Beyond the Pond: My Semester Abroad, Converted into Creative Nonfiction

Abstract

Creative nonfiction is a genre that consists of dramatized, true stories. They are portrayed through literary elements commonly used by poets and fiction writers. These elements include dialogue, a replication of scenes, character development, and detailed descriptions of setting and interior thought. Creative nonfiction allows the writer to find meaning beyond his/her experiences and reflect on universal and personal issues. When I set out to write, I intended on writing one longer story that brought each individual experience together. As a final product, my thesis stands as a collection of different trips and events that all contributed to my time in London. Breaking up my thesis into separate chapters has been a visual representation of what the semester was like for me: I\u27ve captured distinct moments that can stand as independent pieces. But I\u27ve also joined them based on themes of self-discovery, nature versus city, and vocational exploration