CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN IFUGAO

CREATIVE NONFICTION 12
SECOND SEMESTER - FINALS – A.Y. 2022-2023
I. UNDERSTANDING CREATIVE NONFICTION
What is CNF? In the study of CNF, the following ideas may come across your mind:
1. that CNF is just a foreign term for a contemporary literary genre that is widely practiced in the country, in the
native language, called personal sanaysay.
2. that CNF, by a different name, is an oral tradition that has been practiced even before the first printing press was
established in the country (with the xylographic press of the Dominicans and the Chinese Keng Yong in 1593);
3. that CNF was galvanized in the Philippines through Nick Joaquin’s reportages; and
4. that instead of Joaquin, CNF was established by female writers who wrote autobiographical essays.

Nonfiction according to Oxford English Dictionary means “prose writing that is informative or factual rather than
fictional.” In general, nonfiction is textual. It is in the form of an essay. It may also include tables, diagrams, and/or
photos.

Examples of Nonfiction:
A. Academic Publication
1. Academic paper – research or term paper submitted for class assignments.
2. Academic article – research paper published in an academic journal, according to academic discipline
(scientific, humanities, law review, and the like)
3. Conference paper – paper submitted to and/or read in a conference
4. Thesis – usually 30 to 100 pages of independent research
5. Dissertation – book-length independent research
6. Literary criticism – evaluation, analysis, description, or interpretation of literary works.
B. Technical Documents
1. Instruction manual – setup, assembly, installations, use, safety, maintenance, and troubleshooting
instructions for household products, computer programs, medical equipment, and the like; may also include
warranty information, regulatory code compliance, and service locations.
2. Self-help guide – home improvement, home decorating, cooking, health and fitness, pet care, crafts, business,
travel, language, and the like.
3. Project proposal – detailed description of a project, usually a business plan or a grant proposal; includes the
goals and objectives of the project, logical and logistical plan, resources, strategy, and budget outlay.
4. Specification – requirement, functional, or product specification that documents the material, including the
descriptive title, revision information, drawing, photograph, certification, and the like, for engineering,
manufacturing, and business purposes; this document is important for suppliers, purchasers, and users of
materials, products, or services.
5. Description – shorter version of specification
6. Software design document – description of a software product written by a software designer as a guide for
the software development team
7. Business communication letter/memo – letters and memoranda that circulate within the company, institution,
or organization.
8. Resume, curriculum vitae, and cover letter – paragraphs written for a job application
9. News statement and press release – statements intended for mass media
10. Evaluation report – project or program monitoring and assessment that includes efficiency, impact, qualitative
and quantitative data, outcome, output, and sustainability.
C. Reference Sources
1. Dictionary – lists words (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning, or gives the equivalent words
in a different language.
2. Thesaurus – lists words in groups of synonyms and related concepts
3. Encyclopedia – a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject
and typically arranged alphabetically.
4. Almanac – annual calendar containing important dates and statistical information such as astronomical data
and tide tables
5. Atlas – book of maps or charts
D. Mass Media
1. Editorial – the stand of the whole newspaper or magazine on specific issues
2. News – Hard news, filled with facts and information
3. Feature – soft news, filled with entertainment, advice, and humor; sometimes used for informing readers
4. Sports – sport news
5. Column – written by a columnist who is not associated with the news outfit

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 6. Letter to the editor – letter sent by a reader reaction to an article, column, or editorial published by the media
outfit it was sent to
• Aside from the ones mentioned above, nonfictional texts may also include textbooks on various kinds of
topics. Even bills, ordinances, resolutions, and laws (statutes) are also considered as works of nonfiction.

What makes a particular form of nonfiction “creative”?

According to Robert Root Jr. who was a contributing editor for Fourth Genre, Explorations in Nonfiction,
one of the first literary journals, suggested that when the adjective “creative” is tacked in front of the noun “nonfiction”,
it may help linked CNF to other forms of “creative writing” a s a literary genre.
Creative nonfiction is a term adapted by two communities- the practitioners of literary journalism and the
creative writers (those who delve into fiction, poetry, and drama). The skills of the writers from both communities help in
the development of CNF. The creative writers have a mastery of literary elements and techniques. The journalists have a
mastery of factual accuracy, immediacy, and objectivity.

