Welcome to another interview in my series on creativity in non-fiction writing which I kicked off a month or so ago. Today we meet Caitlin Hicks, who writes for the theatre, having started out in journalism and has recently blended non-fiction and fiction in her new project, which started with a true story and expanded outwards from there. Let’s say hello to Caitlin and hear her opinions on creativity, non-fiction and fiction. Over to you, Caitlin …

First of all, please tell me a bit about yourself and your books.

My life and work have been profoundly affected by the central circumstance of my existence: I was born into a very large military Catholic family in the United States of America. As a child surrounded by many others, I wrote, performed and directed family plays with my numerous brothers and sisters. I graduated Cum Laude with a double major in French and English (with a writing emphasis) from Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles. Here, I wrote weekly columns as Feature Editor of the Los Angeles Loyolan. My first job out of school was a writer of Camp Fund stories at the Los Angeles Times, and my writing was published every day of the summer. I worked in radio for several years in San Francisco for CBS and NBC, where I was Manager of Advertising and Promotion for KYUU-FM and where my writing was heard on-air. When I was 26, I dropped out of the corporate world to follow a lifelong dream to become an actress. At the same time, I met my creative soul mate in an Improvisation class — an accomplished artist from Canada named Gordon Halloran.

In Toronto, I began writing for the theatre when, as an actress working on a solo show, The Tarragon Theatre invited me to be a member of the Playwrights Unit there. My first play Six Palm Trees, co-written with Gordon Halloran, came out of that effort. As a playwright and performer I toured with my partner Gord Halloran, in my original theatrical plays in Canada and internationally to standing ovations and excellent reviews. One of my plays was adapted to a feature film called Singing the Bones. While Gord worked as dramaturge and director to my theatre work, I have promoted his work as an artist ever since I met him over 30 years ago.

My path as a writer has always been a personal spiritual journey, although my work is not religious. I am drawn towards stories that I don’t hear often in the mainstream culture. I enjoy bringing to life personal, pivotal stories which have the kernel of transformation and which connect us all to each other.

How did you start writing, and which came first, fiction or non-fiction?

When I was in 4th Grade, I wrote a story called “An approaching storm”  . . . the following week, the teacher read it aloud in class, but I wasn’t there that day, I was sick. But the thrill of writing that story is what got me hooked.

Did you always want to write or was this a relatively late development?

I also wanted to be an artist (as I loved painting and drawing) but my older sister chose to be an ‘artist’ . . . So I decided , I’ll be a writer!

I recently blogged about finding that writing non-fiction was still “creative”. Do you agree, or is only fiction writing truly creative?

Absolutely. It’s a genre: Creative Non-Fiction. I write fiction as well as non-fiction and I approach writing a non-fiction story in the same way I approach writing fiction. Use of vocabulary, language, emotional investment in story, plot, characters, editing, etc. It’s largely instinctive at this point. For me, I must have an emotional connection to the idea inherent in the story before I am even interested in writing it. Right now on my website there is a non-fiction story called NEXT OF KIN, a true story that inspired an aspect of my debut novel A THEORY OF EXPANDED LOVE. That’s why NEXT OF KIN is a great example of what I’m talking about. It could be fiction, but it’s not. It packs an emotional punch, but it’s tightly edited, has a structure, a plot, an arc, etc.

I’ve heard it said that memoir should be considered as “creative non-fiction” – do you agree with that description?

Not all memoirs are Creative Non-Fiction, I guess. I’m thinking that the care with which one writes a fiction story ought also to be in any non-fiction piece.

How do you think writing memoir differs from writing fiction?

Well with memoir, you don’t have to do as much research. You know more about what you’re writing from the get-go.

If you use your own life in your fiction, was writing a memoir different from doing that?

Yes, a memoir is more difficult because you can always offend real people . If it’s fiction, then . . . it’s their choice if they want to insert themselves into the story. I love that I wrote NEXT OF KIN first and was true to the experience. I also love that I could use that experience to inform what happened in A THEORY OF EXPANDED LOVE.

