I’ve been writing fiction for some years now, but there is a non-fiction project I’d wanted to start for a while but I keep postponing it. It’s mostly related to my life experiences and I think letting them out would be cathartic and writing a guide that may help other people with the same struggles feels the best way to do it.
For those of you that write non-fiction, what tips can you give? Which books or videos helped you transition from fiction to non-fiction?
Hmm, I bookmarked this post in hopes someone may answer you.
I write nonfiction but my focus is on legal/historical studies, hence I cannot offer you much help. From what I understand, you’re looking to write a memoir which, in a sense, can embrace the spirit of a fiction novel. Storytelling techniques are useful in that case to relate to and engage the reader. So perhaps tackling your memoir as fiction isn’t a bad idea. See this, this and this.
However, even in the recounting of personal experiences there may be a crucial place for research. This article might be helpful, and check out the rest of Phillip Lopate’s works.
One last thing I can offer—and which applies to any form of writing— is not to overthink it. Only a sliver of what you’ve wrote in the first sittings will remain in the final draft; give yourself the opportunity to meditate upon the written word. A few chapters deep in my work, I now have a clear idea on how to tackle the introduction.
More like a memoir I think it might fit the “self-help” category.
And you are right, better not overthink it, start writing and then can come the structure :)
Thank you, will definitely check those articles!