Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. Non-fiction typically aims to present topics objectively based on historical, scientific, and empirical information. However, some non-fiction ranges into more subjective territory, including sincerely held opinions on real-world topics.
Often referring specifically to prose writing, non-fiction is one of the two fundamental approaches to story and storytelling, in contrast to narrative fiction, which is largely populated by imaginary characters and events. Non-fiction writers can show the reasons and consequences of events, they can compare, contrast, classify, categorise and summarise information, put the facts in a logical or chronological order, infer and reach conclusions about facts, etc. They can use graphic, structural and printed appearance features such as pictures, graphs or charts, diagrams, flowcharts, summaries, glossaries, sidebars, timelines, table of contents, headings, subheadings, bolded or italicised words, footnotes, maps, indices, labels, captions, etc. to help readers find information.
While specific claims in a non-fiction work may prove inaccurate, the sincere author aims to be truthful at the time of composition. A non-fiction account is an exercise in accurately representing a topic, and remains distinct from any implied endorsement.
Distinctions
The numerous narrative techniques used within fiction are generally thought inappropriate for use in non-fiction. They are still present particularly in older works, but are often muted so as not to overshadow the information within the work. Simplicity, clarity, and directness are some of the most important considerations when producing non-fiction. Audience is important in any artistic or descriptive endeavour, but it is perhaps most important in non-fiction. In fiction, the writer believes that readers will make an effort to follow and interpret an indirectly or abstractly presented progression of theme, whereas the production of non-fiction has more to do with the direct provision of information. Understanding of the potential readers' use for the work and their existing knowledge of a subject are both fundamental for effective non-fiction. Despite the claim to truth of non-fiction, it is often necessary to persuade the reader to agree with the ideas and so a balanced, coherent, and informed argument is vital. However, the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction are continually blurred and argued upon, especially in the field of biography; as Virginia Woolf said: "if we think of truth as something of granite-like solidity and of personality as something of rainbow-like intangibility and reflect that the aim of biography is to weld these two into one seamless whole, we shall admit that the problem is a stiff one and that we need not wonder if biographers, for the most part failed to solve it."
Including information that the author knows to be untrue within such works is usually regarded as dishonest. Still, certain kinds of written works can legitimately be either fiction or non-fiction, such as journals of self-expression, letters, magazine articles, and other expressions of imagination. Though they are mostly either one or the other, a blend of both is also possible. Some fiction may include non-fictional elements; semi-fiction is fiction implementing a great deal of non-fiction, (such as a fictional description based on a true story). Some non-fiction may include elements of unverified supposition, deduction, or imagination for the purpose of smoothing out a narrative, but the inclusion of open falsehoods would discredit it as a work of non-fiction. The publishing and bookselling businesses sometimes use the phrase "literary non-fiction" to distinguish works with a more literary or intellectual bent, as opposed to the bulk of non-fiction subjects.
Types
Based on the author's intention or the purpose of the content, the main genres of non-fiction are instructional, explanatory, discussion-based, report-based (non-chronological), opinion-based (persuasive) and relating (chronological recounting) non-fiction. Non-fictional works of these different genres can be created with the help of a range of structures or formats such as:
- reference works (almanacs, encyclopaedias, atlases, bibliographies, chronicles, consumer reports, dictionaries, thesauri, business or telephone directories, handbooks, yearbooks, books of quotations, etc)
- life writings (autobiographies, biographies, confessions, diaries, logs, memoirs, epistles, letters, postcards and letter collections, epitaphs, obituaries, etc.)
- literary criticism (book reports and book reviews), art criticism, film criticism
- persuasive writing (apologias and polemics), essays and essay collections; promotional writing (brochures, pamphlets, press releases, advertorials, etc.)
- history books
- academic texts (scholarly papers including scientific papers, monographs, scientific journals, treatises, edited volumes, conference proceedings, etc.)
