avatarAigner Loren Wilson

Summary

The web content provides an overview of nonfiction writing, its various forms and genres, and distinguishes it from technical writing.

Abstract

The article "What is Nonfiction Writing?" serves as a guide to understanding the nonfiction and technical writing forms. It explains that nonfiction encompasses a broad range of writing styles, including expository, essay, creative nonfiction, experimental, argumentative, and children's nonfiction. The piece also outlines genres such as history, biographies, philosophy, humor, gonzo journalism, food writing, and more. The author emphasizes that nonfiction writing often blends different forms to enhance storytelling. In contrast, technical writing is defined by its practical application in fields like STEM, focusing on clear communication through manuals, end-user documentation, technical pamphlets, business materials, brochures, and press kits. The article suggests that while nonfiction can borrow from literary devices, technical writing must prioritize clarity and accuracy.

Opinions

  • The author believes that defining nonfiction by its forms is more beneficial than a straightforward definition due to its expansive nature.
  • Nonfiction forms are not mutually exclusive; they frequently blend, especially in genres like cooking and true crime, which utilize elements of history and science.
  • Technical writing is distinct from nonfiction writing in its purpose and the skills required; it is more about conveying information clearly and accurately rather than creatively.
  • The article suggests that incorporating various forms or types can deepen a nonfiction story, such as adding historical context or photo essays to an interview or reported piece.
  • The author implies that the reader's engagement can be increased in nonfiction by using creative elements, whereas in technical writing, such elements could be detrimental to the clarity of the information.

What is Nonfiction Writing?

A starter guide to understanding the nonfiction and technical forms of writing.

Image by author

Nonfiction

When I did the fiction and poetry tutorials, I started off by giving a definition of what each was. I thought it was helpful for some people because those forms can be confusing. For nonfiction, when it comes to understanding the form, I feel as though that route wouldn’t be helpful.

What is nonfiction writing?

What comes up most often when talking about nonfiction is all of the different types of forms and not so much its definition. Many writers don’t see that the nonfiction form is much more expansive than the fiction form. Sometimes, oftentimes actually, nonfiction forms blend. You’ll see it a lot in cooking and true crime. Both nonfiction forms frequently rely on history and science, blending the two.

Forms

  • Expository: an informative style of nonfiction writing often used in textbooks and news articles.
  • Essay: nonfiction used to present an idea or initiate debate.
  • Creative Nonfiction: nonfiction that relies on literary devices and can often feel like a fiction piece due to its high reliance on the creative story form.
  • Experimental: nonfiction that falls outside of the normal scope in terms of form. Think flash nonfiction, hybrid nonfiction that uses both text, audio, and video to create a full story — even nonfiction poetry.
  • Argumentative: when a writer is trying to convince or turn a reader to their particular way of thinking.
  • Children’s Nonfiction: geared toward younger readers, children’s nonfiction can take on many forms and is an umbrella term.

Genres

  • History: nonfiction reported, researched, or lived accounts of the past written in a way of informing the reader of a particular time, culture, or event.
  • Biographies/Autobiographies/Memoirs: people recounting the lives of others or their own lives. These can focus on particular moments or events or span over the course of years.
  • Philosophy: writing that centers around the study of knowledge and reality in the theoretical sense. Oftentimes this writing focuses on knowledge, culture, self, and existence.
  • Humor: comedy writing focused on nonfiction events or moments. These usually take the shape of social commentary pieces or comedic journalism.
  • Gonzo and Feral Journalism: gonzo and feral journalism are similar styles of reporting that focus on throwing the writer or reporter directly into the story and events. Many of these pieces will highlight scary or traumatic events such as war coverage, human trafficking, and more.
  • Food Writing: nonfiction writing ranging from cookbooks to history recounts and more that focus on the cultural or instructional art of cooking, baking, etc.

While writing nonfiction, think of the other forms or types you can bring in to heighten and deepen your story. Writing an interview or reported story? Is there a place where you can insert history or maybe even photo essay fragments to pull the reader deeper into the piece?

Technical Writing

The main difference between technical and nonfiction writing comes down to its uses. You won’t find technical writing in most newspapers and magazines, though there are some trade and niche publications that publish technical writing.

The skills needed are also different.

While in nonfiction, you can use fiction and literary devices to strengthen your piece, doing so in technical writing can confuse or muddle the piece. Most technical writing is seen in occupational or technical fields like those related to STEM. That means what the reader will value more are extensive research and science-backed findings.

Forms

  • Manual: an instruction guide for a particular unit, program, or another device, software, or hardware.
  • End-User Documentation: tutorials or guides aimed at non-technical users so they understand how to use the item.
  • Technical Pamphlets: small written material in a tri- or dual-fold layout meant to deliver quick information, usually statistics or other content, in a fast and easily digestible way.
  • Business Materials: technical writing such as white pages or pitches that are used in a business setting or for B2B (business to business) communication.
  • Brochures: similar to pamphlets but with more information, brochures are technical documents often in a particular format that provides the reader with more detailed information.
  • Press Kits: used by artists, businesses, and professionals to alert the media to particular information. These are often compiled of more than just text information and often have promo pictures and flyers that the press can use.

Genres

  • Science/Medical Papers: both of these technical writing genres require expert or researched knowledge to inform them because they rely heavily on scientific documentation and supporting evidence.
  • Assembly Guidelines: technical documentation that offers readers step-by-step instructions on how to put something together, assemble it, or disassemble it.
  • Product Descriptions: often seen on product pages when shopping online or the small writing on product labels, product description is a type of copywriting aimed at not only informing the reader but persuading them to purchase the product.
  • Grants: the process of finding and applying for grants. This type of writing is expansive and goes beyond simply writing a grant, but takes a lot of research and data to be done well.

Further Reading

Aigner Loren Wilson is a queer Black SFWA, HWA, and Codex writer. Her work has appeared in Tordotcom, Fiyah, Vice, and she is a Hugo Award finalist for her editing. Along with her writing roles, she is also the guest editor for Fireside Fiction and Apparition Literary summer and winter issues. Subscribe for access to masterclass courses in writing, editing, and making a living as a creative.

Writing
Nonfiction
Technical Writing
Freelancing
Work
Recommended from ReadMedium