Robert Root Jr. cited the following Journalistic Strategies:

a. Emphasis on factuality;
b. Focus on currency and immediacy; and
c. Reportorial distance from the subject.
CNF has a lot to do with two things: presentation and research. And since the nonfiction part of the CNF deals with facts,
it is very important that you practice citing your sources to avoid plagiarism.
As CNF is in essence a research material, you may as well take note of the following points:
a. Primary sources are always preferred.
b. When observing the format for citation, remember this: The Associated Press Stylebook is the standard for
journalism, while the Chicago Manual of Style is generally used for fiction and CNF.

PEER CRITIQUE
Peer critique is a process where writers review and give critical and constructive feedback to each other’s work.

How to Write a Critique: Before the critique

First, read the piece through from beginning to end, simulating the experience of an ordinary reader. Take notes
on your first impressions before reading the piece again. This first step is important because your perspective will
change during a second reading. Your interpretation of the piece's beginning will be colored by your knowledge of the
end.
Read the piece at least once more and take notes again. Subsequent readings will help you develop a global
vision of the work's structure and notice additional details. With each reading, you will have a better perspective on the
piece's structure, but you will be in a worse position to judge the unfolding of information and to identify points of
confusion.

How to Write a Critique: Suggested Critique Format

1. Summarize and interpret. At this first stage, you are not judging the piece or offering suggestions. You are just telling
the author what you think it is about, and what you think it is trying to do. This is important because it tells the author
how well he or she has succeeded in communicating. It also tells the author if you have understood the piece correctly.
If so, the author will take your feedback more seriously. If not, the author knows that any suggestions that follow may
actually be based on a misunderstanding of the piece. The author may therefore need to discount these suggestions and
work instead on more successfully communicating his or her vision.

2. What you think is working well. Positive feedback can be as useful as criticism. Point out the best parts of the piece
and the strengths of the author's writing. This can help the author write more "best parts" in the future and develop his
or her individual talent. Starting with positive feedback also makes it easier for the author to listen to criticism later
without becoming defensive or discouraged.

3. Give constructive criticism. Make sure that criticism is respectful and delivered in a form that allows the author to
make specific improvements. Authors tend to have high emotional stakes in their work, and may at some level confuse
criticism of a story or a poem for criticism of their talent or vision. It is therefore especially important to make your
comments as specific as possible and keep them clearly focused on the piece, rather than the author

How to Write a Critique: Do's and Don'ts

DO…
Read the piece several times ahead of time
Try to experience the piece as an "ordinary reader" before you consider it as an author or editor
Try to understand the author's goals
Be specific in your feedback and provide relevant examples

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DON'T…
Impose your own aesthetics, tastes, or world view
Rewrite the story the way you would have written it
Discourage the author
Offer criticisms that are too general to help the author make specific improvements

How to Write a Critique: Advice on Receiving a Critique

If you're on the receiving end of a critique, focus on listening and understanding the feedback you receive. You
don't have to agree with it. You won't have to follow any of the suggestions you're given.
In fact, some of the suggestions you get are likely to be not-so-useful. You will have to sort them out from the useful
ones and make your own decisions. But save this sorting-out for later. Otherwise, the sorting-out process will interfere
with your ability to listen. And you'll probably do a better job of sorting out the good advice from the bad if you take
some time first to digest everything.
Take careful notes on ALL the feedback and ask questions if there's something you don't understand. Don't argue with
the critic or defend your piece. Don't even try to explain it.

Peer Editing
The Importance of Peer Editing
Revision is an essential part of the writing process, including peer revisions.
One of the most significant benefits is receiving feedback on one’s writing from a reader’s perspective. We often read
over our work with the understanding of what we meant to say. However, the intention does not always translate so
clearly. Writers are so close to their work that it can be difficult to spot areas for improvement.
Peer editing is not the same as proofreading. Effective peer editing required students to look beyond surface-
level spelling and grammar mistakes. includes critically analyzing aspects such as content and structure. Therefore, it is
not just about corrections. More importantly, effective peer editing is about providing feedback and suggestions.

Various Types of Feedback

Compliments: This is what I call the feel-good-feedback. Making space for positive feedback is essential to building
confident writers. Students should always leave at least one specific compliment about a particular aspect of the writing.

