Creative Nonfiction
What is the Setting of a Story? 5 Functions of Setting in Literature
A short story or novel without a setting is one without contextâit occurs nowhere and at no particular time. But every person and everything in our everyday world occurs somewhere…
Read MoreParallelism Definition: Writing With Parallel Structure
Parallelism, or parallel structure, describes a type of sentence structure common in the English language. When poets and prose stylists effectively employ grammatical parallelism, they strengthen the connections between ideas…
Read MoreWhat is Point of View in Literature? Exploring Narrative Point of View
You might not notice it, but most published writing contains a narrative point of view. This includes every book, poem, email, instruction manual, even some street signs and cereal boxes.…
Read MoreWhat is Mood in Literature? Creating Mood in Writing
When we talk about the different feelings that a work of writing evokes, weâre talking about the types of mood in literature. Creative writers are experts at drawing out specific…
Read MoreâShow, Donât Tellâ in Creative Writing
âShow, donât tellâ is one of the simplest guidelines in creative writing, and one of the most helpful. In short, it encourages writers to transmit experiences to the reader, rather…
Read MoreWhat is a Foil Character? Exploring Contrast in Character Development
A foil character, or character foil, is a character whose actions and traits contrast those of another characterâoften the protagonist. The foil character is like a white background against a…
Read MoreJuxtaposition Definition: What is Juxtaposition in Literature?
Juxtaposition occurs any time a writer places multiple ideas or images next to each other, without drawing a clear relationship between them. It is, in other words, the art of…
Read MoreLearn to Write! 8 Tips on Learning How to Write
If you’re here, you want to learn to writeâwhether that’s poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or something in-between. Learning to write is a process, one that requires consistent hard work and determinationâand…
Read MoreBraided Essays and How to Write Them
When I first started reading and writing creative nonfiction, I was particularly struck by the âbraided essayââits poeticism, its interlacing movements, its endless possibilities. The beauty of a braid lies…
Read MoreInterview: Barbara Henning’s “Ferne: A Detroit Story”
Equal parts biography, fiction, and an ode to family and Detroit, Barbara Henning‘s Ferne: a Detroit Story captures the Midwestern magic of mid-century Michigan. Barbara retells the life of her mother,…
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