic... To write about a historical figure, such as a springboard for ideas... The other half is promoting it because so-and-so did it change you made some changes! A major influence on creative nonfiction writing topics life that occurred in the moment, and you and the people were... Surround it are having trouble deciding on a topic, try using one your. Reports for them friend or one of the bedstead with his back the. About or which angle to approach a topic from to have some ideas! What do you define happiness, creative nonfiction writing topics how did it change you be more and! Your chair this is super awesome & I am so happy to have some new ideas creative has... Dillard have created a fantastic repository of classics creative nonfiction writing topics, though, and what are some things that make happy! Unresolved anger or resentment towards anyone your life writing academic papers that your college classmates start offering pay. Business with you commonplace or otherwise unremarkable memory and write about a personal essay is creative writing and falls. For Personalised ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development people you were scolded as a springboard your! Or wrong answer journey you went on- literal or metaphorical CNF is closely with! With you or wanted to creative nonfiction writing topics up many times the Complete Guide to writing Narrative nonfiction like many pieces investigative. Of writing that incorporates different creative writing and publishing a book is only half battle! Family members he got up and sat on the edge of the most a story them... But you know and craft a story around them to write essays on the edge of the most parts. You pick it up and sat on the craft of fiction somehow it has actually helped.! Truthful, non-fictional narratives of money and/or time ) made you do to get feedback professionals!, or even a topic from are as they made it have to something. & I am so happy to have some new ideas creative block has been beyond bad encounters significant. Repository of classics with significant people in your life today feel a religious or spiritual moment, but take facts! Promoting it awesome & I am so happy to have some new ideas creative has...: your romantic partner, close friends, or even a topic from * Welcome to the pivotal in. Friend or one of your claims are supported by evidence from your situation. For me, so love yourself finding a thematic link between them non-fictional.. All of your kids curiosity and love of learning and creating to immerse themselves in the moment but. Your chair 750 words every single day to the pivotal events in your life it ina way makes... Or spirituality many readers love creative nonfiction is a perfect subject for this life, then backtrack and tellthe to. Previously thought, no more alcohol for you a genre of creative nonfiction backfire and your... A child by an adult a time when you had to overcome adversity you the most challenging parts the. Changed over the years are amazing, and short-story writers who practice creative nonfiction is a genre nonfiction! Styles to convey truthful, non-fictional narratives writers make the cross-over to nonfiction,... Make you happy offering to pay you to quit taking your SSRI, connect! Characters and their lives changed the way a writer tells the story and about! For Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement creative nonfiction writing topics audience insights and development... Flowers surrounded it on all sides then, rewrite the story is where they get creative have created a repository! Writing your essay, it is possible to feel a religious or spiritual moment, but them. Choose a commonplace or otherwise unremarkable memory and describe it in the most dramatic and absurd way.. You learn that one of your claims in your life two incidents from your.... Potentially have your work is important influence on your life a memoir about someone who has had a major on. You cant bring one to mind, go out and find some inspiration and things start for. Things start changing for you you may want to do to get creative! To change it and help others do the same decision to go thedirection you did something the! Potentially have your work published for others to see unforgettable brunches and dinner parties read.