Corrections: This type of feedback is not up for debate. Corrections are meant to note mistakes in spelling and grammar
and mark something that is missing. For example, if a paper is missing a thesis statement, hook, evidence, or conclusion,
a correction would point that out.

Suggestions: Students shouldn’t take this type of feedback lightly. However, the how is up to the writer when
implementing the suggestions in their next draft. The editor provides insight, but the writer decides what to do with it if
anything at all.

Questions: Questions are similar to suggestions in that the writer decides what to do with them when it comes to the
next phase of writing. Be mindful of your audience. If a reader has a question, it’s worth considering the answer and
working it into your piece.

PROOFREADING MARKS AND SYMBOLS

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PERSONAL NARRATIVES
A personal narrative is based on a significant experience or event that happened to you. As a writer of this type
of creative nonfiction you need to tell a true to life story about a turning point in your life (death, illness, success, failure,
journey, a first encounter etc.)
Just like a story, a personal narrative involves a setting, characters, series of events, and dialogues. However, these
elements involve facts that comprise the narrative. You must use scenes that give the context of time, place and events in
chronological order. Provide necessary details as possible. Consider yourself as the main character in the narrative and
use devices like description of behavior and figures of speech to reveal yourself to the readers.
Write using the first person “I” and use conversational tone as though you are talking to a friend. Use action verbs and vivid
descriptions.
For instance, an anecdote—which is a short, amusing story about someone’s experience—might be considered a personal
narrative. Although short, an anecdote can tell a complete story about someone’s experiences. An autobiography—which is an account
of a person’s life, written by that person—also might be viewed as a personal narrative, although it’s likely to contain more references
and historical context.
A personal narrative is usually a true story, nut it can also be a fictional account that reads like a true story.

The Main Focus of Personal Narrative

A personal narrative’s main focus (or purpose) is to say something about your life. You might also say something about your life, about
your role in society, a movement, an event, or a discovery.
A personal narrative can capture a moment, a chapter, or your entire life.

A Personal Narrative is Personal

What makes a personal narrative special is in the name: it’s personal. Whatever a personal narrative might say about a
culture, place, or place in time—the person is the main focus.

A Personal Narrative is a Narrative

A narrative is a story told by a narrator.
A personal narrative is usually told in the first person. It is told from someone’s perspective and uses phrases such as I was, I
did, and I experienced.

EMPTY SEAT
By Stephanie Kate A. Agora
The author is the former editor-in-chief of the Central Scholar, the official student publication of the Philippine Science High
School Central Luzon Campus. She won fourth place in the 2015 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Taguig City.

The last thing I remember was the motorcycle ride and my tears getting lost with the wind on the way to my grandfather’s
house – wishing I heard it wrong, or not at all.
“Tay, you spoil her so much,” my mom remarks as I was grinning in chocolate-stained teeth while holding my huge chocolate
frappe with my grubby hands. My grandfather winks at me and assures my mom that he rarely buys me sweets, even though he drives
me almost every night to our favorite pastry shop, Mocha Blends, when everyone is busy at dinner. He then tells me to choose
whatever I want, and each time I point to the heavenly, decadent slice of chocolate cake and a sweeter, diabetes-inducing, similarly-
flavored milkshake which name I cannot pronounce up to now.
Being the firstborn grandchild, I was the lucky recipient of my grandfather’s favoritism. Come 3:30 in the afternoon, a car
would be waiting outside of my school gate even though I’ve always hated the smell of its air freshener. One day I complained too
much, and he probably didn’t have the best of days- he snapped at me and told me that he would never pick me up again. But the
next afternoon, he was waiting at 3:30 sharp at the exact, same spot.
During the rides home, we would pass a nearby pet shop, and I would always squeal at the furry snow-white rabbits on
display. One time, he pulls up and tells me to show him the one I wanted. Seconds later, he had a cage on his hand with my rabbit in
it which I later got to call Benny Bunny. But the rabbit died of the cold, and I was devastated. The next day, he gets me another one
which died from eating cheese curls and without any word, he buys me one rabbit after the other until I decided to spare their lives
and just let the pet shop take better care of them.
“Go and get dressed, you’re picking out your cake,” he tells me one day. Your seventh birthday was approaching and as a rite
of passage, every girl gets her last grand celebration. The next would be the day she turns 18. He takes me to a popular bakeshop and
asks the cashier for the cake catalogue. Being a huge, Barbie-worshipping enthusiast, I immediately point to the largest, three-tiered
Barbie cake on the page without regard for what it costs. Without hesitation, he pays for it and I get the doll after all the icing has
been eaten off of her dress after the party.
Each day he would work in his auto-repair shop and pick me up and take me to cake shops. Each day he would tell people I
was his grand-daughter and how he was proud of me. Each day he proved to be a man of strength and have the purest heart I have
ever known. Until one night, a drunk, reckless driver took away all of the strength, happiness, and the freedom that he had on a
highway accident.
On that night he was taking my aunt and cousin home, when a van driver sped off behind while exiting the overpass- causing
a collision and leaving my grandfather awfully injured and helpless. Thankfully there were witnesses and nearby who took him to the
hospital. Overnight, he was confined and treated for his wounds- but his legs were sufficiently crippled.
The one hardworking, energy-driven man now sits in a rocking chair all day, spending time in front of the TV with the crutches
by his side. The thousand-watt smile he never gets tired of flashing changed into a grim expression that was heartbreaking to look at.
“When my legs heal, I promise to go up with you on graduation,” he reminds me every day. He could no longer take me to
pastry shops, pick me up from school, buy me rabbits and pick out a birthday cake with me. Instead I spend time beside him and telling
him stories about how school went and how I aced my math exam. When we don’t talk, I usually watch him try and walk with crutches,

