A versatile genre with global impact
Creative Non-Fiction (CNF) is one of the most dynamic and versatile genres in contemporary writing. From memoir and biography to travel writing, nature writing, and true crime, CNF offers writers endless opportunities to explore human experience and the world around us. The University of Cambridge’s MSt in Creative Writing now offers a dedicated CNF pathway, designed for students who wish to specialise in this exciting field.
Expert teaching and rich experience
The CNF teaching team brings extensive expertise in writing and publishing across multiple sub-genres. Their collective experience spans memoir, biography, narrative history, hybrid works, and short non-fiction forms such as the lyric essay. This wealth of knowledge ensures that students gain the skills and confidence to approach any CNF sub-genre, or to write across them with originality and flair.
First-year modules: building core skills
Students on the CNF pathway select either three modules from the list below, or two plus one from another genre pathway. Each module is designed to develop essential skills for creative non-fiction writers.
Writing from experience
Memoir and autobiography draw directly on memory and lived experience. This module explores how personal perspectives can be transformed into narratives that resonate meaningfully with readers.
Research for Creative Non-Fiction
Research underpins many CNF forms, including biography, narrative history, and science writing. Students learn practical research skills such as literature searches, working with archives, and oral history techniques.
Noticing and paying Attention: the art of the essay
The essay, whether narrative, personal, or lyric, offers distinctive possibilities in short-form CNF. This module focuses on form, imagery, and voice, encouraging writers to pay close attention to overlooked details and transform them into compelling prose.
Writing across genre
Hybrid texts blend elements from multiple sub-genres. Examples include family memoirs that combine research with memory, or bibliomemoirs that weave personal narrative with literary biography. This module examines approaches to blending genres creatively and effectively.
Second-year modules: expanding horizons
In the second year, students can continue with CNF modules or explore new options:
- Long-Form in CNF: Develop the skills to structure and sustain a book-length work.
- Writing the More-Than-Human: Explore perspectives beyond the human, engaging with nature and other-than-human voices.
- Writing for Advocacy: Discover how CNF can serve social and political purposes, amplifying voices and driving change.
A collaborative learning community
Throughout the two years, CNF students participate in workshop groups, offering peer feedback and support as they progress towards their long-form projects. Shared classes on the Theory and Practice of Creative Writing foster a wider community across pathways, enriching the learning experience.
Building on a strong tradition
Graduates of Cambridge’s MSt in Creative Writing have already made their mark in the world of non-fiction. Alumni such as Freya Bromley, Ellen Atlanta, and Jill Damatac have published acclaimed works, demonstrating the transformative potential of the programme. The CNF pathway builds on this tradition, offering students the opportunity to join a thriving community of writers shaping the future of creative non-fiction.
Applications are now open for our MSt in Creative Writing, where you can choose to take the Creative Non-Fiction pathway.