Creative...
Creativity in all its forms is often salvation
Creative Nonfiction
Although I currently write fiction (did I mention I have a novel coming out??), I still teach creative nonfiction and memoir (at Augsburg University’s fabulous and accessible low-residency MFA program). This genre is complex and soul-baring and opens up the writer and reader to a range of reactions and emotions in a way that’s different from fiction simply because we know what we’re reading is true.
I believe creative nonfiction, particularly memoir, is the most difficult genre, the one that requires the most from its writers (and often its readers). My graduate students tend to be drawn to true stories and memoir because their lives have been filled with drama or trauma—depending on how they’re feeling when they sit down to write, and I love helping them figure out how to share their truth.
This is not to diminish the work (blood, sweat, and tears) that goes into fiction—believe me, I’ve suffered for my fiction, too. But transforming truth into something interesting and believable and universal is a unique challenge and brings in the “creative” of creative nonfiction.
A few books I recommend to my students:
The Boys of My Youth by Joann Beard
This is a classic for a reason. The collection of personal essays captures the reader’s imagination and heart and shows emerging memoir writers how a book can be structured from essays and still tell a whole story.
Saturday Night by Susan Orlean
This nonfiction book is one of my favorite examples of what can be done with the genre. Orlean experienced Saturday night across the country and writes vivid essays about how people from across different regions, social groups, and economic status spend their weekend evenings. It’s a bit dated, but I think it’s still an excellent example of creative nonfiction.
The Black Notebooks by Toi Derricotte
This memoir by poet Toi Derricotte is a story of race, assimilation, and family. Derricotte is a beautiful writer and her book shows emerging writers how a personal story can be lyrical and poetic.
Book of Delights by Ross Gay
This collection of short essays by another poet demonstrates how the everyday moments can be beautiful and meaningful. Writing students are often inspired to write their own versions of delights after reading Gay’s work.
Creative Covers
When I visit schools, I often get asked if I drew the cover of my book. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy drawing and art, I’m not a visual artist, and my book covers are designed by the publishers. I’ve been very fortunate to have amazing artists work on my cover art, including Colombian artist Paola Escobar (who did the covers of What If a Fish and Encanto: A Tale of Three Sisters).
For the cover of my new novel The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore, I was offered a choice between a few different color schemes (all bright and beautiful) and I selected the orange, which means I get to claim some kind of ownership in the creativity required to make a compelling cover. I’m thrilled with the cover art because of the detail and attention to culturally specific elements in the story.
Wondering what the cover of The Many Mother of Dolores Moore looks like? Check it out (and while you’re at it, go ahead and pre-order the book!).
Creative…reading
I was thinking about whether reading requires creativity. My first thought was that it doesn’t, it’s passive, but the more I thought about it, the more I believe it does. It’s not like television or movies, where the viewer is given the visuals; with a book, the reader must fill in all the senses of sight, touch, smell. So our brains are working creatively while we read.
It also requires a level of creativity to select books to read. When I was a kid, I was always in awe of the way my mom could find amazing books in the library, while the ones I chose for myself were often dull or pointless.
I don’t know that I used any creativity to find the books I read most recently, but here’s a sample.
Recent Reads
Still Life by Sarah Winman
I read this book while on vacation, which always colors the experience a bit. But I would guess I would love this book no matter where I read it. The story of this assorted and charming cast of characters who cross between England and Italy in the years after World War II is fascinating and compelling and also calming. The book spans several decades and meanders in a very pleasant sort of way.
Every Tom Dick and Harry by Elinor Lipman
I’m a lifelong fan of novelist Elinor Lipman, who has been compared to a modern Jane Austen. Her stories are always a bit mundane and her characters extremely flawed but loveable. Her newest novel is classic Lipman (although if you’re just starting out, begin with her early novels like The Inn at Lake Divine or Isabel’s Bed). Miss Manners meets small East Coast town meets… red-light district?
And Sons by David Gilbert
I’m adding this to the list not because it was an amazing book but because I want someone else to read it and tell me what they think. This novel, set in New York City, centers on a family of unlikeable characters (think Succession), but I somehow couldn’t stop turning the pages.
What are you reading?
Creative Conversations
One of the great joys of being an author is being invited to chat with other authors. Next month I’m thrilled to be conversation with the legendary Pam Muñoz Ryan. She is the author of so many wonderful and classic children’s book, including my family’s favorite, Echo. (If you haven’t read Echo, try the audiobook which is stunning). I’m so excited to talk with her when she visits St. Paul at Red Balloon Bookshop.
If you’re in the Twin Cities, join us May 9 as we discuss her new book El Niño.
Thank you so much for reading. I greatly appreciate my community. If you want to follow me on social media, I’m still on Instagram and FB occasionally and on Bluesky. You can also check out my website, where I’ll post upcoming events as they become available.