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and he smiled at me as he successfully paces up to the end of the room. I see every day that he struggles to try and get better, and
deep down, I wished that his legs would heal overnight so he could hang my medal on graduation day.
Days, weeks, months and years passed, and I thought he was making progress. There were occasional hospital visits when
complications would act up, but I thought his recovery would come very, very soon. However, things changed as his kidneys started
to fail too and he needed to undergo weekly dialysis. From there began the downward spiral of his health, and soon the visits to the
ICU became more and more frequent. I decided I needed to pray harder.
Then came a school day- where I had to meet several deadlines and an unfamiliar anxiety and dread came over me. I didn’t
pay much attention to it as it started diminishing as I completed the requirements one by one. I went home and decided to call out to
the living room, but it was awfully quiet. It’s almost scary, now that I think about it.
“He passed away a while ago,” my grandmother suddenly told me. Its abruptness shocked me, and it took a while before I
could process what she said. When it finally came to me I couldn’t speak at all- as if my voice had been taken away at once. All I did
was lock the bathroom door and cry. “Your tito would pick you up soon to see him,” she said. I cried even harder.
Minutes later, a motorcycle pulled up outside the gate, and I climbed in quietly. There were no words for that instant burst
of pain ang anger- only tears. The wind took them as fast as they fell, and I knew I wasn’t ready for an empty chair on my graduation
day.

Biography and Memoirs

A biography is a form of nonfiction in which the writer tells the story of another person. Most biographies are
written about famous or admirable people, focusing on their achievements and explaining the difficulties that the subjects
had to overcome. Although biographies are nonfiction, the most effective ones share the qualities of good writing.
Even before the word was coined, it was already a practice in poem and in prose to write about the lives of great
people for emulation. These stories were about the lives and conversion, especially the martyrdom of the saints, the tales
of the kings and queens, and the legends of the heroes.
Biographers research their subjects thoroughly. They read everything written about them or by them. Then, in
writing about the subject, the biographer tells both the good qualities of that person and some of the less admirable ones.
Wherever possible, the writer uses the subject’s own words.

Differences between Biography and Autobiography

(by A.O.J. Cockshut, Oxford Professor and author of The Art of Autobiography in 19th and 20th Century England)
BIOGRAPHY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Originated as an oral tradition. The writing is based on The primary material is based on the memory of the author,
impressions of eyewitnesses and supplemented by documents, documents are just secondary, if not nil, in nature.
especially letters.

The biographer may reveal things that the subject wished The autobiographer has the freedom to hide anything that he or
suppressed, which could be the intention of the book itself. The she does not want to disclose to the readers, including anything
book may also mention the traits of some characters which were that the autobiographer may deem disgraceful or may be in
hidden from the subject. conflict with the chosen theme or literary plan.