- news stories, editorials, letters to the editor, and opinion pieces, manifestos, notices (announcements), documentary films and factual television
- textbooks, study guides, field guides, travelogues, recipes, owner's manuals and user guides
- self-help books, popular science books, blogs, presentations, orations, sayings
And so on. Common literary examples of non-fiction include expository, argumentative, functional, and opinion pieces; essays on art or literature; biographies; memoirs; journalism; and historical, scientific, technical, or economic writings (including electronic ones).
See also
- Creative non-fiction
- Documentary practice
- List of writing genres
- Category:Non-fiction literary awards
References
- Farner, Geir (2014). "Chapter 2: What is Literary Fiction?". Literary Fiction: The Ways We Read Narrative Literature. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 9781623564261.
- "nonfiction". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
- ""nonfiction" definition via Lexico". Archived from the original on August 25, 2019.
- Culler, Jonathan (2000). Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. p. 31.
Non-fictional discourse is usually embedded in a context that tells you how to take it: an instruction manual, a newspaper report, a letter from a charity. The context of fiction, though, explicitly leaves open the question of what the fiction is really about. Reference to the world is not so much a property of literary [i.e., fictional] works as a function they are given by interpretation.
- Dave Leochko; Tom Rossi (2007), Guiding Readers Through Non-fiction: Effective Strategies for Small-group Instruction, Portage & Main Press, pp. 5–16
- The Institute of Art and Ideas. "The Art of Life". IAI. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- Woolf, Virginia (2010). Orlando. Aziloth Books. p. 134. ISBN 978-1907523687.
- The Role of Narrative Fiction and Semi-Fiction in Organizational Studies G. Whiteman. N. Phillips. 13 2006, 12
- "The Penguin Press". Penguin Group (USA). Archived from the original on Feb 13, 2014.
- The National Literacy Strategy: Developing Early Writing, London: Department of Education and Employment, 2001, p. 154
- Susan B. Neuman; Linda B. Gambrell, eds. (2013). Quality Reading Instruction in the Age of Common Core Standards. International Reading Association. p. 46. ISBN 9780872074965.
External links
- What is Creative Nonfiction? Archived 2012-10-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Nonfiction – overview at Britannica
Non fiction or nonfiction is any document or media content that attempts in good faith to convey information only about the real world rather than being grounded in imagination Non fiction typically aims to present topics objectively based on historical scientific and empirical information However some non fiction ranges into more subjective territory including sincerely held opinions on real world topics Often referring specifically to prose writing non fiction is one of the two fundamental approaches to story and storytelling in contrast to narrative fiction which is largely populated by imaginary characters and events Non fiction writers can show the reasons and consequences of events they can compare contrast classify categorise and summarise information put the facts in a logical or chronological order infer and reach conclusions about facts etc They can use graphic structural and printed appearance features such as pictures graphs or charts diagrams flowcharts summaries glossaries sidebars timelines table of contents headings subheadings bolded or italicised words footnotes maps indices labels captions etc to help readers find information While specific claims in a non fiction work may prove inaccurate the sincere author aims to be truthful at the time of composition A non fiction account is an exercise in accurately representing a topic and remains distinct from any implied endorsement DistinctionsThe numerous narrative techniques used within fiction are generally thought inappropriate for use in non fiction They are still present particularly in older works but are often muted so as not to overshadow the information within the work Simplicity clarity and directness are some of the most important considerations when producing non fiction Audience is important in any artistic or descriptive endeavour but it is perhaps most important in non fiction In fiction the writer believes that readers will make an effort to follow and interpret an indirectly or abstractly presented progression of theme whereas the production of non fiction has more to do with the direct provision of information Understanding of the potential readers use for the work and their existing knowledge of a subject are both fundamental for effective non fiction Despite the claim to truth of non fiction it is often necessary to persuade the reader to agree with the ideas and so a balanced coherent and informed argument is vital However the boundaries between