Have you got anything else you want to add about creativity and writing (with particular regard to non-fiction)?

You’re either using the creative side of your brain, or you’re not. Fiction or non.

Tell us where we can find your books!

Light Messages is publishing A THEORY OF EXPANDED LOVE. It comes out in May, 2015. My website is at www.caitlinhicks.com/wordpress and you can find NEXT OF KIN there as well as other information and writing.

Watch out for more interviews, either by subscribing to this blog (see the links in the top right if you’re viewing on a PC or on the drop-down menu if you’re reading on a phone or tablet) or clicking on the “non-fiction creativity” tag.

I’ve been talking about creativity in non-fiction writing recently and here we have the next in my interview series on the subject. Today we’re meeting Joey Avniel, who’s written fiction based on memoir, non-fiction based on family issues he’s experienced, and a health-related book based on his experiences as a vegan (I love books like that, and wrote my own anti-cholesterol diet book out of my research on that topic, so it’s nice to “meet” other people who’ve done the same). Read how Joey’s crafted experiences from his life into three very different books, and if you have any questions, do post a comment!

Hello, Joey, and thanks for joining in the discussion. Tell me a bit about yourself first, please …

I worked for many years as a coach and in my first books I shared the insights of my own experience and what I’ve learned working with my students. My first book was a fiction book and it’s called: One-Legged Seagull: A Warrior’s Journey to Inner Peace. Then my second one was a non-fiction one, about fixing the relationship with your mother. It’s called: Drama with Mama – Eleven Ways To Stop Fighting With Your Mother. Then, since I’m an enthusiastic vegan, and I did a lot of research, about health and diet, I wrote my last book which is called: The Healing Foods – Heal Your Body & Lose Weight with Delicious, Earth-friendly, Healthy Food.

How did you start writing, and which came first, fiction or non-fiction?

My first book was fiction, based on my life path. You can say that the book choose me and forced me to write it. I simply couldn’t fall asleep at night, if I didn’t write some.

Did you always want to write (a memoir / non-fiction) or was this a relatively late development?

After I published my fiction story, I felt like I need to introduce the insights from the fiction book also in a non-fiction way.

I recently blogged about finding that writing non-fiction was still “creative”. Do you agree, or is only fiction writing truly creative?

Writing a good non-fiction book is very creative. If you want to touch your readers’ heart, you need to be creative. They need to feel you and your writing, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction.

I’ve heard it said that memoir should be considered as “creative non-fiction” – do you agree with that description? How do you think writing memoir differ from writing fiction on the one hand and non-fiction on the other?

I used my own life story in my fiction book, changing it of course, to make the book more interesting. Every character has a bit of me in it. Then, in my second book, a non-fiction one, I use a lot of stories from my own life and my relationships with my parents. But, it’s not a memoir. One thing I can say is that I like the freedom of rewriting my life story when writing fiction.

You can find Joey’s books on Amazon, and he also has a Facebook page.

Watch out for more interviews, either by subscribing to this blog (see the links in the top right if you’re viewing on a PC or on the drop-down menu if you’re reading on a phone or tablet) or clicking on the “non-fiction creativity” tag.

When I wrote about creativity in non-fiction writing and invited fellow non-fiction writers to take part in an interview series on the subject, I had a huge response. Some of the messages I received were very long, some were more concise, and if I published them all one by one, I’d be holding interviews back for months). So, here I’m going to do a sort of group interview with a selection of non-fiction writers – I hope you enjoy this format, just to mix things up a  bit! There won’t be an answer from each person to every question, but you can follow their paths through their writing lives …

So, today we’re meeting Robin Stevens (who writes under the pseudonym Rhabi Rites), Wayne T. Ollick and Richard W. Bender, all of whom have been inspired to publish books on issues and topics which are important to them.