Unless solicited or commissioned, the subject of biographies is The narrative is limited to the life of the autobiographer. May be
often dead. The death scene may be the most important aspect able to write about old age, if the autobiographer is still capable
of the book. At times, the posthumous reputation of the subject of remembering and writing. Of course, death is omitted.
is told.

The reader is compared to a spectator examining a portrait or The sympathetic reader is summoned to empathize and may
viewing a performer on stage. remember moments more vividly than facts.

If you look at tradition, biography was viewed as a form of history. In the 17 th century, poet and literary critic John
Dryden defined it as “the history of particular men’s lives.”
Akin to writing a history book, the creative process of writing a biography involves gathering “reams of notes, letters,
diaries, and historical data to document the subject’s life as factually and completely as possible.” Because biographies
were treated as historical documents, their authenticity was considered over their artistic merits. And because
autobiographies were viewed as the complete opposite of biographies, they were considered less reliable and less useless.
While there are autobiographical novels, there are fictional biographies as well. The Guardian contributor
Jonathan Gibbs had observed:
Fictionalized biographies—novels based on the life of a famous person—are ten-a-penny. They’re easy enough
to turn out. Other people—the actual biographers—have done the hard work. What all the novelists do is to twist the
“facts” to suit their own interpretation of the life in question, and away they go.

Autobiography vs. Memoir. Here are their similarities:

• Both are book-length narratives.
• Both are written in the first person.
Writing one’s own personal history used to be called autobiography, now more and more, it is called memoir. The
two words are often used interchangeably and the boundary between the two forms is fuzzy, but there are differences.

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An autobiography is usually a record of accomplishment. All kinds of people, more or less famous, can write them or be
helped to write them: footballers, politicians, newsreaders. Deeds, fame and an interesting life are not necessary
ingredients of the memoir.
Both the autobiography and memoir are written by the author with the author as a subject. The difference is that
the latter includes other people as subject.
“A memoir is how one remembers one’s own life, while an autobiography is history, requiring research, dates,
facts double-checked.”
When you write an autobiography, you recount particular historical dates and facts about your life. In writing a
memoir, historical and factual details are less important. Sometimes, these details are not entirely accurate. Your focus is
on your memories and reflections. A memoir covers one specific aspect of the writer’s life. The narrative structure of a
memoir can be chronological or episodic. You can use a narrative device such as flashback or in medias res.

TESTIMONIALS
A testimonial is like a personal recommendation given as evidence or proof of something good about a product, a company,
or a person. It is usually given to highlight the positive quality of something of someone.
Testimonials are also widely used in marketing and advertising. Celebrities endorse products through “infomercials” that are
aired on television and over radio stations. Companies use testimonials of celebrities to convince consumers to buy and patronize
their products.
Use adjectives that recommend and affirm the product, service, or person you are giving a testimonial for. These adjectives
highlight the positive to outstanding qualities of your subject.
In the academe and for employment, testimonials provide support to a person’s claim of certain skills and qualifications.
Social networks also provide testimonials about the quality of services offered by companies and the products they sell.
Service providers consider testimonials as feedback to sustain if not to intensify their commendable overall performance.

Main Testimonial Types

1. Quote Testimonials – As the name suggests, quote testimonials are short and positive quotes or messages written by real
customers, sharing their experiences and benefits that they’ve got from your product or service. This type is the most widely
used and can be seen on nearly all commercial websites. These are easy to show off due to their short but direct nature.
2. Peer Testimonials – People are easily swayed by others, especially when shopping online. This is why independent review
sites are so popular. While having people review and rate your business elsewhere can be stressful, it also provides a brilliant
source of peer quotes that can be used on your websites. Hearing from a peer is a powerful way to persuade clients that your
page has helped people with similar problems to theirs.
3. Audio and Video testimonials – These are another popular way to tell customer stories through vivid audio and video
messages. Unlike quote testimonials that tell everything with emotionless words and tones, these types of testimonials work
just like talking face-to-face, making it easier to leave a positive brand impact on visitors.
4. Case studies and stories – With enough page space, some web designers also directly share a whole story or case study of a
highly satisfied customer to motivate their web visitors, this is often in long form and shows off in depth why a customer is
happy with their product or service.
5. Social media and influencer testimonials – The stories of renowned or famous persons and companies make your testimonials
easy and quick to trust. So, many web designers also directly cite their testimonials from social media experts, industry
influencers and renowned companies to encourage potential buyers to take action.
6. Interview testimonials – One of the most basic methods of getting customer feedback is simply asking interested customers
to participate in an interview. It is one of the basic testimonial samples. Customer interviews are quite adaptable since they
can be presented in various formats. They can be recorded and uploaded as video and audio pieces, or they can be translated
and posted as a written interview on your company’s website and social media accounts.

