Writing Project #2: Your Own Creative Nonfiction

Writing Project#2 | Creative Non-Fiction Narrative (REVISABLE) 
Timeline: Present Day

Prompt:

It's time to tell your story of NOW. To be more specific, write a creative nonfiction narrative about the global pandemic. In your writing, work to incorporate the elements of CNF, such as setting (scenes), evocative concrete language, metaphors and/or similes, and theme or thesis.  Include your experiences and observations on your current familial, social, and/or political climate. In your narrative, you are encouraged to make connections to your own personal life, stories you have heard, read or participated in vicariously. The focus of this project is to critically think and respond to your environment and/or the world in light of the pandemic and to connect yourself to those around you. Though our experiences are not all the same, we are in this together. 

Requirements:

It is recommended to write at least 3 pages. We believe it would be difficult to effectively express yourself, your current life, ideas, emotions, and expectations to your reader’s with less than 3 pages. MLA Format, typed, and double-spaced, Times New Roman or Arial. 

What we are looking for: 

The idea and motive behind this writing project are to empower you. [WE] the world is impacted by this pandemic. We hope this project will support your body and mind to express itself by relieving possible stress. We hope this project will be cathartic and inspiring. Ultimately and continuously, we hope to inspire the writer in you to express yourselves clearly in an academic-narrative essay.

Please be mindful of the following in your essay: 

• Use your original ideas, observations, and experience (no research required)

• Create strong topic sentences to guide your reader through your story

• Develop detailed paragraphs and expand ideas
• Employ the elements of creative nonfiction 

• Organize your thought and experiences so that they lead to a clear meaning, a theme or thesis 

• Use transitional words and phrases
• Proofread carefully so there are no errors at the sentence level that interfere with the clarity and readability of your writing

To begin brainstorming your CNF, here are some questions on which to free write: 

In the midst of the coronavirus COVID-19, this global pandemic, social distancing, and stay-at-home order how and what are you doing to cope with this emotional and physical stress?  

What changes occurred and why were they necessary? 

How are you feeling about yourself, family, community, the world?

What are your thoughts on the future? 

What are you doing to mitigate external and internal factors to focus on and progress towards your future? How do you endure and persevere? Where is hope?

What plans or actions were put in place? 

What lessons have been learned, by you and maybe the nation?

What matters more than ever and what no longer holds the same weight?

Have you noticed any symbolism, metaphors or other creative representations in this time that suddenly, strangely revealed themselves? If so, what do they mean or what do you think they mean?