Although a large portion of what I write nowadays centers on non-fiction information, I prefer to let my imagination run away with fiction. Don’t get me wrong, I love sharing what I’ve learned and helping other writers. But my passion is in fictional storytelling.
There is just so much you can do in a fictional world as opposed to relaying stories that have already been told. Sure, you can put your own spin on historical facts and perhaps engage others with a unique opinion. But I find something more intrinsic while writing stories that have never been told.
Keep in mind, though, this is just my preference. As long as you’re getting something out of your writing, regardless of style, that’s all that matters in the end.
6 Major Reasons I Prefer to Write Fiction
My reasons for writing fiction may differ wildly from that of others. However, I thought it might be interesting to some to see some of the benefits I find while writing.
I know it’s not for everyone, and I personally know an author who prefers non-fiction writing. And that’s fine; we are all unique writers. Just because your opinion differs from mine doesn’t mean that either of us is incorrect.
So, why do I prefer to write fiction as opposed to non-fiction?
Freedom to Create…Anything!
Fiction writing gives you the freedom to literally create anything from nothing. You can bend the laws of physics, allow everyone to use magic and sorcery, let dragons have jobs as innkeepers, or sink half the planet due to some nefarious villain’s plans as a super spy tries to thwart them.
As long as the storyline is accepted by your audience and feels real to them, you’re winning. How you go about doing that is completely up to your prowess as a storyteller.
My point is that you are not tethered to the rock of reality. You can let your imagination run wild and create any sort of universe for your characters that you wish.
Or, you can take real-world instances and warp them in endless ways. What if a time-traveling sub went back to 1912 and torpedoed the Titanic? What if an alien race built pyramids all across the globe as a means of communication with their home planets?
The possibilities are literally endless.
Building Unique Worlds
Yes, a lot of fiction is inspired by worlds that have already been created. However, an author can take those ideas and make them unique by delivering new creatures, magic usage, spaceships, and more.
I love the idea of creating a world or galaxy that no one has seen in previous books or videos. From peaceful cities to dark and twisted forests, I enjoy warping a landscape to fit my narratives.
You don’t need to create an entire world or universe to build a unique landscape, either. A lot of authors will create unique worlds for a single book, only revealing the parts that are necessary to drive the plot forward.
The key to building a unique world is to make it real for the reader. This is done through proper use of description and not making it too elaborate that it creates confusion.
Flexing the Imagination
Since I was a young child, my imagination has always been a factor in my life. It’s helped me a lot in various careers as I am able to think of solutions that are more creative and outside of the box.
Sitting down and opening the floodgates of my imagination is not only fun, but it makes me smile when I look back at a finished manuscript. And sometimes, I even impress myself with what comes out.
I’m also a big fan of twists and misdirection. That means I get a kick out of making you think the story is going one way and then it goes another. I go out of my way to come up with a new twist that will throw readers for a loop but in a good way.
When all is said and done, I simply love putting my imagination out there for others to enjoy.
Endless Supply of Ideas
Fiction gives you access to an endless stream of ideas for every genre. Of course, an active imagination can do the same thing for non-fiction. It mostly comes down to the individual and where they want the stories to go.
However, fiction can go places where non-fiction can’t. While those authors are focusing on historical accuracies and proper information, which is good, a fiction writer can make it far more entertaining and absurd.
Yet, throughout the history of the world, there are a lot of non-fiction topics that will keep you busy for the rest of your life. But just sitting here, I can think of more than 10 ways to sink the Titanic outside of an iceberg ranging from time-traveling Nazis to an alien species.
A single topic that a non-fiction writer focuses on can result in an entire series of books from a fiction author. All it takes is but a single nudge from the imagination and an idea can spawn hundreds of storylines.
Easier to Write, Usually
Generally speaking, I find writing fiction much easier as a whole. Most of the time, it requires far less research than non-fiction as you can easily fill in the blanks yourself. When writing non-fiction, the focus is an accurate and factual representation of information. Fiction’s purpose is to entertain.
Now, I did a lot of research while writing Shadows of Atlantic City. That’s because I want to be as close to authentic as possible to immerse the reader in 1874. But I invented most of the story.
When writing Kingmaker, the only research I had to conduct was the travel distance of a thoroughbred in a single day. I had to get certain timings for events to happen simultaneously, and I wanted to make sure everything met up while on horseback.
The point, though, is that you can make up what you need on the spot when writing fiction. As long as you’re able to draw in your audience and deliver details that are believable, it doesn’t have to be based on absolute facts.
Escaping the Real World
Fiction offers readers an escape from the real world. We all need down time to relax, and books do this for a lot of people. Yes, you can relax reading non-fiction. I used to read encyclopedias growing up. But escapism is why a lot of folks read, watch movies, or play video games.
I get to live vicariously through my characters. They get to experience things I never will while having adventures that are only dreams to me. And that’s fine because I feel like I live those moments through my writing.
In fact, many believe that fiction writing helps heal trauma of varying degrees. In my case, it was very therapeutic to start writing VII, and I am far more relaxed and happy when working on my fiction books.
Then again, I’m just happy sitting in front of the keyboard. I love writing tutorials and giving my thoughts on products and services.
It’s All Personal Preference
At the end of the day, what you choose to write all boils down to personal preference. Some people like to focus on delivering well-researched, factual information. Others enjoy letting the imagination run wild.
As long as you’re getting something out of it, there is no right or wrong answer.
I write non-fiction every day on the many blogs I manage. But then I can retreat into my book, explore imaginative worlds, and escape the stresses of everyday life.
That’s what makes me happy, though. On one hand, I do what I can to provide the best information to help others find their paths for writing. And on the other, I truly enjoy entertaining people with my stories.
Those are my preferences.
So, don’t let anyone tell you you’re “doing it wrong” if you’re enjoying the process. If you prefer writing non-fiction, be the best damn non-fiction writer you can be. If you prefer fiction, then dive into your imagination and let it loose.
You are the one in control of your future as an author, especially nowadays with self-publishing options.
The Best Genre is What Works Best for You
The best genre is the one that you enjoy writing the most. That is unless you’re an author because of the money. In that case, you’d want to do some research into the most popular categories.
Most of us, though, are writers regardless of what trends are happening right now. We have stories to tell and won’t bother trying to jump on some trend train to make a buck.
Write what makes you happy, whether that is non-fiction or fiction.
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