what is creative nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is a literary genre that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. It encompasses various forms of prose, such as memoir, personal essays, biography, narrative history, and long-form narrative reportage. The genre is focused on storytelling, with a narrative plot similar to fiction, but it only works if the story is based on truth, providing an accurate retelling of the authors life experiences. Creative nonfiction writers employ the creative writing techniques of literature, such as poetry and fiction, to retell true stories, using craft and technique to situate the reader into their personal lives. The genre is significant and popular due to its scope and variety, and it has been liberating for writers, releasing them from longstanding rules and boundaries that had been restrictive and inhibiting.