What IS Creative Nonfiction?

According to various sources all over the web and in print, creative nonfiction is nonfiction told in a novel-style (or something close to that, I'm doing this from memory in the doc's waiting room!)

So... Let the questions begin.

First off - Do not imagine for a moment that Frey will appear anywhere in this discussion other than this line saying I'm not gonna talk about it - I refuse to even link to it so if you're reading this and don't know what I mean, google James Frey for yourself.

Back to my original thought from last week -

How & why do we use the label "creative nonfiction"?

To my knowledge I've never read any CNF so I picked up a couple of Robert Fulghum's books at a bookcrossing meeting a couple weeks ago to read up. Then I was told he is a humor writer, not CNF. David Sedaris (whom I have also never read) is considered CNF, but as far as I know what he writes is also, largely, humorous. So, which is it? Someone like Dave Barry who writes humorous essays on his life and his observations of the world - humor or CNF? Erma Bombeck - humor or CNF? Frank McCourt (of Angela's Ashes fame) - autobiography* or memoir* or CNF?

The conclusion I've come to so far (subject to change, as are all good hypotheses) is that creative nonfiction is a writerly distinction. Meaning writers are the ones who make the distinction - publishers, boobksellers, and the reading public don't seem to give a fig. Which begs the question why do we, as writers, make the distinction? Should we?

After a brief inner debate I've decided I don't think we should. We are locking ourselves into a box, and it's rather like the mime with the invisible box; only the people in the box know or CARE that the box is there. How big a waste of time and effort that could be better spent oh, writing, is this?


*Will someone please tell me the difference between autobiography and memoir & why I should care? Please? 'Cuz I really don't get it.