Hello everyone! Tell me a bit about yourselves first, please …

Robin Stevens: My name is Robin Stevens but my pseudonym is Rhabi Rites.  I was a foster child at the age of 5 months old to be later adopted in the Stevens family.  I am originally from Greensboro, NC and have been living here since birth.  I am a playwright and director as well as an author.  I enjoy the outdoors and love animals.  My hobbies are cooking, singing, writing, and hiking, although I don’t get to hike much these days.

Wayne T. Ollick: I am retired and became very involved in politics, for the first time in my life, when Liberalism/Progressivism took over the country. I forward, highlight and comment on articles that I receive each day to about 300 followers

Richard W. Bender: I write non-fiction only, about the things I do and some of my experiences.  I have been blessed with unique creativity and great opportunities in my life and I have a lot to teach and share. My first book, “Herbal Bonsai”, is out of print after selling more than 10,000 copies and my second book, “Bountiful Bonsai” is due out in January, 2015 and is available for preorder at Amazon.

How did you start writing, and which came first, fiction or non-fiction?

Robin: I first started writing when involved in a domestic violent relationship back in 2000.  Writing became a way of escape..my peace and I have been writing ever since.  My first writings were scripts to stage plays and then came poems, song lyrics and monologues.  My latest is the novel Delivered, I wrote in 2013.  Non-fiction came first for me because most of my writings were based on my life. I hated writing in school, which is funny to me now.  English was my worst subject and one day while in college, one of my English professors told me that my essay writing was so expressive and that I should consider writing one day.  That was back in 1988. I did not start to write until 2000.

Wayne: As I mentioned, I recently became very involved in politics. I believe the number one problem in the USA is the inability of people in both parties to communicate. This all-consuming schism has  occurred twice before in our history. First, at the time of the Revolutionary War (Patriots and Loyalists) and second, just before and during the Civil War (those for slavery [Southern Democrats] and those against [The newly formed Republican Party]). My book addresses today’s schism, especially in my chapter on, “The Plight of the Baby Boomers”.

Did you always want to write (a memoir / non-fiction) or was this a relatively late development?

Richard: I told my parents I would be an outdoor writer when my age was still in single digits.  I never started writing seriously until I was in my thirties and had my first articles published in newspapers and magazines at the age of 34.

Wayne: I call myself a ‘Sophichologist’, a made up word that is a composite of the words, Sociology, Philosophy, and Psychology, my main interests of which, I believe, are overlapping disciplines. So the idea of writing about my thoughts has always existed but I never actually thought I would write a book. I was talking to a friend around 2008 and telling him that I feel like Dr. McCoy (of the Star Trek movie) must have felt when Mr. Spock used a mind meld to transfer all of his knowledge into McCoy’s head, as Spock was about to die saving the ship. [I am sorry if you are not a fan of Star Trek, which might make this analogy tedious.] Anyhow, I had 40 years of thoughts in my head that were screaming to come out and suddenly I realized that the only way that will happen is to write a book. In 2009 I started.

I recently blogged about finding that writing non-fiction was still “creative”. Do you agree, or is only fiction writing truly creative?

Wayne: I absolutely agree! While writing, I am always finding ways to creatively format and arrange the content in a manner that will hold the reader’s interest. Adding anecdotes and humor is also a tool I use to bring home a point in a way in which the reader can identify or be amused.

Richard: Nonfiction is creative.  I write about the creative things I do and am working on a collection of philosophical essays about experiences in my life that could be considered a memoir and I call creative nonfiction.

Robin: The most a writer can do to make their writings interesting is to use fiction.  We all have lives, experiences, things we have been through but until you add that spin, that fictional edge, all you have are words.  Stories need a “twist”.  Plays need a “turn” something that will lead the person down the road they are familiar with only to give them a detour..which keeps it interesting in my opinion. Then you have an audience who are wondering where the story will go next.  This keeps them coming back for more.  So in writing your non-fiction, give the readers what they expect, but also give them more of what they didn’t.

