Monday, August 11, 2014

Fiction vs. Nonfiction: Must a Writer Choose? by Pat Miller



Unlike being engaged or voting in a primary, writers don’t have to choose just one. In fact, writing fiction can well equip one to write nonfiction. On the flip side, writing fiction can give nonfiction writers freer rein with their creativity.

Here’s how it works. Fiction writers can craft true books that use a story arc, character development, and dialogue to explain historical, scientific, or biographical topics. The difference is that everything is true. Creating characters solely from imagination exercises the part of a nonfiction writer’s brain that is the source of the lyrical language that can make nonfiction compelling.


Since there are so many of us fiction writers, let’s examine other benefits of writing true books. Nonfiction success can counteract the many rejections of one’s fiction. In Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children, Peggy Thomas states you are eight times more likely to be published in nonfiction than fiction. That means 1/8th the rejection letters, 1/8th the pity parties, and 8 times the confidence in one’s abilities! That confidence can help sustain the fiction writer who persists in the bruising submission process.


Bonus--you get a head start with nonfiction. According to biographer Jean Fritz, “[Writing nonfiction] is not a matter of coaxing up a story, but of perceiving the story line that’s already there.” If you're one who delves into your imaginary characters so deeply that you know their secrets, their songs, and all their uncles, then you are a natural for researching real facts about real people. Instead of plumbing your imagination, you will search through resources that are both interesting and addictive.  And unlike fiction, you will have experts, librarians, and enthusiasts who will eagerly help you on your quest.

From Peggy Thomas: “Nonfiction is a simple beast, really. In its most basic form it consists of a skeleton of accurate information, the flesh and blood of story, the heart of the writer, and the muscle of marketing.” If you write fiction, you already have three of these four tools in your toolbox.


Peggy continues, “Your job as a nonfiction writer is to raise your antenna and tune in to the true 

 stories that exist around you.” Unlike rubbing the genie lamp of imagination, hoping a story will wispily appear, the writer of true stories has merely to practice alertness to find things to write about—even topics already on the shelf. “A subject may have been written about, but not by you—not with your ideas, and not from your perspective.”

When you write fiction, you do your research between your own two ears. Since nonfiction happens here on our planet, lots of evidence and details are readily available. There are primary sources like journals, legal records, manuals, and letters. There are museums and restored habitations, aquariums, zoos, galleries, newspaper morgues, recordings, and online resources. These provide settings, characters, dialogue, and problems that you don’t have to imagine. And there are passionate experts only too willing to help you flesh out or vet your stories.

So you don’t have to choose. You can do both. If you write nonfiction, or are considering it, I have two suggestions:

1. Read Peggy Thomas’s Anatomy of Nonfiction. I read every page while working on my first biography. I credit her inspiration and practical techniques for its acceptance by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for publication in 2016.

2. Participate in the NF 4 NF Nonfiction for Children’s Writers Conference on October 9 – 12. Peggy Thomas will present three of the 16 sessions and offers critiques. Peggy’s sessions include “The Heart and Voice of Your Story”, “Research Techniques That Get to the Facts”, and “Biographies: Making Friends with Strangers”. Be sure to bring your copy of Anatomy of Nonfiction to be autographed.

Learn more about the stellar faculty, the schedule, location, and social events at the site. Register today—Early Bird rate ends September 1.









25 comments:

  1. I really enjoy writing nf pb stories. Thanks for highlighting Peggy's book. I'm sure your conference will be a great success!

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    1. Practical and pithy post. I am reviewing that book for a fall edition of Southern Breeze SCBWI newsletter. I picked the same quote that you have in your article. Great minds, huh????

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    2. Peggy and her mother poured all their expertise into a book that became my mentor. I can't wait to meet her in person!

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    3. Thanks, Tina! I'm becoming addicted to NF writing.

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  2. I love Jean Fritz's quote. Such perceiving equips writers with material for all genres.

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    1. True! And the uncovering nonfiction is the fun. I so enjoyed the research for my biography that I was loathe to stop so I could actually write the book!

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  3. Addictive is indeed the perfect word to describe the research process for writing a NF PB! Peggy's book is one of the most highlighted, underlined, dog-eared and "post it noted" in my collection!

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  4. Yours too? I remember reading a section and a question came to mind. The answer was in the next section, as if they were clairvoyant. This is definitely a "desert island" book for nonfiction writers.

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  5. As I continue to learn and grow as a writer and as a prepublished author, I am drawn more and more to the genre of nonfiction writing. Researching for facts and information is like digging for and discovering lost treasure. The Anatomy of Non fiction Writing Writing True Stories for Children looks like a book I want and need. All the best, Pat during the NF4NF Conference. ~Suzy Leopold

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  6. Thanks, Suzy! And best wishes on your nonfiction journey. As they told Mikey in the old commercials, "Try it! You'll like it!"

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  7. Peggy's book is terrific and anyone who can take a workshop with her is lucky indeed. I took a week-long workshop at Highlights a couple years ago that Peggy (and a couple others) was teaching. It was fantastic.

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  8. Glad to hear your endorsement. Yes, we're pretty excited to have Peggy at NF 4 NF. Plus a half-dozen great authors and an editor from Holiday House.

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  9. I am crazy excited to meet and work with Ms. Thomas at your NF 4 NF, Pat! I'm knee-deep in her book now, working on my first biography of a person who I think of as a friend and an unsung hero. It's important that I tell her story 'write'.- Donna Sadd :0)

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  10. Hopefully, Peggy and NF 4 NF can help you do just that! Looking forward to spending part of Oktober in Texas-German wine country with you!

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  11. I look forward to reading Peggy's book. Sorry I will miss the conference. Two are my limit this year! But, will you be recording the sessions to offer afterwards??
    I so love writing non-fiction. And half the fun is researching. It's nice to know a framework is already begun with the facts in the story. Enjoy the conference, Pat!

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  12. We are considering recording. Good luck with your wonderful biographies!

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  13. Pat,
    Enjoyed your post. Excellent idea to bring my copy of Anatomy of NF for Peggy to sign! I am looking forward to the NF 4 NF conference. I have attended your wonderful workshops before and know we are in for great information from experts !

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  14. It is going to be a terrific conference. You will be an asset as well as a participant!

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  15. Thank you for your post, Pat. I second the recommendation of Anatomy of Nonfiction -- it is chock full of helpful advice. I know that all of you attending the NF 4 NF conference will come away with scads of information and inspiration. (Like Jarm, I've reached my limit of conference $ for the year.)
    Pat, who is the subject of your 2016 bio?

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  16. The 2016 bio is about Captain Hansen Gregory, the Maine sea captain who invented the hole in the doughnut. :-)

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    1. I never even thought that someone had "invented" that -- how cool!

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    2. Will want to think of a dozen of Dunkin D's to celebrate the Capt. Gregory bio Pat Miller. I can anticipate many tasty classroom moments with this one. Brava to you! Also thanks for the text tip & good wishes for the workshop. Hope to see you at one eventually. And it's so GREAT to have you at Group Blog. I look forward to more of your titles & more posts.

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    3. Thanks, Jan, for your good wishes. Dunkin D's has a very unique connection to the Captain beyond the obvious (explained in the author's notes). I'm hoping the relationship will be a healthy one after publication as well.

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  17. Me either--I thought it was a random improvement made deep in the history of cookery. Interesting to discover the Master Mariner lived an incredible life, even accepting a medal from Queen Isabella II for bravery. But what's his claim to fame? A hole!

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