Non-fiction is any written or media material that tries to share true information about the real world, not made-up stories. It usually presents facts and information from history, science, and real-life events in an objective way. Sometimes, non-fiction includes personal views or opinions about real-world topics, but these are still based on real facts.
Non-fiction is one of two main types of writing, the other being fiction, which includes imaginary characters and events. Non-fiction writers explain causes and effects of events, compare and contrast ideas, organize information in order, and use facts to make conclusions. They may include tools like pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams, timelines, headings, bold or italic words, footnotes, maps, and other features to help readers understand the material.
Even if some details in a non-fiction work are later found to be incorrect, the author aims to be honest and accurate when writing. A non-fiction work is about presenting information truthfully, and it is not the same as giving approval or support for the ideas presented.
Descriptions
The many storytelling methods used in fiction are usually not suitable for non-fiction. These methods can still appear in older non-fiction works, but they are often less noticeable so they do not distract from the information. When writing non-fiction, simplicity, clarity, and directness are very important. Knowing the audience is important in any writing or creative work, but it is especially important in non-fiction. In fiction, writers assume readers will try to understand themes that are presented indirectly or abstractly. In non-fiction, the goal is to clearly share information. Understanding how readers might use the work and what they already know about the subject is key to writing effective non-fiction. Even though non-fiction claims to be true, it is often necessary to convince readers of the ideas, so a balanced, logical, and well-supported argument is essential. However, the difference between fiction and non-fiction is not always clear, especially in biography. As Virginia Woolf said, "If we think of truth as something strong and unchanging and of personality as something soft and hard to define, and if we remember that biography aims to combine these two into one complete picture, we must admit that this is a difficult task, and it is no surprise that many biographers have struggled with it."
Including information that the author knows is false in non-fiction is usually considered dishonest. However, some types of writing, such as personal journals, letters, magazine articles, and other imaginative works, can be either fiction or non-fiction. These works are usually one or the other, but they can also mix both styles. Some fiction may include real events or facts, such as a fictional story based on a true event. Some non-fiction may include guesses, ideas, or creative elements to make the story flow better, but including clear lies would make the work no longer non-fiction. In the publishing and bookselling industries, the term "creative nonfiction" is sometimes used to describe non-fiction works that have a more artistic or intellectual style, different from most non-fiction books.
Types
Non-fiction writing is divided into main types based on the author's purpose or the goal of the writing. These types include instructional (teaching something), explanatory (explaining ideas), discussion-based (exploring different viewpoints), report-based (presenting information without following time order), opinion-based (persuading readers), and chronological recounting (telling events in order of time). Non-fiction works of these types can use different structures or formats, such as:
Examples of non-fiction include writing that explains information, persuades readers, provides practical guidance, or shares opinions. Other examples are essays about art or literature, biographies (life stories of people), memoirs (personal experiences), journalism (news writing), and writings about history, science, technology, or economics (including digital formats).