Which is a better book choice to write, non-fiction or fiction?

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   Glenn Raymondposted 13 years ago

   I am just wondering what would be the most interesting read right now, a non-fiction book on perhaps a how-to topic or a novel of say, the spooky variety?  I keep leaning toward non-fiction, but my wife and a few of my friends say the world is too depressing right now so they all want to read fiction.  If I were to write fiction I would have to go with spooky, a lot of twists and turns and at least two or three sub-plots.  I do prefer non-fiction though, because I love learning things.
   
   So which would you say, and why?

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      alisa ioposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      sometimes writing is not for the readers, it is more meaningful if the work is a fruit of real passion

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         Glenn Raymondposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, I like the sounds of that.  I will be sure to remember this one.

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      Erin Nicoleposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I really think that you can find a market for most anything these days, so I would suggest writing on what you are most passionate about and choosing a subject that falls into your area of expertise. I agree with Camlo--if you write from your heart, all else is secondary.
      
      My personal preference is for fiction (loosely based on true stories). Take for example, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield. Rumor has it, it's based on Laura Bush's life and her relationship with George W. Sittenfield is able to keep the attitude/characteristics of the real life characters, in addition to major life events, and jazz it up with some fictitious details.  Based on an interview, she was still able to learn a lot and let her imagination run wild to take the story in surprising directions.

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         Glenn Raymondposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Erin,
         
         This is a most excellent idea.  Thank you for chiming in.  Now I am really getting pumped up to write.

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      uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      The best advice for finding a rewarding job is the same as writing a book.  Do what you love and the rest will fall into place.  Isaac Asimov wrote over 300 books of all kinds.  If you love what you are doing you will do it better than if it was a task you were performing for some other reason.  Writing for someone other than yourself, writing for money, etc... will not please you and if it does not please you it is far less likely to please others.

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      MPG1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Realistic Fiction based off of real things that happened but you just made better by using psychology in your writing to make what you wrote feel more real to the people reading it. And that way when the reader finds out it is fiction they will go "what the hell..... " be angry for a bit and then say (after thinking more) "Wait WOW that was AWESOME!!!"
      
      so yeah.
      
      Write some of that.

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      Twifroposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      DEAR WRITER
                                  'TO BE'  I WAS TAUGHT BY MY TUTORS TO ONLY WRITE
      ABOUT SOMETHING YOU KNOW ABOUT.
      BEING AN EX INSURANCE MAN PLUS BEING IN THE MERCHANT NAVY SEEING THE WORLD LED UP TO MY FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK.
        IT IS CALLED THE 'DROPPINGS OFF A LIVING TREE',ABOUT THE ROOTS OF MY LIFES WHEN IT IS MET BY GALES,AN ILLNESS THAT I
      I GOT  THROUGH DOUBLE PNEUMONIA PLUS WHICH I FOUGHT  LIKE A TREE AGAINST GALES BUT LIKE  A TREE IN SPRING  I ACEPTED IT IT WAS TO SHOW ANYONE WITH AN ILLNESS CAN FIGHT IT AND AIM
      AT SOMETHING IN LIFE MINE IS POETRY AND WRITING I AM ON MY THIRD BOOK WHICH IS FICTION BASED ON WHAT I KNOW ALSO.

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   camloposted 13 years ago

   If you feel you'd enjoy writing non-fiction more, then that's what I think you should write. The fun you have producing the book will shine through in your writing.

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      Glenn Raymondposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That is a great way to look at it.  Thank you very much for your valuable input.  I really do appreciate it.

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   china manposted 13 years ago

   non-fiction is more about researching than writing, good fiction is a balance of the two.

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      Glenn Raymondposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      china man,
      
      Now this is pretty much what my wife says, though not quite as eloquently.  Thank you.  You are all giving me much to consider on this topic and I truly am grateful.

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      Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I tend to disagree, I have read some amazingly written non-fiction. It takes as much skill as writing good fiction.

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         uncorrectedvisionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I agree.  I have read compelling non-fiction as well as compelling fiction.

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   sally.sourceposted 13 years ago

   agreed. write what you love and the rest will fall into place.

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      Glenn Raymondposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Sally.  You have all been very helpful.  Cheers to you.

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         StevenPayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         The common reply seems to be write what you love but I am in the process of reading the book, On Writing by Stephen King. It is a memoir of really how he came to be, STEPHEN KING. When he was talking about how he wrote the story Carrie, one of his best works most will tell you, he stopped after three pages and threw it away.
         
         He said and I quote, "First the story didn't move me emotionally. Second and slightly more important was the fact that I didn't much like the lead character. Carrie White seemed thick and passive, a ready-made victim. The other girls were chucking tampons and sanitary napkins at her, chanting plug it up plug it up and I just didn't care. Third and more important still was not feeling at home with either the surroundings or my all-girl cast of supporting characters. I had landed on Planet Female, and one sortie into the girls'' locker room at Brunswick High School years before wasn't much help in the navigating there. For me writing has always been at best when it's intimate, as sexy as skin on skin. With Carrie I felt as if I were wearing a rubber wer-suit I couldn't pull off. Fourth and most important of all was the realization that the story wouldn't pay off unless it was pretty long."
         
