Nonfiction forms add authority and believability to fiction. Plus the constraints always create things that would have otherwise been unavailable.
The newsreel at the beginning of Citizen Kane. It establishes authority, but also tells us all of the major plot points, which allows us to disengage from following the plot, and engage more with the emotion of the story as it progresses.
Love this and your stories here, which I just found when searching for hermit crab essay forms. you inspired me to write a Customer Complaint essay. So fun.
That made my day, Rosana! Would love to check it out. If you're looking for more hermit crab essay inspiration, I think you'd love my (very) short story "Ralph Wants a Refund." It's about a socially awkward husband who wants to return his faulty "Social Battery." If you read it, please let me know what you think :)
What's happening: Biss uses the simple idea of rating pain to dive deep into personal experiences, asking tough questions about how we measure something so personal. Blending reflection and philosophy with a structure we’ve all seen at the doctor’s office.
2. "We Regret to Inform You" by Brenda Miller
Form: Rejection letters.
Why it works: Miller is flipping cold, standard rejection letters into a story about personal loss and resilience. The formal structure contrasts with the personal pain, making us feel the sting of rejection in a really universal way.
3. "The Professor of Longing" by Jill Talbot
Form: College syllabus.
Why it works: Talbot used the format of a syllabus to explore loneliness and longing. Making the reader feel they’re taking a class on heartbreak, sort of. The essay offers lessons through her own life experiences.
An example I thought of while playing with this idea is a serial killer grocery list. One way to introduce a character as a serial killer would be to explain it to the audience or show him actually killing someone. Another way that I think would far more chilling and effective would be through his grocery list. For example, as we meet the character he is whistling through the grocery isle and doing his weekly shopping, but mixed in with normal groceries are items a serial killer would need like large black trash bags, bleach, nitrile gloves, a disposable camera, etc.
Especially when you start with normal everyday grocery items, you can even get quirky with it. But then the list grows more suspicious, strange, and concerning, and the grocery list becomes a mirror of the experience one typically experiences when they meet a serial killer. I.E. They seem approachable, personable, but then they do something out of the ordinary, and things get stranger and more unsettling until...well...you know.
Love love love! I’ve been thinking about writing my own hermit crab story since you posted the missed connection & you knew this is exactly what I needed to get started :)
Thanks so much for this! Really valuable and thoughtful. I've spent a lot of time reading 1920s and 1930s files in Archives around Africa and they are so good at doing exactly what you describe. The drama and pace is modulated as much by the means of communication as by the language used. Terse, urgent telegrams. Carefully worded formal letters. More intimate internal memos. Longer, reflective reports. In fact, I might give it a try! Thanks again.
Saving this!! Fantastic advice, and was fun to read this in your friendly voice.
Thanks, Emily! I really appreciate that :)
Nonfiction forms add authority and believability to fiction. Plus the constraints always create things that would have otherwise been unavailable.
The newsreel at the beginning of Citizen Kane. It establishes authority, but also tells us all of the major plot points, which allows us to disengage from following the plot, and engage more with the emotion of the story as it progresses.
Love this and your stories here, which I just found when searching for hermit crab essay forms. you inspired me to write a Customer Complaint essay. So fun.
That made my day, Rosana! Would love to check it out. If you're looking for more hermit crab essay inspiration, I think you'd love my (very) short story "Ralph Wants a Refund." It's about a socially awkward husband who wants to return his faulty "Social Battery." If you read it, please let me know what you think :)
Here's mine — it's short: https://flowerchild.substack.com/p/id-like-to-file-a-complaint. I will check out your story!
Just read it, love it! Your stories are great.
Gonna try this out but for some reason I struggle to find a nonfiction approach to this technique
No worries, my friend. Here are a few I've found:
1. "The Pain Scale" by Eula Biss
Form: Medical pain scale (0–10).
What's happening: Biss uses the simple idea of rating pain to dive deep into personal experiences, asking tough questions about how we measure something so personal. Blending reflection and philosophy with a structure we’ve all seen at the doctor’s office.
2. "We Regret to Inform You" by Brenda Miller
Form: Rejection letters.
Why it works: Miller is flipping cold, standard rejection letters into a story about personal loss and resilience. The formal structure contrasts with the personal pain, making us feel the sting of rejection in a really universal way.
3. "The Professor of Longing" by Jill Talbot
Form: College syllabus.
Why it works: Talbot used the format of a syllabus to explore loneliness and longing. Making the reader feel they’re taking a class on heartbreak, sort of. The essay offers lessons through her own life experiences.
Hope that's helpful :)
Woah this is awesome thank you, so excited to check them out. The pain scale one is genius.
Much more to come :)
Keep me updated with your progress. I'd LOVE to see what you write :)
An example I thought of while playing with this idea is a serial killer grocery list. One way to introduce a character as a serial killer would be to explain it to the audience or show him actually killing someone. Another way that I think would far more chilling and effective would be through his grocery list. For example, as we meet the character he is whistling through the grocery isle and doing his weekly shopping, but mixed in with normal groceries are items a serial killer would need like large black trash bags, bleach, nitrile gloves, a disposable camera, etc.
YESSSS Alec, that's a genius idea.
Especially when you start with normal everyday grocery items, you can even get quirky with it. But then the list grows more suspicious, strange, and concerning, and the grocery list becomes a mirror of the experience one typically experiences when they meet a serial killer. I.E. They seem approachable, personable, but then they do something out of the ordinary, and things get stranger and more unsettling until...well...you know.
Great add!
If you write it, I'd love to read it :)
This was awesome, Jake!
And I’m definitely going to challenge myself with some of your prompts.
Thanks for sharing so generously.
Happy to help!
Thanks for sharing! Really excited to try this format
Of course :) let me know what you come up with!
Love love love! I’ve been thinking about writing my own hermit crab story since you posted the missed connection & you knew this is exactly what I needed to get started :)
Thanks for sharing, Jake!
Wooo! That makes me so happy. Glad you found it helpful, Julia! Can’t wait to read what you come up with
Thanks so much for this! Really valuable and thoughtful. I've spent a lot of time reading 1920s and 1930s files in Archives around Africa and they are so good at doing exactly what you describe. The drama and pace is modulated as much by the means of communication as by the language used. Terse, urgent telegrams. Carefully worded formal letters. More intimate internal memos. Longer, reflective reports. In fact, I might give it a try! Thanks again.
Happy to help! That sounds like a fantastic idea for a piece. If you write it, I’d love to read it :)
This is the best thing i have read! Well so far i aim to finish the crime thriller im reading tonight ;)
I’m honored 😌 hope it doesn’t disappoint!