Non-Fiction and Ethics

Perhaps you would like to write a non-fiction book?  You are in plentiful company.  Each year nearly 300,000 books are published in the US.  About four out of five are non-fiction! 

While there are lots of non-fiction books out there to keep yours company, there are some potential pitfalls associated with the genre.  Let’s discuss that.

We all know non-fiction is just that—something that must be truthful, not concocted from our imaginations as with fiction.  Not only, however, does it have to be the truth, we as authors have to do due diligence to make it that way.  Simply put, we must hold ourselves to the highest standard to ensure the content of our work is true and accurate to the best of our ability.  Yes, it’s exactly what lawyers are expected to do, and is, in fact, a legal term.

So how do we achieve this high-minded standard and not get sued for all our efforts, which is the end game of this post.  Here are a few guideposts:

1.       If you’re not sure of your source/s be sure to investigate their credentials, making certain they are qualified and are who they say they are.

2.      Obtain confirmation from unrelated sources to support what your primary sources provided.  (More research on your part but necessary and well worth the effort.)

3.      Whenever possible, try to get confirmation from secondary sources what you learned from your primary sources.

4.      When depending on your memory or personal experiences, secure independent corroboration.  *Crucial in narrative non-fiction.

5.      If something does not seem correct, even though the source is trustworthy, satisfy whatever doubts you have about the veracity of the material. Trust your instincts.

6.      Try to avoid relying upon only one eyewitness account or what only one person remembers.  Two or more can make all the difference!

Let me end by saying I usually don’t give lists of how to do things.  These six tips, though, can save a non-fiction writer many headaches with a lawsuit on the side!  Again, I cannot stress enough the due diligence factor in tackling non-fiction, particularly with topics as medicine, history or biography.  Due diligence is first among equals for a strong, successful and well-executed work of non-fiction!

Considering Narrative Non-Fiction for the Second Day of Children's Book Week

I will be on the faculty of the Florida SCBWI Orlando Conference June 15-16, 2012.  It is my pleasure to co-teach with Deborah Wayshak, editor at Candlewick Books.  We will discuss non-fiction for children.   For this post, I decided to  take on Narrative Non-Fiction for adults with one child's book as a teaser, as both are such hot topics now!

Also, please have a look at the blogs of the six other Guardian Angel Publishing authors included in this celebration of Children's Book Week.  And please vote to win below!

There is, by writing standards, a new'ish genre in town.  What is it?  Narrative non-fiction.  This genre offers a true story that is written in a style associated with fiction. 

This genre in some forms, though, has been around awhile.  People have written memoirs and autobiographies for many years, but the emphasis has not been in a narrative style.

The person credited for bringing narrative non-fiction into the mainstream is, of course, Truman Capote and his journalistic book In Cold Blood.  The book describes the murder of the Cluter family, subsequent trial and hangings of the two accused men.

Capote wrote the book in the style of a journalist, researching and interviewing countless people.  Added to this, he is the narrator of the story and allows his bias to show through.

Are there any criticisms of such a genre?  Indeed.  The problem often sited is no stringent standards or guidelines.  The reader wants to know what is fiction and what is not.  Sometimes the lines are blurred, leading to confusion and even rejection of the work. 

In spite of some criticism, this genre has gained popularity, particularly in the early 21st century. A book such as Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado (2006) is a good example.  

And for the kids, the market is just as good.  An example:

Jeanette Winter tells the story of Alia Muhammed Baker, the chief librarian of Basra, Iraq, who saved 30,000 books from Basra's library before it burned during the US invasion of Iraq.

I hope this has whetted your appetite enough for you to take a look at narrative non-fiction! It has become a powerhouse genre in the book market.

If it is done well, accurately and is interesting to kids, it has real merit.  Narrative non-fiction is full of teachable moments and can make such an impact on a child's life.

Look for the genre to continue.

Please visit the other Guardian Angel Authors celebrating CBW! They are:

Mayra Calvani – www.mayrassecretbookcase.blogspot.com

Margo Dill – www.margodill.com/blog

Margot Finke – www.hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com

Donna McDine – www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com

Nancy Stewart – www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com

Kai Strand – www.kaistrand.blogspot.com

Nicole Weaver – www.mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com

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