Blogger: Michelle Ule
Sitting in for Wendy Lawton who is traveling.
Writers are always given advice about how to write and what to write about. One recommendation for novelists is to read the genre you’re writing.
Romance writers should read romance novels, for example. Regency writers need to be well informed in the conventions of regency novels, and if you’re writing speculative fiction, well, reading fantasy, science fiction and similar genres would inform you of ways to conform your writing to that genre’s standards.
But what can a novelist learn from reading nonfiction?
Plenty.
I’m a novelist myself, but I read a lot of nonfiction. Here are four reasons.
1. Story ideas
Novelists by definition tend to have imaginations that wander the universe. Their job is to dream up stories–and the best stories have conflict, often fear, and change.
It’s important to be looking for examples in the world around you.
Nonfiction can provide those.
Indeed, one of my history teachers back in the dark ages, Julie Klocki, once shook her head over our class. “I don’t know why you spend your time reading fiction. You should read history. The stories are not only more fantastic, but they’re also true!”
While writing my novella The Gold Rush Christmas, I found an auxiliary story so amazing but so important, I changed my story line!
Many writers have done so over the years, including Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto and even Charles Dicken’s Bleak House.
If you’re in a slump over what to write about, consider nonfiction as a source of inspiration.
2. Authenticity
For my five novellas and one novel, I’ve started my writing by reading nonfiction.
That may be obvious for someone writing historical fiction, but my contemporary novel, Bridging Two Hearts, required a lot of research–because it was written about a Navy SEAL.
In order to get a “sense” of what life was like for my hero, I needed to submerge myself into his culture–which was different from the 20 years I’d spent in Navy submarine circles.
I read books about SEALS, memoirs by SEALS, and spent plenty of time on the Navy SEAL webpage.
I did NOT read any other novels about SEALS.
I use primary source material, not someone’s interpretation of the truth.
That doesn’t mean a novelist shouldn’t use fiction in their genre or area when preparing a manuscript; it just means that if you’re looking for authenticity, you need to start with those who have lived your character’s life.
Other novelists can provide insight and some facts if your subject is obscure, but they should not be the first place you start. (See my post about Amelia Peabody)
3. Craft Technique
The finest book I’ve read in the last five years was Laura Hillenbrand’s nonfiction Unbroken.
By examining how she constructed her retelling of Louie Zamperini’s life, a novelist can learn about the use of detail, the stringent importance of research, the arch of the story, the act structure and the techniques Hillenbrand used to make her characters/real people believable and knowable.
Zamperini was on that raft for 47 days–how did she sustain my interest and the tension?
Here’s the opening:
“All he could see, in every direction, was water.
“It was late June 1943. Somewhere on the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Army Air Force bombardier and Olympic runner Louie Zamperini lay across a small raft, drifting westward. Slumped alongside him was a sergeant, one of his plane’s gunners. On a separate raft, tethered to the first, lay another crewman, a gash zigzagging across his forehead. Their bodies, burned by the sun and stained yellow from the raft dye, had withered down to skeletons. Sharks glided in lazy loops around them, dragging their backs along the rafts, waiting.”
(Will I ever forget sharks bumping a raft 24/7?)
See how Hillenbrand sets the mood, puts us immediately into space and time and piles on the tension?
Note her detail: bodies stained yellow from the raft dye.
This reads like a novel, except, you know it’s not.
4. Staying connected to current thought
Nonfiction is up-to-date, using current ideas, terminology and research.
Nonfiction authors need to stay focused on their subject, while expanding their stories to include ideas readers may not have considered before.
It takes creativity to come at a subject–particularly a well-studied subject like, say, the Civil War–to engage the reader.
Reading nonfiction also enables us to enter the social conversation and learn what’s important to people. Is it any surprise that World War II novels have become even more popular since Unbroken was published in 2010?
You can learn negative lessons from nonfiction–for example, don’t use static vocabulary and solely declarative sentences.
Reading recent nonfiction enables the writer to stay connected to topics important to people right now. It’s thought-provoking in a different way, but opens avenues to consider “what if?”
Many science fiction writers in the 1960s, for example, drew their inspiration from the Apollo program and the advances in technology taking place at that time.
Nonfiction works can be an excellent place for fiction writers to expand their craft and consider their subjects from different points of view.
What have you learned from reading nonfiction?
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And as a non-fiction writer, I read fiction: for the use of words, for the story line, for the tension, for the character development–and for pleasure!
