What kind of book do you like to read? The available list is
a lot longer than simply fiction and non-fiction. The type of book you write
should be geared for each specific target market.
Non-fiction is generally thought to be factual real life
stories, or at least we assume the stories are true (the Bible is assumed by
many to be factual although there is no proof to many of the tales in it, so
this is non-fiction). Some of the categories of non-fiction writing include:
textbooks, travel guides, encyclopedias, how-to books, informational pamphlets,
newspapers, instructional manuals, and history books. Biographies, autobiographies
and memoirs are also non-fiction however the stories are sometimes told with
embellishments which might “stretch the truth” a bit. Non-fiction topics can
include things like: science, history, commerce, law, politics, psychology and
more.
Fiction can be based on real-life events but is changed
significantly enough not to be recognizable. Most fiction stories are
creatively born from the minds of each author — it’s often been said that there
are only so many stories but it is the way the story is told (again) and the
presentation that makes it different and fresh.
Fiction categories CAN include the following and more: romance,
horror, mystery, fantasy, suspense, detective, western and science fiction. Some
categories, such as romance, have sub-genres like: contemporary, erotic,
historical, suspense, paranormal, and young adult (as per RWA).
Many new authors are told to “write what you know”, but in my
opinion that has been taken too literally and limits many potentially good
authors. The better advice is to “write what you like to read” — there will be
more enthusiasm for the actual writing, the writer is more familiar with the
style, and (while you should never be the ultimate critic of your own writing)
authors should never write a book that they themselves wouldn’t want to read.
There are seasoned and ghost writers that can write other categories but that
will happen down the road for even the newest writer.
Writing
Exercise: Set your timer for 30 minutes and begin writing
the story THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO READ. Just write. No matter where you are in
the story line, STOP when the timer goes off. (yes, you can go back to this
story later if you feel up to shaping a full manuscript [short story or novel
length] from this humble beginning.
Writing
Prompt: Make a list of your TOP THREE favorite choices of
genres to read. If you would like, include a few favorite titles.
Challenge
Assignment: Write YOUR autobiography in TEN sentences. Try it
again in TWENTY sentences.
