Patricia J. Parsons

Keys to Writing Creative Nonfiction

Posted on 24 Jan 2025 by Patricia J. Parsons

I began my writing career as a nonfiction writer. Most of what I did in my early years was in the specific genre of “prescriptive nonfiction.” Eventually, my appetite for more creativity kicked in, and I transitioned my research skills into some creative nonfiction before I moved into writing fiction. But I’ve always realized that my forays into creative nonfiction were just the bridge I needed to get me into writing novels.

Creative nonfiction, also called narrative nonfiction, occupies the fascinating intersection of fact and storytelling. This genre combines the authenticity of factual writing with the artfulness of literary techniques, resulting in works that are as compelling as fiction but rooted in actual events, people, and experiences. Whether you’re recounting personal experiences, exploring historical events, or delving into cultural commentary, creative nonfiction offers an expansive playground for writers.

My latest episode of WRITE. FIX. REPEAT. has some tips for writing nonfiction.

Whether you’re an aspiring memoirist, a budding essayist, or a seasoned journalist, creative nonfiction offers myriad opportunities to tell important stories. If you approach your writing with honesty, curiosity, and creativity, you’ll create stories that resonate with readers. The truth isn’t just stranger than fiction—it’s often more enthralling.

Backstory, Books, Ideas generation

What I Learned from Pippi Longstocking

Posted on 7 Jan 20257 Jan 2025 by Patricia J. Parsons

You might have to be of a certain age to remember her. Pippi Longstocking was a great friend of mine as a child. Of course, like any aspiring writer, many of my friends lived between the covers of the books I cherished. Pippi was one such friend—and a friend who taught me a lot about myself, who entertained me, and who, perhaps most importantly, inspired me, even though some of that inspiration wouldn’t find its way into the pages of my own books for many years.

Published several decades even before my own birth, Pippi was the title character in Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren’s series of books. Pippi was a nine-year-old girl with superhuman physical strength, extraordinarily unconventional, fiercely independent and a particular disdain for pompous adults. In today’s terms, she would probably have been called quirky. She was a character unlike any ever created before her and Lindgren herself has said, “Everything great that has ever happened in this world happened first in somebody’s imagination.” But the truth is that even imagination needs to be fed.

Here are some key lessons I learned from Pippi.

Unique characters are compelling characters. Pippi is extraordinary—a strong, independent girl who defies societal norms. Her quirky traits, like her incredible physical strength and her freckled face, make her unforgettable. Writers can take inspiration from this by giving their characters unexpected qualities or contradictions that set them apart.
Showing the reader rather than telling the reader leads to a more engaged reader. Lindgren doesn’t simply describe Pippi as adventurous or generous; she shows it through Pippi’s actions—like hosting wild tea parties, standing up to bullies, and sharing her wealth with friends. Writers can aim to reveal character traits through behaviour and dialogue rather than exposition.
You can address serious themes with humour. This has been key for me in recent years. In Pippi’s world, the tone of the story may be funny, but there is always a serious theme: loneliness, loss, and societal expectations. My own recent fiction has been, on the surface, satirical and funny. However, the themes are much more profound for readers who care to look.
The setting can be a character. Pippi’s home, Villa Villekulla, mirrors her personality: colourful, chaotic, and full of surprises. I have learned to make the setting an extension of a character in some instances and a character on its own in others. When I wrote We Came from Away, I left little doubt but that the island of Newfoundland is a character unto itself.

I still have a copy of Pippi Longstocking on my bookshelf—in hardback. And I still cherish it. What’s your favourite childhood book?

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The End of Another First Draft: And is the Ending “Right”?

Posted on 29 Oct 2024 by Patricia J. Parsons

Just last Friday, I typed those two sought-after words on the first draft of a new book project: “The End.” Then, I sat back to consider how to celebrate. Of course, now you’re thinking, just get back to work and write draft #2. Yes, that will come, but what about what’s already there? Just because I wrote “the end” on the last page of the new book, does that mean I nailed the ending.? Writing endings for projects, regardless of their length, is a challenge.

You might think that writing the ending right before those two magic words might be the easiest part of your writing project. It is not. It might even be one of the most challenging parts. It should be easy, but it usually isn’t—not if you want to get it right.

Endings shape a story’s legacy. They’re crucial because they leave a lasting impression on readers and can shape how they feel about the entire story. The ending lingers in the reader’s mind because it cements the emotional experience of the story.

The ending of a blog piece might be a single paragraph. The ending of a novel or a book of creative nonfiction is likely to be much longer. Either way, you have to get it right. After almost forty years of writing endings, I’ve learned a few things. In this episode of WRITE. FIX. REPEAT. I’m sharing five tips that might help you.