The few books I start but don’t finish are often sloppy on the facts. Sucks out the pleasure and replaces it with aggravation.
As always, Michelle, your posts inspire some deep thinking (calls for another cup of coffee!)
I’ve never considered how nonfiction writers might read fiction to help develop use of words, imagery, and other things. It really is true that both nonfiction and fiction writers can learn from reading material different from what they write!
I’m with you on non-fiction that is sloppy on the facts. It’s frustrating to read the inaccuracies, so I usually stop reading too.
It’s important that fiction writers understand the importance of accuracy as well as nonfiction writers. I’ll usually let one error go, but if there are more, I ask myself “how can I trust this writer with anything?”
One well-known writer about 20 years ago wrote a series of military-related novels. They were so wrong on what life is like on the home front, I threw the book away and never touched that author again.
I later read she never did research, “I just let the story flow,” and you sure could tell. Her depiction of my life was insulting.
Nonfiction reading is a vital part of what I write, to verify details and to build ambiance.
Care must be taken, because on some level, all nonfiction IS fiction; it’s ultimately a viewpoint and story arc filtered through a writer and a set of editors, and part of the calculus has to be “what will readers read?”
This isn’t to say that there’s a lot of fictionalized revisionism going on; I sure hope not.
But to use WW2 as an example, there is more tendency for Allies to show “respect for the enemy”, especially the Japanese, than to portray what was, at the time, an attitude that was somewhat xenophobic and blatantly racist. (The HBO series “The Pacific” is one of the relatively few modern works that addresses the visceral hatreds of the time accurately.)
My feeling is that a large part of this is from the enlightened attitudes we have now, in which prejudice is about the worst thing of which one can be accused; look at the controversy surrounding “American Sniper”, in which Chris Kyle calls the terrorists he’s tasked to kill “evil savages”. The BBC, in reviewing the movie, calls them “victims”…revisionism in action.
It should not be overlooked that a positive part of this comes from more recent memoirs, in which the writers have mellowed, and have had decades to reflect on the humanity of their enemies; that is all to the good. But mellowness was not a part of the WW2 combat infantryman’s makeup.
That’s an excellent point, Andrew, and writers walk a fine line between depicting what really happened and what their modern day writers can stomach.
Perhaps that’s why some tales need to be told in nonfiction: this is what happened; while others need the “embroidery” of fiction that allows the author to tell the story emotionally without being deliberately precise.
A good question.
We live in a time when technology can distort and change words. The Spielberg example, is an attempt to maintain the truth of the Holocaust (a technology my family is involved in was used to ensure the videos couldn’t be tampered with in the future).
Because, those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it–nasty names, vicious killings and all. 🙁
Link to Spielberg archives: https://secure.ushmm.org/online/film/search/simple.php
Honestly, I need to read more non-fiction. When I do read a nonfiction work, I love gleaning information on how people act/react in certain circumstances. Human nature fascinates me.
I’m gong to have to expand my nonfiction reading for all the reasons you stated. Thanks for a thought-provoking post, Michelle!
I’m with you Jeanne. I need to read more non-fiction. There’s just so much I want to read and not enough time. I love memoirs and historical accounts for the stories they spark. I’m going to have to force myself this year to read more non-fiction.
Find some good ones, Sondra and Jeanne and then it won’t be so onerous.
Among my favorites, is Carlos Eire’s terrific memoir “Waiting for Snow in Havana.”Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Snow-Havana-Confessions-published/dp/B00ES27SEC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422372637&sr=8-1&keywords=waiting+for+snow+in+havana
What’s important about his story is not only the amazing pre-Castro tale it tells, but the way he uses language. He’s Cuban,of course, and his words ooze with Latin-based words. You can feel the pulsing heat, the icy eyes of the lizards he detest and almost taste the ocean water pouring over the roof of the car.
Absolutely terrific.
Anyone else want to chime in with a terrific nonfiction book for those who don’t know where to turn?
Thanks, Michelle. I’ll look it up in my library. If you had to suggest a good military memoir from your research, what would you choose? I’m a huge Kendig fan but do not come from a military background. I find the life fascinating, and am deeply grateful for the sacrifices of all involved, especially family members.
Sondra Kraak » It really depends on what you’re writing about. I wrote a blog post several years ago about books that were helpful to me when my husband was riding a submarine: http://michelleule.com/2013/01/31/four-great-books-about-military-domestic-life/
When I researched SEALs, I read the “best” memoirs I could find. For the information I sought–domestic life–I really appreciated Chuck Pfarrar’s Warrior Soul. I learned a lot from SEAL Team Six and The Heart and the Fist. I was hunting specific information, and those three books helped.