fiction and non fiction are continually blurred and argued upon especially in the field of biography as Virginia Woolf said if we think of truth as something of granite like solidity and of personality as something of rainbow like intangibility and reflect that the aim of biography is to weld these two into one seamless whole we shall admit that the problem is a stiff one and that we need not wonder if biographers for the most part failed to solve it Including information that the author knows to be untrue within such works is usually regarded as dishonest Still certain kinds of written works can legitimately be either fiction or non fiction such as journals of self expression letters magazine articles and other expressions of imagination Though they are mostly either one or the other a blend of both is also possible Some fiction may include non fictional elements semi fiction is fiction implementing a great deal of non fiction such as a fictional description based on a true story Some non fiction may include elements of unverified supposition deduction or imagination for the purpose of smoothing out a narrative but the inclusion of open falsehoods would discredit it as a work of non fiction The publishing and bookselling businesses sometimes use the phrase literary non fiction to distinguish works with a more literary or intellectual bent as opposed to the bulk of non fiction subjects TypesBased on the author s intention or the purpose of the content the main genres of non fiction are instructional explanatory discussion based report based non chronological opinion based persuasive and relating chronological recounting non fiction Non fictional works of these different genres can be created with the help of a range of structures or formats such as reference works almanacs encyclopaedias atlases bibliographies chronicles consumer reports dictionaries thesauri business or telephone directories handbooks yearbooks books of quotations etc life writings autobiographies biographies confessions diaries logs memoirs epistles letters postcards and letter collections epitaphs obituaries etc literary criticism book reports and book reviews art criticism film criticism persuasive writing apologias and polemics essays and essay collections promotional writing brochures pamphlets press releases advertorials etc history books academic texts scholarly papers including scientific papers monographs scientific journals treatises edited volumes conference proceedings etc news stories editorials letters to the editor and opinion pieces manifestos notices announcements documentary films and factual television textbooks study guides field guides travelogues recipes owner s manuals and user guides self help books popular science books blogs presentations orations sayings And so on Common literary examples of non fiction include expository argumentative functional and opinion pieces essays on art or literature biographies memoirs journalism and historical scientific technical or economic writings including electronic ones See alsoCreative non fiction Documentary practice List of writing genres Category Non fiction literary awardsReferencesFarner Geir 2014 Chapter 2 What is Literary Fiction Literary Fiction The Ways We Read Narrative Literature Bloomsbury Publishing USA ISBN 9781623564261 nonfiction Dictionary com Unabridged Online n d nonfiction definition via Lexico Archived from the original on August 25 2019 Culler Jonathan 2000 Literary Theory A Very Short Introduction Oxford University Press p 31 Non fictional discourse is usually embedded in a context that tells you how to take it an instruction manual a newspaper report a letter from a charity The context of fiction though explicitly leaves open the question of what the fiction is really about Reference to the world is not so much a property of literary i e fictional works as a function they are given by interpretation Dave Leochko Tom Rossi 2007 Guiding Readers Through Non fiction Effective Strategies for Small group Instruction Portage amp Main Press pp 5 16 The Institute of Art and Ideas The Art of Life IAI Archived from the original on 26 June 2023 Retrieved 14 January 2014 Woolf Virginia 2010 Orlando Aziloth Books p 134 ISBN 978 1907523687 The Role of Narrative Fiction and Semi Fiction in Organizational Studies G Whiteman N Phillips 13 2006 12 The Penguin Press Penguin Group USA Archived from the original on Feb 13 2014 The National Literacy Strategy Developing Early Writing London Department of Education and Employment 2001 p 154 Susan B Neuman Linda B Gambrell eds 2013 Quality Reading Instruction in the Age of Common Core Standards International Reading Association p 46 ISBN 9780872074965 External linksLook up nonfiction or non fiction in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has media related to Non fiction Library resources about Non fiction Resources in your library What is Creative Nonfiction Archived 2012 10 19 at the Wayback Machine Nonfiction overview at Britannica