I’ve heard it said that memoir should be considered as “creative non-fiction” – do you agree with that description? How do you think writing memoir differ from writing fiction on the one hand and non-fiction on the other?

Richard: I don’t write fiction, but consider myself a storyteller.  My stories happen to be about real experiences from my life. My nonfiction articles and books are about imparting information.  My memoir essays have to tell a story that keeps the reader interested, much like fiction and I consider that to be creative nonfiction.

Robin: I would not agree with the statement that a memoir should be considered “creative non-fiction.”  Any memoir I’ve ever read was based on a true story and depending I guess upon the author, the “creativity” would be based on what those memories were.  This makes it non-fiction.  Authors can however add to their memories to make them seem interesting but most I’ve read do not.  I myself am a creative writer, descriptive in my writings, but to write one of these would be totally based on fact.  If that’s creative, so be it.  There’s nothing wrong with making your story “pop”, but I would say if an author writes about their memories, those memories are precious and many times are left alone.

Wayne: I am a bad person to respond to that question. I wrote my book in the third person because I wanted it to be solely about the content and not about me. So, I would never consider writing my memoirs or an autobiography. Those are for highly accomplished people, in my opinion. But, if you are going to write about yourself, you had better be creative, or your audience may get quite bored.

Have you got anything else you want to add about creativity and writing (with particular regard to non-fiction)?

Wayne: I have read non-creative non-fiction and it read like a technical manual. Think about the difference between a teacher that simply voices the material while writing it on the board (I’ve had a lot of those!) as opposed to one who gets the class involved by asking their opinions before he tells them the facts. I should say that I am a fan of the ‘Socratic’ method of teaching in which Socrates would ask his pupils a series of questions until they came upon the answer on their own.

Robin’s book, “Delivered”, written under the pen-name Rhabi Rites, is located on the Xlibris.com website under fiction and it can be found on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Wayne T Ollick has a website and Facebook page and you can buy his book, “The Overviewer” from Amazon or direct from CreateSpace.

Both of Richard W. Bender’s books can be found at his author page at Amazon. People can follow what he’s doing and learn about new works in progress by following his author page on Facebook.

I think you’ll agree that this is an interesting selection of answers from a group of very different people who turn out to agree on a lot!

Watch out for more interviews, either by subscribing to this blog (see the links in the top right if you’re viewing on a PC or on the drop-down menu if you’re reading on a phone or tablet) or clicking on the “non-fiction creativity” tag.

I recently wrote a post about creativity in non-fiction writing and then had the idea of inviting some of my writing friends and acquaintances to take part in an interview series on the subject. I’m going to be publishing these interviews over the next few months (yes, I’ve had a great response, yes, you can still take part, just pop and have a look at the original post for instructions).

Today I’m delighted to kick the series off with a chat with author Paul Magrs. I originally got in touch with Paul when I found a mention of my hobby of BookCrossing in his lovely novel, “Exchange”. We’ve become friends, I’ve enjoyed reading all of his books apart from the one that was a bit too scary for me (it’s actually fine, I’m just easily scared) and, as he’s recently published a work of non-fiction, his part-memoir, part-cat biography, “The Story of Fester Cat“, I was interested to find out how the creative process for that book differed from his fiction writing. Let’s meet Paul and find out more …

Hello Paul! First of all please tell us a bit about yourself and your books.

I’m a literature PhD who taught the Creative Writing MA at UEA during my twenties and thirties, and next year sees the twentieth anniversary of the publication of my first novel. I’ve written magical realism, queer fantasy, science fiction, domestic thrillers, camp screwball comedies and Gothic mysteries. My newest release is ‘The Story of Fester Cat’ published by Penguin US and my next book is a YA science fiction novel, ‘Lost on Mars’, coming out with Firefly in the spring.

So, how did you start writing, and which came first, fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction came first of all, from a very young age. It was all endless practice till I was at university and found out you could do courses and workshops in this stuff.

