TYPES AND FORMS OF CREATIVE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL

NONFICTION BIOGRAPHY
- They are not intended for popular or
BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVES mass consumption.
- it can be classified according to their - LITERARY BIOGRAPHY is a
LENGTH, SCOPE, AND narrative of the life of a literary writer
AMPLITUDE. written by another literary writer
(Hidalgo, 2017).
BIOGRAPHY - LITERARY BIOGRAPHERS focus on
- came from the word “bios” (life) + sharing poetic truths.
“graphein” (writing). It is the narrative HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY
of a person’s life written by someone - is a narrative of the existence of a
else. According to Dryden (1863), it is historical figure written by another
the history of particular men’s lives. writer, which is usually a historian.
“It is the accurate presentation of the life history - HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHERS focus
from birth to death of an individual, along with on revealing historical facts.
an effort to interpret the life so as to offer a
unified impression of the subject.” PROFILE
- recreates the subject and makes it come
TYPES OF BIOGRAPHY alive on paper. A profile gives the
subject shape and meaning which causes
FULL-LENGTH BIOGRAPHY readers to meet and know that subject,
- It typically covers the entirety of the that city, that institution and that person.
featured person’s existence. It normally concentrates on a single
- “From womb to tomb” aspect of the featured person’s life. It
- It includes a family tree and a focuses on the circumstances that have
chronology of milestones in its made the featured person famous or
appendices. important.
- An ideal full-length biographer must CHARACTER SKETCH
have patience, stamina, clear vision and - is a brief description in prose of a
powerful imagination to put together a particular person or type of person.
narrative of the subject’s life. INTERVIEW
POPULAR BIOGRAPHY - is a purposeful face to face relationship
- It refers to the life story of a famous between two persons, one of whom is
and/or successful person which is meant called the interviewer who asks
for popular and mass consumption. questions to gather information and the
- The main purpose of a popular other called the interviewee or
biographer is to disclose or reveal to the respondent who supplies the information
most number of people the personal tale asked for.
of the public figure he/she tends to - Typically in newspaper or magazine
immortalize. article length.
- The writer tends to focus on the main - Usually a product of one meeting
action of the narrative and forgo the between the writer and the subject.
creation of mood and atmosphere.
THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING AN order. The act of remembering is very
INTERVIEW STORY: important in the writing of a memoir.
- Vivid description - focusing only on a period of your life.
- Engaging narration
- Dialogue or direct speeches coming DIARY
from the subject - A Quotidian = day to day record of the
- Careful selection of details specific events that transpired in the life
INTERVIEW of the author.
- A purposeful face to face relationship
between two persons: one interviewer JOURNAL
and one interviewee. - is a form of autobiographical writing
which is generally more intimate than a
GUIDELINES: diary. It contains personal details
1. PLANNING STEP regarding the impressions and opinions
2. SELECTING THE PLACE FOR of the journal writer concerning
INTERVIEW intriguing incidents.
3. ESTABLISHING RAPPORT CHARACTERISTICS OF A JOURNAL
4. CARRYING OUT THE INTERVIEW - very expressive and confidential
5. RECORDING THE INTERVIEW - a receptacle of your innermost thoughts
6. CLOSING THE INTERVIEW and feelings
- for private consumption

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVES
SPECIAL TYPES OF CREATIVE
AUTOBIOGRAPHY NONFICTION
- is an account of one’s own life,
generally a continuous narrative of TRAVEL WRITING
major events. According to Shari *your experience are more significant than
Benstock, the autobiographical act is an the location itself*
attempt by the author to “recapture the - the experiences of ourselves or other
self” through consciousness. people in foreign places.
“The biography of oneself narrated by oneself” - there is inner discovery of yourself
- you’re writing your own story - includes the narration of the journey
- you recapture your own self = going undertaken by the author
back to your memories - entails local customs and traditions,
landscapes or cityscape, native cuisine,
MEMOIR historical and cultural background, and
- came from “memoire” (French) which the sights and sounds of the place.
means memory or reminiscence. It EXAMPLES:
assumes life and ignores most of it. It - commercial tourist
does not need to be arranged or - brochures
structured in a strictly chronological - travel guide
WHY DO PEOPLE GO ON A JOURNEY? insights on food as a cultural
1. ADVENTURE manifestation, as seen in works by
2. AMUSEMENT & DISTRACTION Ralph Semino Galan and Kakuzo
3. ISOLATION & REFLECTION Okakura.
4. PURIFICATION
5. REDEMPTION NATURE WRITING
- an offshoot of travel writing
HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL TRAVEL - highlights the beauty and majesty of the
WRITER natural world, as well as humanity’s
1. must not be afraid to explore new places relationship with Mother Earth.
and discover what they have to offer in - highly dependent on scientific facts and
terms of sights and sounds, fragrances figures about the natural world, but also
and textures, as well as delicacies and integrates private observations of and
drinks. philosophical contemplations on the
2. must hone their five senses and increase natural environment.
their vocabulary so that they can - the primary concern is the natural world
accurately describe what has been seen, and how human beings respond to its
heard, smelled, tasted, and touched. loveliness or degradation.
3. must transform the journey that has been - according to [Link], this
undertaken into a coherent narrative by type of literature is variously called
weaving into the article a personal natural philosophy, natural history,
anecdote or two, and capping it off with environmental literature, and nature
a couple of insights on the significance writing.
of the voyage. - Natural Philosophy refers specifically
to prescientific observations and
FOOD WRITING meditations on mankind’s relationship
- the gustatory experience; the delights with nature and the universe.
and disasters - Natural History refers to literature that
- food is not just a substance for survival, is mainly concerned with the description
but as a manifestation of culture as well. of flora and fauna, and their evolution
throughout the millennia.
HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL FOOD - Environmental Writing refers to
WRITER proactive literature usually written in the
1. must not be afraid to visit new idyllic or romantic mode whose driving
restaurants and try exotic dishes and force is the conservation or preservation
drinks. of Mother Nature.
2. must train their tongue and nose to
distinguish a wide variety of flavors and HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NATURE
aromas, as well as find the precise WRITER
words to describe how they taste and 1. must be a keen observer of natural
smell for accurate recreation of their phenomena, from the biggest spectacles
experience for their readers. to the smallest details, so that nothing
3. must create coherent narratives by will escape his or her attention.
incorporating personal anecdotes and
2. must do some research, so that they will
be able to properly name the natural
marvels being witnessed or the plants
and animals being observed.
3. must develop their vocabulary through
the help of a dictionary and a thesaurus,
so that they can accurately describe their
various encounters with Mother Nature
or the natural world.