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WHAT IS NON-FICTION?. newspaper reports. histories. biographies. What is non-fiction?. can use vivid language , narrative , point of view , characterisation , setting and so on – just as fiction does. examples of public writing – published and written for a large audience.
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newspaper reports • histories • biographies What is non-fiction? can use vivid language, narrative,point of view, characterisation, setting and so on – just as fiction does examples of public writing – published and written for a large audience is primarily concerned with describing and informing us about the real world literature we assume is true and not made up examples of private writing – usually not intended for publication is not always a straightforward reflection of reality factual- it is about facts we can verify • news blogs • diaries • journals • letters
CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-FICTION 1. Non-fiction is about the real world • Non-fiction is about real events, settings, people and situations. • Readers of non-fiction expect an accurate version of real events. • There is a relationship of trust between writer and reader, who expects reliable information about the real world. 2. Non-fiction tells stories • Histories, biographies and news articles all tell stories about events that are real.
3. Non-fiction is subjective • Though readers expect non-fiction to be accurate and true, this does not mean it is always objective. • Non-fiction is mediated by the opinions and attitudes of the writer – this means it is often subjective, even if the subjectivity is not always obvious. • Subjectivity is particularly evident in personal writing such as letters and diaries, which is more about self-expression than information about accurate facts. • Even newspaper reports may reflect subjectivity and bias.
4. Non-fiction uses language and style • Writers use language and style to make stories interesting and readable. • Non-fiction has attitude: it can be serious, humorous, angry, satirical, critical, witty, thoughtful … • Some stories are written in plain, factual style, others may use a range of creative devices such as vivid language, metaphor, or a clever structure to create tension and suspense.
5. Non-fiction has narrative voice and point of view • In non-fiction, readers assume the narrator (speaker) is the writer – even if the narrator never uses “I”. • In some non-fiction, where the main purpose is to convey information (such as a news report), subjective personal opinion is kept to a minimum. • In personal diaries and essays, the writer might use “I” and express passionate and subjective opinions and attitudes.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NON-FICTION • Though readers expect non-fiction to be accurate and true, this does not mean it is always objective. • Non-fiction is mediated by the opinions and attitudes of the writer – this means it is often subjective, even if the subjectivity is not always obvious. • Subjectivity is particularly evident in personal writing such as letters and diaries, which is more about self-expression than information about accurate facts. • Even newspaper reports may reflect subjectivity and bias.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NON-FICTION Diaries and Autobiographies Public writing is published and meant for large audiences, such as newspapers or biographies. Public writing is usually about the events and experiences of someone else. Autobiographies are ‘public’ (written for publication and large audiences), while diaries are usually ‘private’ and not written with the intention of publication. Autobiographies and diaries are stories about the self. They are interesting because they tell us about the lives of real people. Their main concern is to give expression to personal feelings and experiences.
