What is Creative Nonfiction?

I sent a notice to students regarding recent notification of the Norman Mailer writing contest. I have had several nibbles, but they always pose the question, "What is creative nonfiction?"

Words that seem to obviously explain the genre are confusing to students who want the security of a form, a guideline, an accepted and recognizable style. It is hard to accept the simplicity of two concepts that are inherent in creative nonfiction: creativity is neither predictable or secure, and nonfiction is true. 

Then comes the hard work of writing that my students need to embrace. Gather the ideas and information, organize the presentation, and polish-polish-polish the language. Whether truth or fiction, the story must be well told.

 "Ultimately, this controversy over the form or the word is not only rather silly but moot; the genre itself, the practice of writing nonfiction in a dramatic and imaginative way, has been an anchoring element of the literary world for many years," Lee Gutkind reflected. 

Yes, the genre has existed since the first true fish story, but Gutkind has defined it through example by giving us the Creative Nonfiction journal.