In this video, we tackle an interesting question: Do the principles of writing compelling descriptions in fiction translate well to writing narrative or literary nonfiction, and if so, why?
Hello, Jane Cleland here. Does the principle of writing description well apply to narrative nonfiction as well as fiction? Yes. Narrative nonfiction, also called literary nonfiction or journalistic nonfiction, is, uh, the truth well told. That’s the tagline from Creative Nonfiction, a foundation that publishes a magazine by that title. And the principle is that you want to write narrative nonfiction using all the principles of fiction to make it a much more engaging story. Otherwise, you end up with things that are dry. And, therefore, this principle of description, based on sensory experiences, works beautifully. It does create an immersive experience, but it also is absolutely used to convey information.
I hope that helps, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the subject. How do you decide how much description to use in narrative nonfiction? Put it in the comment section. I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if this video had value, would you like it? Would you share it? Would you, uh, subscribe to the channel? That opens up features that let us make these videos even more valuable for you. Thank you.
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