What? You ask. Creative Non-fiction? Non-fiction is boring stuff like medical journals and business magazines. That must be an oxymoron!

Wrong. Well, maybe not all wrong.

Non fiction though valuable - is sometimes boring. But creative non-fiction is different. Non-fiction simply means that whatever you're reading is true. Creative non-fiction is what you'll find in publications such as the Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort anthologies as well as the True magazines.

I can hear you now; there's no way those stories are true! Maybe, maybe not. There's an old saying that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, so who knows?

In a recent article in Funds For Writers Newsletter, author Dorothy Baughman, who writes for the True markets, says that the point is to "write a story that other women can relate to, the same tales you hear in the beauty shop or when women get together. Put a woman in an emotional situation with a conflict or problem, then follow through with the solution. It doesn't have to involve love all the time. It just needs to emotionally relate to women." (used with permission from Funds For Writers (c) 2004 and Dorothy Baughman.

Another largely untapped market for creative non-fiction is Vocational Biographies.

A Vocational Biography, also known as a career biography, is the portrayal of a professional person in his or her chosen field (e.g., lady Sheriff or Medical Transcriptionist).

There are certain criteria to meet in writing a Vocational Biography. The subject must be under 45 yrs of age, unless special circumstances apply (e.g., handicapped, minority, etc). Each biography contains information on the education necessary to pursue the career, the experience required, and a detailed job description (here's where the 'creative' part comes in, make a boring job description interesting!). It also includes, lifestyle information (how it affects the subjects lifestyle), information on how to prepare for the career, etc., and on the benefits associated with the job (insurance, paid holidays, etc.).

Career biographies are written in newspaper style, with accompanying photos, and are used by librarians, counselors, teachers and others who educate and inspire our young people. They cover jobs in any category from Architect to Zoologist and every aspect of the position.

Vocational Biographies, the leading publisher of career biographies has been providing them since 1969. VocoBio relies extensively on freelance writers from across the country to provide their information! Also, should one of your photo's be used as a cover, you get extra compensation.

This is a great way for writers to gain experience and exposure as well as accumulate clips, since your name is listed as a contributor. It's also a way to make a few $$ and offset some of your writing expenses.

To find out more on breaking into this lucrative market, go to http://www.vocbio.com.

To find out more on the Chicken Soup anthologies, visit their website @ http://www.chickensoup.com.

Adams Media is the publisher of the Cup of Comfort anthologies as well as The Rocking Chair Reader, Small Miracles and others. Their website: http://www.adamsmedia.com

Other creative non-fiction markets include: Guidepost, Angels on Earth Magazine, God Allows U-Turns, God's Way Books, Tales from the Front Porch anthologies, The Sun Magazine by American Media, LifeWise Books, and don't forget the True's! For information on writing for the True magazines, visit http://www.thetruesonline.com

There are tons of markets out there for freelance writers! To find them, sign up for all the free newsletters you can. Some examples are: Funds for Writers or Anthologies Online.

Learn more about this author, Pamela S Thibodeaux.
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