Writing non-fiction can be extremely creative and rewarding (as I’ve recently found out). It’s great fun to research and delve deeply into a topic and then to find the most interesting way to share the information you’ve uncovered. Here are some tips I wanted to share with you if you’re thinking of writing a non-fiction text:
- Write about something you love. It’s not always possible to choose the topic of your non-fiction, but when it is, write about something you can relate to. That way it will be easier and more enjoyable for you to research your chosen topic. In addition, you may find you already have a very good idea and understanding of the content. You can then rely on your existing knowledge to guide you in the approach you take in writing the book. Of course, this will also help you to choose the most relevant content for inclusion in your work and to feel confident about the efficacy of that content. When you, as the author, find something truly interesting and exciting about your topic, that enthusiasm will surely be conveyed in your writing.
- You don’t have to be boring. In fact being boring is BAD, BAD, BAD! Write in a voice and tone that children can relate to. Don’t just list facts. Add some of your personal feelings or experience in a factual way that makes children want to absorb the information, but in a fun way.
- Include interesting information in a refreshing way. Regular page additions such as “Did you know?” or “Fun Facts” are great for including unusual information. Children enjoy gathering these short snippets, for example: Did YOU know that some species of maggots are used by medical practitioners to heal wounds? Sounds a bit gross I know, but that’s certainly useful to know. We tend to only think of flies as pests that annoy us, and yet this gives us a different perspective of how flies and their offspring can be useful to humans. Maybe they could even save your life! Facts like these are really fun for your young readers to share with their parents or to gross out their siblings!
- Lift your content with colourful visuals. Adding well-chosen photographs, charts, tables and other non-fiction visuals is vital to the outcome of your non-fiction work. Striking the right balance between the written content and the images will add to the appeal of reading and absorbing the factual information that you present. A non-fiction work without good quality visual information will ultimately be flat and unappealing, even if the written content is great.
- Ask questions to make your readers do the thinking. Your well-directed questions will prompt your readers to explore their own views or knowledge about the topic. Questions add a lovely, personal feel to your writing. Starting a section with, for example: “Do you like spiders?” will prompt an immediate reaction and engagement from your reader. Everyone has an opinion and school pupils will be only too willing to share their feelings about the eight-legged arachnids with their teachers and classmates.
So, get writing those non-fiction best-sellers! I hope you find them as enjoyable to write as I have.
