“A lyric essay is a type of creative nonfiction that fuses personal essay with poetry to tell a powerful story or reinforce a primary message.”
“A meditative essay encourages contemplation, wonder, and curiosity.”
Example: “The Death of a Moth,” by Virginia Woolf.
A collage essay is a collection or patchwork of thoughts, of found things, that together point to a greater whole.
Example: “Going to the Movies,” by Susan Allen Toth.
A braided essay weaves multiple strands together with the goal of creating a work that becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
Example: “A Braided Heart” by Brenda Miller.
The hermit crab essay takes on the form of the content type it inhabits.
Examples:
“Solving My Way to Grandma,” by Vivian Wagner, written as a crossword puzzle.
“Son of Mr. Green Jeans,” by Dinty W. Moore is written as a glossary.
In a counterpoint essay, the writer alternates between two narrative strands to convey a larger truth.
Example: “The Search for Marvin Gardens,” by John McPhee.
Excerpts from “5 Ways Into Your Lyric Essay,” by Kate Meadows. Writer’s Digest magazine, Jan/Feb 2024.
Your Turn. Choose a prompt and write a lyric essay.