Introduction

Reading nonfiction is becoming something more and more readers do for fun. While some nonfiction remains informational (think of instruction manuals), more and more readers are turning to narrative nonfiction—personal essays, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies etc. These works are as entertaining as any novel.

Of course, readers go to nonfiction for more than entertainment. If you’ve ever read an op-ed in a newspaper, you’ve read nonfiction. If you’ve ever gone down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, you’ve also read nonfiction. While those examples may seem mundane, they’re prime examples of nonfiction’s primary appeal: what you’re reading happened. Think about the added shiver you feel when you watch a horror movie and read the words “based on a true story.”

When you’re reading narrative nonfiction, pay attention to the elements of narrative. Those elements, which are common to any text that uses narrative, include plot, character, and setting. Narratives often use dramatic action to reveal a message or theme. Informational nonfiction, on the other hand, may not have that same purpose. Informational nonfiction may be persuasive (i.e., an op-ed) or expository (i.e., that Wikipedia entry). With persuasive nonfiction, the purpose is … well, persuasion, or influencing a reader. Expository nonfiction is meant to offer a reference, a guide, or objective knowledge.

Reading Nonfiction

Eli eng125 intro to non fiction from Lumen Learning
Intro to Nonfiction. Licensed by Lumen under CC BY SA 4.0 https://www.slideshare.net/CandelaContent/eli-eng125-intro-to-non-fiction

Summary

There are numerous forms of creative nonfiction. Each of those forms has its own unique character. Familiarizing yourself with any form of writing helps you understand more about the conventions of that form, especially as they are unique within the genre.

Remember that nonfiction can be narrative or informational. Narrative nonfiction uses elements common to those you may be familiar with in works of fiction. Everything from the title to the characterization is important! Informational nonfiction, on the other hand, is less concerned with world-building. Typically, expository nonfiction aims to be objective, or unbiased, so the text can effectively serve its function: think about what would happen if a recipe for baking a cake were written without precise directions for, say, the temperature of the oven.