         Sometimes it's the difficult ones that we give up on that turn us into the success we really are. I don't know if you write for hobby or money but either way, writing the hard stuff seems to be the pay off. The only reason he continued with Carrie by the way was that his wife, Tabby, found it crumpled in the trash and made him finish it. It was the launching pad of his career. By all means write what you love and have a passion for but sometimes writing what we hate can shape us as well.
         Happy scribblings!

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   mylife=adventureposted 13 years ago

   Personally I love to read fiction books they are the best way to show your real creative side by creating a whole group of characters, settings and a different universe if you wanted. So, if you want to have more of a free range effect than i would go with fiction. But if you want to have maybe a more guidelined kind of writing where you can take information and fill in the pieces with your own knowledge than i would say go that way. Whatever you do write i hope you post a small bit of it on the hub so i can check it out. =]

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   AdeleCosgroveBrayposted 13 years ago

   As others here have already written, your choice between writing fiction and non-fiction is...well, your choice.
   
   First, what's your subject?  You might begin by asking yourself if your subject is fictional or not - in which case, the answer could make your choice for you.
   
   Then you could also approach the issue simply by deciding which you prefer to write.
   
   Or you could simply start writing and see what happens.  The main thing with any MS is not just to start writing it, but to finish it.

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   kookoo88posted 13 years ago

   You really have to write what interests you in my opinion.  Writing, espesically if you're not getting paid for it right away, is a labor of love.  If you love researching then writing about a subject, go for non-fiction.
   
   Personally, I hate research.  I'm good at it when necessary, but my fun comes from making up new things. I like using my imagination to explore new worlds. 
   
   The first question you need to answer is:  Will I have fun writing this?

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   2uesdayposted 13 years ago

   If I had to write something the length of a novel rather than a short article or story I would find it difficult to write to please someone else's expectations of what I should write. It is like sending an artist in to a room with a commission to work on they will still produce a work of art but the painting that 'flows from their heart' to the canvas will be the stronger image.
   
   Just my personal opinion, it does not mean that there are not some fine writers who are writing for a set purpose.

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   Maria Ceciliaposted 13 years ago

   I think depends on the writers interest or fancy at the moment. Voracious readers almost read anything that arouse their interest, I am one good example

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    FloBeposted 13 years ago

    I've always liked history but I need to learn it in a creative, storytelling sort of way. While self-help books can be helpful when you're on a quest for self-improvement, I find them too "one shoe fits all." However, a humorous drama can bring out personalities in a way we can all relate to and gives a positive opportunity for introspection. Using words in a creative way can bring across a deeper issue in a very effective way. So, deal with a real-life issue in a non-fiction way and you cover both parts brilliantly.

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    Jaggedfrostposted 13 years ago

    It really depends on which market you want to write to and the demand for books is roughly the same.  You have to change a few things about your style either way but whatever trips your trigger.

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    nlthomasposted 13 years ago

    Before picking a plot you need to have the right mindset. Write for yourself first. I've been writing for over 15 years and there are some projects I abandoned to maybe, possibly get in on the going trends and "what might sell." I regret ever doing that. Why? I have no passion for what I did write, it did not sell and I'm left wondering "what if."
    
    I've written both fiction and non-fiction and both have their challenges. I actually just finished working on a memoir which I thought would be easier. You figure, when writing a memoir we know the plot points and how to go from beginning to end. However, sitting down to work on it, emotions get in the way.
    
    Fiction can present writer's block and various plot holes. However, I find they're easier to fill (make something up).
    
    Write what you want to write. If you find you cannot do it, try something else.

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    Sue Bondposted 13 years ago

    Depends on your end goal. 
    
    People tend to look for solutions to challenges they're having, which can often be found in a non-fiction ebook/book.  If you want to sell your creation online, this may be a route to consider (after seeing if a market exists etc.).  Plus you can bring any flair for fiction writing to a non-fiction book.
    
    Caveat:  Since I've never written fiction, I have no idea what level of difficulty is involved in selling a self-published fiction book online vs getting a book contract. 
    
    I would think Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Eat, Pray, Love' is considered non-fiction.  (Yet it had the flow and beauty of a well written fiction book.)
    
    As Twifro said... write what you know or are passionate about... or at least what you're interested in learning more about.

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    MehreenMposted 13 years ago

    Fiction is definitely fascinating for people but these days non-fiction is also gaining a lot of momentum in terms of popularity. 
    
    I'd agree with everyone who advocated pursuing one's passion as there is nothing sweeter than the labour of love.  However if you are writing to purely monetize your outcome, I'd suggest doing your research and going for genres that are more popular and can get you a greater target market.

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    Zaiden Jaceposted 13 years ago

    Nonfiction books don't keep my attention as much as fiction though there are a few exceptions to that. Also, fiction can be easier to write unless you have something really amazing that happened to write about.

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    lxxyposted 13 years ago

    Generally, I think either medium would do well as long as it touched upon topics identifiable to the reader. So--choose wisely, and decide how niche you want it to be.
    
    I'm assuming money is the issue here, but if you'd rather pursue your passion I'd say write in that which feels most comfortable to you and venture out as you are tempted.

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    leslie_espinolaposted 13 years ago

    Fiction requires some learning because you need to create a word and make its varying elements seem plausible.  I like non-fiction to an extent, but I'm big on fiction.  Do whatever you're feeling.

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    princess gposted 13 years ago

    I would say go with whichever you want to do more. Easy. You could maybe even write both at the same time, why not?

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