If you’re writing a military story, find someone whose life is reflected in the story. I interviewed a SEAL girlfriend and asked several people who were married to SEALs or knew about the community, to read my novel when it was done.
I have a writer friend now who consults with us when plotting her stories just to make sure she gets the rank right, if nothing else! Best wishes.
Thanks, Michelle. I’m not writing military fiction–yet. Just interested. I’ll check these out.
Thanks for that suggestion, Michelle! I’ll check that one out. I also want to read Unbroken. I just need to get ahold of a copy of it. 🙂 Purposing to take time and do it is the critical first step for me. Maybe I’ll check for these at the library. When I’m under a time deadline, I’m more likely to do it. 🙂
I’ve got to read Unbroken! I have a neighbor who knew the main character the book is about.
Good morning, Michelle! Your connection to Charles Dickens is fascinating. Six degrees from Kevin Bacon and all that. 🙂
Seriously, thank you for giving us novelists permission to read non-fiction. It’s tough to fit it in when we’re always being told to read in our genre. A few years ago, during a family trip to D.C., I bought scads of books, including some creative nonfiction I thought might ping some ideas for my own fiction. One in particular was about the conspiracy surrounding Lincoln’s assassination. I just pulled it out of a moving box last week, so I think it’s time to get it back on the bedside table.
You need to read in your genre to be familiar with trends and subject matters, but you need to be careful about reading in your genre, too, particularly in the CBA.
Often, the books begin to sound alike–whether in word choice, idea, point of view. It’s a problem and by broadening your reading, you incorporate different vocabularies and concepts into your own work unconsciously.
It’s always a balance, but to engage readers of all different types, we need to write unique stories that stand out from the rest.
Or at least I think we do. 🙂
Agreed, Michelle.
Love this thought, Michelle.
What a fabulous post, Michelle. Even when I’m not writing historical fiction, I find myself researching little details to make my stories come alive. This actually helps me with editing too. As I edited a retired pilot’s memoir, I pulled out two airline disaster stories to verify terminology and how things would be worded in logs. I’m learning a lot.
It’s all in the details, Cheryl!
In order for my fiction to be accurate, and in order to get inside the minds of my characters, I’ve read close to 25 published non-fiction works on my subject matter, plus the collected (unpublished) works of amateur historian Gregory Scott Smith, a Monuments Ranger for the State of New Mexico.
Three books that stand out are Peter Nabokov’s Native American Testimony-A chronicle of Indian-White Relations from 1492-2000, Hampton Sides’ Blood and Thunder-The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West, and the chill inducing Empire of the Summer Moon-Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, The Most Powerful Indian Tribe in North American History, by S.G. Gwynne.
Nabokov’s book contains written documentation of Anglo and Indian encounters, often from both sides of the same coin. If one is a student of history, this book is both sickening and beautiful.
Gwynne’s book details the life and history of Quanah Parker, the most famous Comanche chief of all time. This is NOT a light read, and Gwynne spares no one’s delicate sensibilities in his extremely detailed research and recounting of the Comanche empire, and an empire it was, in the truest sense. The only battle Kit Carson and his troops willingly backed down from was a November 1864 battle between the Comanche and Kiowa alliance at Adobe Walls, NM. The battle was unwinnable, even with the superior fire power of the US Cavalry, which included howitzers, because there were more than three thousand Comanche and Kiowa warriors.
But Sides’ Blood and Thunder is worth the very thick read. His attention to detail, and exceptional storytelling skills make this book feel like a Wild West pulp novel.
In reading that book, I destroyed a few fingernails and gained a grudging respect for a man that I dislike, with great intensity, for his contributions to the American West.
I often wonder why God gave me the subject matter that He did, because it is incredibly hard to read and extremely heartbreaking to re-create and it does become emotionally draining to the point where I have to step back and not even look at it.
I often think non-fiction writers are the ones who build the literary monuments for the rest of us to go back and re-trace our steps.
Empire of the Summer Moon (which I read at the 2011 ACFW conference!) was extraordinary in the depth of the research and the story I’d never heard before. It DID change my writing because in learning the Texas Rangers considered the Native Americans genocidal material to be hunted down and killed, I can never read a Texas pioneer story the same.
