An essay => creative nonfiction writing. An essay is not a story with imagined plot and characters. It usually doesn't have a plot and characters at all, but it is a creative piece of writing nonetheless, as a work of art.
A railway timetable => non-creative writing. It doesn't have anything to do with art. It is a mere piece of information that serves a purpose, to let people know when the next train is going and where.
A thriller => creative fiction writing. It is an art form and it is fictional - there is a fictional plot, there are characters who are imagined by the author. They can, but don't have to be realistic. They serve an artistic purpose.