How are testimonials written?

1. A good testimonial is short. Long testimonials are unlikely to be read by visitors. Keep it short (30-50 words total is
recommended)
2. A good testimonial is direct. Put the most impactful statement at the beginning. Edit it so even if people read just the
first few words. They get the meaning quickly.
3. A good testimonial is authentic. Everything you write and say is marketing, and people know it.

TIPS ON WRITING A TESTIMONIAL

1. Focus on the positive side.
2. Be brief brevity and direct to the point.
3. Use the active voice.
4. Provide specific supporting details to build your claims.
5. Carefully choose the adjectives and make sure you know their meanings.
6. Be persuasive.
7. Be real and truthful.
8. Use positive and professional tone. This is very important in making testimonials for scholarship and employment.
9. Talk with person you are recommending to get the necessary information.
10. Leave your contact details if you are comfortable in doing so.

Sample of testimonials for a Company

“Phoenix Publishing House is a beacon that provides Filipino learners excellent quality learning materials. It capitalizes on
innovation and relevance to meet the demand of Philippine education. The company is home to brilliant authors who are experts in
their respective fields and are committed to the pursuit of learning.

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 As a teacher, I stand as a living witness to how my students enjoyed studying and learning with the use of textbooks published
by Phoenix Publishing House.
Kuddos.”

Sample testimony for a Product

“Manufactured by _____________ food scientists, _____________________ milk products have been a partner of millions
of Filipino families in achieving health and nutrition. Its price is affordable and does not compromise quality that its consumers deserve.
I am proud ____________ consumer user, and it has been a part of my daily life for almost thirty years.

Travel Literature/Travelogue
The most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan, Matsuo Basho is not only known as the greatest master of haiku.
He is also famous for publishing his travel journals. Nozarashi kiko (“Travelogue of Weather-Beaten Bones,” as translated
by poet Sam Hamill, or “Record of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton,” as translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa) would serve as the
first of Basho’s travel journals.
As the term itself suggests, travelogue is a kind of creative nonfiction that deals with travels. A travelogue has to
be in the first person and describe the place or places where one (that is, the narrator) has/have traveled. Among the
popular examples are adventure literature, travel guide, nature writing, exploration literature, and the travel journal. The
travelogue should not simply give descriptions; however, it should integrate elements of the narrative and reflective
essays, among others. Literary devices, such as figurative language, are also employed to make the writing more vivid.

Travelogues may have the following purposes:

a. Maybe used for promoting a place, say, as a quality tourist destination.
b. A travelogue may also be written to call public attention to the problems in a place (such as poverty, crime,
or poor sanitation) and suggest corresponding solutions.
Che Guevara’s Motorcycle Diaries, a moving and eloquent account of the author’s journey through the Latin
American continent and his exposure to different forms of social inequality, serves this particular purpose.
A travelogue is a documentation of a traveler’s experience in his journey to a particular place. It presents the accounts of the
writer’s encounters in a foreign land. It also serves as a guide to future travelers on what to see in the specified place, attractions to
visit, and what to expect based on the cultural and the social setting included in the travelogue. Sometimes it is known as travel writing.

Two Kinds of Strategies for Travel Narratives

1. Object-Bound Journey Accounts
• These are written by sailors, pilgrims, and merchants
• They usually appear as ships’ logs or as in the case of Christopher Columbus, letters to kings, sponsors, or loved ones at
home.
• People and places of the outer world are described in what is taken by the narrator to be factual, disinterested way.
• Purpose is exploration, devotion, or economics.
• The real purpose is hidden (for example, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes’s documents to the king of Spain designed
to raise more money for his adventures).
2. Autobiographical Travel Books
• Social and psychological issues are more important than facts about places and events.
• Sights and vistas may not be as central to the narrative as issues of religion, politics, and social behavior.

The following tips will help you in writing your travelogue.

