Writing Creative Non-Fiction Workshop Report

Creative nonfiction is a literary genre that tells true stories using literary techniques such as those found in fiction and poetry, to create a more compelling and engaging narrative.

It combines elements of fiction writing like descriptive language, character development, voice, plot, conflict, tension and scene setting, with factual subject matter to produce ‘true’ literature.

Ten High Town Writers met in Bridgnorth Library last Saturday afternoon, 12th April 2025, to explore the genre in a workshop led by Emma Woodhouse who has developed this style of writing in her Victorian novels, ‘Mary -Queen of the Forty’ (just published) which tells the true story of the all-female Victorian gang leader, Mary Carr and ‘Mercy’, a historical novel, due for publication in July 2025 which tells the story of Bridgnorth’s own, Mercy Newton, who was arrested for murder in 1848. 

Emma walked us through other forms of Creative Non-Fiction such as Memoirs, Nature Writing and Travel Writing and we looked at a master of the form, Bill Bryson. We also reflected upon the importance of finding one’s ‘voice’ and putting oneself and one’s personal experiences centrally in these genres: especially as the preferred form of writing for several attendees is creative non-fiction – travel writing and memoirs in particular. 

The workshop concluded with writing about something factual through the prism of a real event in our lives.

We were deep into our endeavours when the Library Fire Alarm went off and we found ourselves faced with the challenge of turning it off and the consequences! Thankfully that happened at about twenty to five so we lost very little of the planned session.

MANY THANKS EMMA 

for leading such an interesting and inspiring workshop.

The next quarterly workshop is on Saturday 12th July 2025.

Several people have already indicated that they will not be able to attend.

Please let us know asap if you will or won’t be able to come on 12th July.

Also

If you could lead a workshop – on ANY writing topic – do let us know.