In our session with author Gayla Wise, we learned about Creative Non- Fiction. I know that creative non-fiction sounds like an oxymoron. However, through a series of writing exercises, Gayla showed us that the two belonged together as much as 'creative fiction.'

First, we thought back to a time when we got in trouble. Then we wrote a short paragraph about it. She taught us that this incident written more creatively would still be non-fiction.

Next, Gayla gave us each a card and asked us to write a sentence. We filled in the blanks of: "I am the kind of person who. . . because. . ." The 'because' is the motivating word, the word that tells us why. Then on the other side of our card we took the same sentence and filled it in with something that sounded like it might be true. In the end, Gayla read several of them and none of us were able to tell the difference between the fiction and the non- fiction.

We also learned about Gayla's grandfather through a series of short paragraphs that her mother had written about him. We realized that descriptive words such as, studious, loving and hard working, are all generic words that don't mean a lot. After this epiphany, we were instructed to write a short paragraph describing someone that we knew without using generic descriptive words. What we found were paragraphs that were descriptive and enlightening as well.

Lastly, the HOOK! It's a first sentence written in such a way that we have no other choice but to read on and find out what happens. Gayla says, "The more questions that your first sentence makes you ask, the better." Thank you Gayla Wise for being so prepared and for sharing your abundant knowledge with us!