I began to read a book I borrowed from my student while he was taking his final exam. Introduction to Creative Nonfiction it said. I was intrigued and caught myself engrossed in its first few introductory pages. While reading I realized that creating non-fiction based on facts and imagination was indeed an impossibly multi-generic field of writing. And therefore very welcoming and tempting!
I don’t write too often – but I do more than I ever thought I would. At least I feel like writing – much more than I remember having felt in my growing-up years. I was busy reading and talking. Now I do those too but I feel the need to put down my thoughts – to put pen to paper as my dad always says. At least, press the keys and see the words fill up the empty page in front.
I understand memoirs, travel writing of different kinds, and various other types of writing that combine facts and imagination – sometimes to tell stories, sometimes to deliver a message, sometimes to inform, sometimes to draw attention to important issues – can all qualify as creative non-fiction.
Since I have been thinking of writing about my grad student life in the States, I have been considering the different genres that may suit my purpose. It may take a while before I actually put the whole thing together, but I believe it’s a story worth telling. But the story needs more creation of characters and voices based loosely on real people and experiences than hard-core facts about students in USA. Maybe non-fiction is not the genre for it. Even when it’s creative.
If at all I ever get the opportunity to travel across some parts of India or any other country, I would like to record my experiences and register the import of “India” to an Indian. That can be creative non-fiction. Maybe!
Time to return to Khatm of 1923 when a British civil officer’s wife falls in love and elopes with a powerless but irresistibly attractive Nawab.
Good Night 🙂
Mantra 