1. Do extensive research. Before you write something about a place make sure that you have extensive information about
it. If you have visited the place, you have first-hand experience regarding attraction, legend, environment or it’s culture.
If you live far away then do your research, or interview a person about his or her experience. A clear idea of the place
will make your reader more interested in your travelogue.
2. Getting there is a must. Yes, you can write about a place by doing research but going to that place will present an
authentic story to the readers.
3. Tell it like a photo. As a writer, you should be an artist; and by creating mental images in your readers, you will take them
to the place where you want them to be. Using vivid adjectives and imagery will spin a beautiful picture in your reader’s
mind and will make them want to visit your destination. Appeal to the senses and your travelogue will be more enticing.
4. Give some cultural background. Tourists do not only need details about the hotels, attraction, how to get there, or where
to eat. Giving a cultural background to the readers will let them know what to expect in that place. It will give them a
distinct idea on what to wear, what to do, what to eat, and how to behave.
5. Include do’s and don’ts. Directly or indirectly, include some instructions on how to behave in the social setting of the
place. Some place may require people to be more subtle in clothing and in actions. The last thing you want for your
readers is to be in trouble

Food Writing
The word foodie is a buzzword in journalism, creative writing, and social media. According to the Oxford English Dictionary,
a foodie is “a person with a particular interest in food.” It is synonymous with gourmet. Which is how you call an expert “connoisseur
of good food; a person with a discerning palate, “and also epicure, which is how you call “a person who takes a particular pleasure in
fine food and drink.”

Cookery – the practice or skill of preparing and cooking food

Gastronome – someone who is well-versed in gastronomy

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 Gastronomy – the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food

Food writing contributes to gastronomic literature and journalism, which may include the following forms:
• mentioned and/or explained in fictional narratives such as poems, short stories, novels, and plays
• mentioned and/or explained in nonfictional literary narratives such as letters, memoirs, biographies, and travelogues
• recipe books or cookbooks
• feature and column articles as food criticism, review, infographic, how-to, etc.
• humanities journals
• coffee table books
• food blogs
• almanacs
• Facebook statuses and notes, twitter posts, etc.

Food writing, even if it is about writing recipes, should be authentic as any nonfictional narrative. Take note that even a recipe follows
a step-by-step process of a narrative. You have to start with a title.

Blog
Brief history
In 1997, Jorn Barger, blogger for Robot Wisdom, coined the term “weblog”, which was meant to describe his
process for “logging the web” as he surfed the internet. The term “weblog” was shortened to “blog” in 1999, by
programmer Peter Merholz.
In the early stages, a blog was a personal web log or journal in which someone could share information or their
opinion on a variety of topics. The information was posted reverse chronologically, so the most recent post would appear
first. Nowadays, a blog is a regularly updated website or web page, and can either be used for personal use or to fulfill a
business need.

Purpose
Blogging for business, projects, or anything else that might bring you money has a very straightforward purpose—
to increase your visibility. As a anew business, you rely on blogging to help you get to potential customers and grab their
attention. So, the main purpose of a blog is to connect you to the relevant audience. Another is to boost your traffic and
send quality leads to your website. Add a great call to action (CTA) to your content, and it will convert your website traffic
into high-quality leads. A blog also allows you to showcase your niche authority and build a brand.

Blog structure
The appearance of blogs has changed over time, and these days blogs include a wide variety of items and widgets.
However, most blogs still include some standard features and structures.

Here are common features that a typical blog will include:

• Header with the menu or navigation bar
• Main content area with highlighted or latest blog posts.
• Sidebar with social profiles, favorite content, or call-to-action
• Footer with relevant links like a disclaimer, privacy policy, contact page, etc.
Blogs vs. websites
Blogs need frequent updates. Good examples of this include a food blog sharing meal recipes or a company writing
about their industry news. Blogs also promote reader engagement. Readers have a chance to comment and voice their
different concerns and thoughts to the community. Blog owners update their site with new blog posts on a regular basis.
On the other hand, websites consist of the content presented on static pages. Static website owners rarely update their
pages.

Blogging
Blogging is a collection of skills that one needs to run and supervise a blog. This entails equipping a web page with
tools to make the process of writing, posting, linking, and sharing content easier on the internet.
• Blogging became a mainstream source of information
• Through blogging, companies keep clients and customers up to date
• Through a blog, visitors can comment and interact with you or your brand
• You can earn money through blogging

Who is a blogger?
A blogger is someone who runs and controls a blog. He or she shares his or her opinion and knowledge on different
topics for a target audience.

