Creative Nonfiction Writing Students Craft Multimodal Pieces 

In Lecturer Ashley Wells’ Advanced Creative Nonfiction Writing course, students created podcasts, dioramas, paintings, collages, and zines to accompany their Spring 2022 final portfolios. Throughout the semester, students focused primarily on writing and refining two personal essays. After drafting, workshopping, and editing their pieces for their Final Portfolio, students were asked to explore a scene or excerpt through a multimodal project of their choosing.   

Some students opted to create a short podcast, pairing their reading with music to enhance the tone and movement of the piece. Those who chose to create a zine included excerpts and scenes illustrated by hand. One student chose to create an ornate shoebox diorama of the setting where her essay took place. 

From idea conception through completion, students were tasked with thinking about their pieces more deeply, considering what multimodal project would most support their growth and understanding of the piece. Not only does the multimodal aspect require students to step outside their comfort zones and learn a new medium, like a podcast, but they also see their work in a new light. One of Ashley’s students Ally Mo’Unga Bishop elaborates, “Creative nonfiction is a vulnerable genre. Personal essays often explore broken hearts and trauma, so when we share them with workshop style classes, it’s a heart-opening experience. Joining my words with music was a different kind of uncomfortable. It tested me, but I liked the challenge.”  

“Each project adds a layer to the writing and the way an author understands their piece, their craft, and their audience. For example, a podcast prompts students to think about the rhythm and musicality of their sentences and the way a piece is read. A diorama requires students to think carefully about scene and detail, about placing a reader in the moment. A zine is a direct line to audience, offering a more intimate link,” Ashley reflects. “And I left it open for students to propose any other mode of exploration they might find fulfilling, like graphic memoir. I was thrilled to see students show up with paintings and collages, too.”