I just finished a memoir from a competitive Exhibition dancer who danced at Blackpool and was a World Champion. It’s research for a novel about a retired ballroom dancer. I learned lots of little details that will give authenticity to my character’s backstory. Ballroom! by Sharon Savoy. I’ll be reading a few other ballroom books, I’m sure. Great post, Michelle. I think Laura Hillenbrand is arguably the best creative non-fiction writer working. Definitely one of the best. It took me months to read Unbroken. Not because it wasn’t great, but because I kept setting aside when the tension built and then when I knew he was about to crash because I knew once I got to that part I wouldn’t be able to put it down. I was right. Once I got there, I finished the book in a day and a half.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over those sharks, Carrie!
A couple other great ones: Endurance: Shakelton’s Incredible Voyage by Albert Lansing.
Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Slacks.
Thanks, I’ll add those to my TBR list!
My 3 young sons love to read non-fiction. Then they get together and make up imaginary games based on these non-fiction titles. Are they reading about chickens or cobras or bat migration. Soon I will hear them thundering around the house as flaming bats or killer chickens fighting Godzilla. It sparks their imagination, just like it does for us.
What a wonderful example of non-fiction inspiring (acted-out) fiction! 🙂
I have three sons also, Kristen, and they were all about nonfiction growing up. I spent a lot of time in the truck and machinery section of the library!
They also love fantasy, and as adults still read a great deal–mostly nonfiction. I’d like to add they’re all good writers, too, in part, I believe, because of all that reading across genres.
I love this post. I truly believe that my reading about psychology and spirituality, as well as Harry Potter, helped me think differently on my book that makes the link between love and sales. Great post!
Because that Harry Potter will ignite the creative section of your brain; marrying it with psychology and spirituality (two subjects Oswald Chambers spent a lot of time reading and teaching about)will enable you to see people differently when you interact.
Thanks, Jack.
I’ll confess I’m naturally much more of a fiction reader than nonfiction. But as others have noted, writing historical novels has pushed me to much of my nonfiction reading in recent years! And I’m glad it has–I’ve learned a lot. 🙂
Lately, because my current WIP heroine is part of the abolitionist movement, I’ve been reading slave narratives (among other research books). I’ve read Frederick Douglass’s Narrative, and just today finished Solomon Northrup’s 12 Years a Slave. Wow–what a powerful story, and grippingly written. It’s not often a nonfiction book brings me to tears, but the scene when his friend from many years earlier finally found Solomon on that Louisiana plantation did.
Thanks for a great post, Michelle!
I’m about to return to the Civil War, Kiersti, and will be reading a lot of nonfiction. So much has been written about that war, you’ve got to have every detail perfect or . . . else. 🙂
Over on my FB page, I asked for some suggestions and some of my favorite readers were happy to oblige. Here is a partial list:
Mort Rosenblum / Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark & Light
Molly Wizenberg / A Homemade Life: Stories & Recipes from My Kitchen Table
Bill Bryson / At Home: A Short History of Private Life
Anne Fadiman / The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
*Phyllis Rose / The Shelf
Edmund de Waal / The Hare with Amber Eyes
Piper Kerman / Orange Is the New Black
*Barbara Brown Taylor / Learning to Walk in the Dark
*William Powers / Hamlet’s Blackberry
*Katherine Boo / Beyond the Beautiful Forevers
Ann Patchett / Truth and Beauty
*Joshua Wolf Shenk / Powers of Two
Rebecca Skloot / The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Simon Winchester / The Professor and the Madman
Lincoln’s Melancholy
The Fatal Shore and an agreement that anything by Bill Bryson is worth reading.
One of our commentators above suggested Wild, but I couldn’t stand that book for a variety of reasons, so I’ll let you make your own choice. 🙂
I have to read a lot of nonfiction for the historical fiction I write. I have to keep writing fiction for the nonfiction I keep having to read.
How well I remember the day I was researching North Carolina, 18th century plantations, and ran across the mention of the Lost State of Franklin.
The kernel of the next book is often uncovered in the research for the current one.
And a good book it was, though I had to get out my Ipad to figure out the location!
I’ve read all the memoirs by Navy SEALs, starting with Chuck Pfarrer. I love them. Should be its own genre. The only one that was poorly (ghost-) written was Marcus Luttrell’s. As Pfarrer once said (and contributed the quote to a wife of a SEAL) these men can either do everything and anything — or nothing except to be a SEAL. Nothing is poorly done.
You’re right, Anne. I came away thinking the Special Forces troops are the last Sin Eaters in America–as per Francine Rivers’ novel. Difficult job, terrible toll, families . . .