Types of blogs one can create

• Food blogs
-recipes, reviews (restaurants, culinary products, fooding trends, healthy eating guides

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 • Travel blogs
- Destination recommendations, activity itineraries, local guides on hotels and restaurants
• Health and fitness blogs
- Workout routines, weight loss guides. Special diet and recipes (Keto, low-calorie meals
• Lifestyle blogs
- Daily life and interests across fashion, home décor and food, hobbies, personal lessons and advice
• Fashion and beauty blogs
- Fashion trends, outfit of the day inspirations (#ootd), product reviews
• Photography blogs
- Photoshoot ideas by genres (nature, portrait, fashion, etc.), photography equipment and software reviews.
Photo editing techniques and tutorials
• DIY blogs
- Home décor, paper crafts, sewing projects
• Personal blogs, etc.
- Personal stories, daily life and interests, personal development

Literary Journalism
➢ It is a kind of creative nonfiction report on an event, a history, or an actual case based on direct observation,
investigation, or thorough research and documentation.
➢ There should be a lead, the technical term for the first paragraph of any journalistic article, which reveals the
purpose of the article and why they should continue reading the piece. It can be quotation, an anecdote, an
interesting fact, or an important point of a question. The body may include personal opinion, thoughts, and
feelings of the writer. The content must be in logical or chronological order. In longer works, a writer may use
subheadings to divide ideas. The ending must emphasize to the readers his/her point of writing his/her essay.
Remember, this kind of essay aims to entertain, inform and enlighten his/her readers.
➢ Literary journalism, unlike standard journalism, demands immersion in complex, difficult subjects. The voice of
the writer surfaces to show readers that an author is at work. Authority shows through. The dramatic details only
yield to persistent, competent, sympathetic reporters. Voice brings the authors into our world.
➢ Unlike fiction writers, literary journalists must be accurate. Characters in literary journalism need to be brought
to life on paper, just as in fiction but their feelings and dramatic moments contain a special power because we
know the stories are true.
➢ The literary quality of the work comes from the collision of worlds, from a confrontation with the symbols of
another real culture. Literary journalism draws on immersion, voice, accuracy, and symbolism as essential forces.
*Literary journalism was preferably termed by others as personal journalism, new journalism, or parajournalism.
Elements of Literary Journalism (according to Norman Sims)
• Immersion
• Structure
• Voice
• Accuracy
Norman Sims asserted that in “the world of journalism, accuracy reigns as the supreme clause in the symbolic contract
with readers, and the same is true among literary journalists.” He mentioned “some violations by literary journalists
of the presumed contract with readers,” including Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.
A. True Crime
According to Joyce Carol Oates, true crime is a non-fiction category where “most of the crimes investigated are
murders, and most of the murders have been solved. According to her, this genre mirrors our collective anxiety about
the very definition of justice, let alone its realization. “True crime stories are taken as “real, truth-claims are
unchallenged, and deploy literary conventions and strategies.
• Truth-claims are unchallenged by its audience
• Taken as “real”; and,
• Producers deploy a widely used set of narrative conventions and strategies.
For examples: browse Jean Murley’s The Rise of True Crime: 2oth Century Murder and American Popular Culture
B. Reportage
• It is the reporting of news by the press and the broadcasting media
• Also, it refers to the factual, journalistic presentation of an account in a book or other text; the area where
fiction borders with reportage.
Reportage is based on the following:
• Direct observation
• Investigation
• Thorough research and documentation
C. Profile
A character sketch is a short narrative about a real or imaginary person. It is less dramatic. As an expository essay,
the anecdotes do not require the presence of plot and conflict.

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 In the field of journalism, a profile feature is akin to a character sketch and a short biography. According to New
York Times: A “profile feature” is a newspaper article that explores the background and character of a particular person
or group. The focus should be on a news angle or a single aspect of the subject’s personal or professional life. The article
should begin with the reason the subject is newsworthy at this time and should be based (not exclusively) on an
extensive interview with the subject.

Your profile feature could be anybody as a subject interesting to the readers. But like any article, it needs an interesting
introduction as well. The narrative structure does not have to be chronological. The theme of your profile can be political
but the tone can be humorous or candid.

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