Paper short abstract:

Knitting is a technology to produce handmade artefacts, but it is often also described as a spiritual practice. The paper discusses the genre of narrative non-fiction and utilising the practices of creative writing – based on my own experiences while writing a book on knitting for a wider audience.

Paper long abstract:

Knitting has been an indispensable skill (for women) in the past to make clothes and accessories for protection against the cold. Today handicrafts have become a voluntary way of spending one’s free time. But knitting can be much more than a hobby. For many western women (sometimes men too), knitting can be a form of self-expression, a peaceful moment in the midst of stressful everyday life, a form of meditation. Thus, knitting can also be seen as a spiritual practice and it could consist or reveal religious meanings and values.

Narrative non-fiction or creative non-fiction is literary genre which have become more and more popular. The creativity means, in particular, the use of creative writing methods and exercises in non-fiction writing. In addition, it refers to narrative non-fiction writing as its own genre. Creativity also implies the professionalism of the non-fiction writer and researcher to move from one genre to another, from one medium to another, taking advantage of the characteristics of genres and instruments, but also breaking with traditional ways of thinking, reading, doing and writing. Creative nonfiction writing may deal with themes that are for the author extremely important, personally experienced and intimate. In a narrative non-fiction book the author has permission to be present in the text. In this case, the thing, event or person being presented is described through the author's own personal perspectives and approaches.

In my paper, I discuss the genre of narrative non-fiction, and the ways for utilizing the practices of creative writing in writing non-fiction. The paper is based on my own experiences while I wrote a book on knitting for a wider audience.