You’ve recently published your memoir / cat biography: did you always want to write what we’re loosely going to call non-fiction (see below) or was this a relatively late development?

I’ve always been a devoted keeper of journals and diaries. All my writing practice involves warm-up sessions and these most often involve memoir-work. Well before I published any, I’d written a great deal of non-fiction, or hybridized fiction / non-fiction. When I was at UEA, Julia Bell and I set up the journal ‘Pretext’ in 1999, and that was all about writers and academics exploring forms of writing that blended genres and forms. I wrote a few pieces at that time, including a piece called ‘What Now, My Love’ for Pretext and ‘Here Comes Glad’ for the TLS, and they were my first forays into memoir.

Now, I recently blogged about finding that writing non-fiction was still “creative”. Do you agree, or is only fiction writing truly creative?

They are both creative in different ways. Both are linked to the world outside the book and both have to be summoned up and imagined fully on the page. Some of my favourite non-fictions I read greedily, like I do novels – and some of my favourites teeter between genres. A really good biography will make the person materialize in front of you. It’s not just creative – it’s alchemical.

I’ve heard it said that memoir should be considered as “creative non-fiction” – do you agree with that description? How does writing memoir differ from writing fiction on the one hand and non-fiction on the other?

I see it all as much more fluid than that. Some of those hair-splitting terms can sound so clunky and dry. They’re simply books, aren’t they? And how do you classify books such as some of my favourites – Wayne Koestenbaum’s ‘Jackie Under My Skin’ or ‘Agatha Christie’ by Laura Thompson or Susan Sontag’s ‘Volcano Lover’? They blend biography with fiction and theory.

If you use your own life in your fiction, was writing a memoir different from doing that? And in what ways do you think writing a memoir narrated by a cat was different to writing it in your own voice?

It’s good to come at any material – whether semi-fictional or mostly-‘real’ – from a slantwise direction. An unusual point of view is the classic way of giving yourself a fresh pair of eyes – but also licence to reshape and adapt the raw material. However close to the ostensible ‘truth’, it’s all about taking stuff that’s life-shaped and making it book-shaped.

Have you got anything else you want to add about creativity and writing (with particular regard to non-fiction)?

It was interesting that some editors [the ones at publishers who ended up not taking on the book – interestingly, in the UK] worried about Fester’s book being both fiction and non-fiction at the same time. They wanted strict lines drawing between the two. I think it’s a shame when things have to be so clearly demarcated. It’s a hopeless distinction anyway, I think. When we enter the world of a book it’s all made up, anyway. When I reread Fester’s book at the proof-reading stage I was seeing in my head a version of his story that wasn’t us. It was very weird – I could see a public version of our story, still familiar, but rearranged and reinvented at the same time. Writing is a parallel universe.

That’s very interesting, thank you! Now, tell us where we can find your books!

Many are available online, or in bookshops. The Brenda and Effie Mysteries should be available everywhere. ‘The Story of Fester Cat’ has just been published by Berkley / Penguin in the US and you can find it on Amazon.com, but not in the UK as yet, but it is available as a Kindle book in the UK. You can read more about the book and its reviews on my blog.

I love Paul’s take on this – that genres should blur and it doesn’t matter whether something’s fiction or non-fiction as long as it’s readable. It’s interesting that his editors were concerned about this – I don’t think I’ve worked on anything particularly genre-crossing in my work as an editor myself, but I’ll watch out for making a fuss about things that do so if I don’t need to! I love the quote “It’s all about taking stuff that’s life-shaped and making it book-shaped” – I certainly did that with my first two books, and it makes me think about how I shape my experiences to help other people build theirs.

What a lovely start to the series. Watch out for more interviews, either by subscribing to this blog (see the links in the top right if you’re viewing on a PC or on the drop-down menu if you’re reading on a phone or tablet) or clicking on the “non-fiction creativity” tag at the top of this post.