Should you write fiction or nonfiction for your first book? If this is your dilemma, it’s not a bad problem to have. Many authors just choose one or the other, so congratulations on taking the leap.
Maybe you’re a fiction author who wants to share the how-tos of fiction writing or a journalist who has written about the history of war-torn countries and wants to write a children’s book about a little boy who makes friends with another child from an enemy nation.
Whatever your reason for wanting to write within both genres, it is doable and a path that many successful authors before you have followed.
Let’s consider the best way to approach this question by taking a deeper look into personal goals, motivations, and marketability. We’ll also consider some popular authors who are making a living writing fiction and nonfiction.
Let’s compare:
What do you want?
If you knew what you wanted, you wouldn’t be wondering which path to take, right? Maybe, but I think that deep down, we know what we want to do, but don’t know if it’s the best thing to do.
So, let’s first clarify where your heart is, right now, today, in this moment, by answering the following questions:
- What am I currently reading for enjoyment? Not just what’s on your nightstand or within reach of your desk, but the thing you are actually reading for enjoyment.
- Which book type has more sentimental value? Think about the two types of books you want to write. Now, consider someone who is near and dear to your heart. Which book would you want to place in their hands first?
- What is your current headspace? Barring the need for financial gain because books can take a while to gain sales momentum, which type of book will fulfill you and be the most joyful to write? For example, I write and edit mostly nonfiction as a career, so in my personal time, I focus on fiction; however, twenty years ago, I was focused on raising a young family and figuring out my purpose, so my first book was a memoir. I liked fiction, but writing a memoir was what I needed at the time to make sense of my life.
- Which type of book do you think would take you the shortest amount of time to complete? Sometimes getting a book, any book, published is the best motivator to continue writing books. If one takes significantly less time, then one might be best.
- If you could only write one book, which book (fiction or nonfiction) do you think would have the greatest impact on you? On readers?
There are two main considerations when deciding whether to publish a fiction or nonfiction book first. One is personal fulfillment, the second is end goals.
Personal fulfillment
You’re a writer or teacher at heart. You’ve been making up stories since you were little (fiction) or you’ve been sharing knowledge with or without a platform because your passion is helping others (nonfiction). Or, maybe you fall somewhere in between. Wherever you land, it’s your passion that motivates you. When doing what you love outpaces being practical, then follow your heart. Write that seven-part cozy mystery series, or teach others how to build a better mousetrap based on your personal experiences.
Goals
While personal fulfillment and goals can be related, understanding which one motivates you more can help you decide which type of book to write first.
Here are some questions to consider as a new author:
- Do you prefer telling stories or explaining things?
- What’s easier for you? Developing characters, worlds, and back stories, or breaking down concepts into easy-to-understand nuggets?
- Do you lean toward understanding the whys behind human behavior, or do you prefer the more analytical side of things, like systems, facts, and solving everyday problems?
- Which authors do you most admire?
- How do you prefer to express yourself? Narrative form or instruction?
- Would you prefer readers to know you for your ideas or imagination?
- Which sounds more exciting to write: character back stories or a structured argument?
- If you had to spend a year writing, would you prefer creating a fictional world or structured, real-life frameworks?
- Thinking about fiction and nonfiction, would you describe writing them as liberating or stifling?
Here’s how these answered questions might look for you:
If your end goal is to become a published author, then whichever book gets you to the publish button the fastest might be the ideal choice. Or, if writing a bestseller is your top goal, then writing in a category that can get you there the quickest might be the best choice for you.
Whether you have financial, career, or platform goals, knowing whether they motivate you more than personal fulfillment is key.
Market considerations
Some book markets are harder to break into than others, so where your book will fit in the market should also be a consideration. For example, romance books are one of the top sellers in fiction, but the market is very crowded and can be a challenge to break into and get noticed. It’s not impossible, but it could be an uphill battle and take longer to see sales momentum.
According to ISBNdb.com, biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are some of the most popular categories in nonfiction. As you can imagine, if you are not well-known, making a dent in these categories could be a challenge.
Fiction trends usually revolve around genre trends. When doing genre research, niche down to subcategories to get a better understanding of the market and where your book could fit.
Nonfiction, on the other hand, often follows current events and industry trends (e.g., Cryptocurrency, AI, etc.)
Understanding the current book market can help you make an informed decision when selecting the best type of book to write, especially if you’re considering practical reasons.
Popular authors writing fiction and nonfiction
Michael Crichton
Probably best known for his popular fiction series Jurassic Park and The Lost World, his memoir Travels also saw great success.
C.S. Lewis
The well-known author of the fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia also wrote nonfiction books like Mere Christianity, Surprised by Joy, and others.
Alice Walker
Along with her fiction book, The Color Purple, and others, Alice Walker has also written over a dozen nonfiction books.
Truman Capote
The author of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and other fiction works also wrote the nonfiction book In Cold Blood.
Ta-Nehisi Coates
The writer of the acclaimed graphic novel Black Panther comic book series also wrote the nonfiction book Between the World and Me.
George Orwell
The author of the popular fiction classics Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, Orwell is also known for his nonfiction work Down and Out in Paris and London.
This list barely grazes the surface of authors who’ve chosen the fiction/nonfiction path. Other authors include Steven King, Margaret Atwood, James Baldwin, Michael Lewis, Toni Morrison, Virginia Woolf and Mark Twain.
Other considerations
Writing in multiple categories often includes different audiences. For this reason, many authors who write fiction and nonfiction use a pseudonym (i.e., pen name) for one of the categories. This helps to eliminate confusion for the reader who expects an author to write a specific type of book.
If you use a pseudonym, you’ll also need a separate online identity for each brand. This includes your website, social media, and newsletters.
With nonfiction, especially for educational and how-to books, remember that credibility is key. Readers are often more drawn to authors who have an established platform (i.e., social proof) or professional credentials.
Successful fiction is more about the author’s ability to tell a good story. This doesn’t take expertise, but it does take skill to get it just right.
Should you write fiction or nonfiction for your first book?
For your first book, whether to write a fiction or nonfiction book is a personal choice. It depends on your goals and what works best for you. If personal fulfillment is a priority, write what moves you. If that means writing a fiction series about an alternate universe during prehistoric times because that’s the best headspace for you now, do it, or write a nonfiction book about the history of printing because that’s your passion.
On the other hand, if maximizing profitability based on market trends is a better fit, do your research, find what’s moving the needle in publishing, and write that book. It’s all up to you.
As author and publisher, your author career is in your hands.
Ultimately, readers just want to read a good book. So, one type of book is not necessarily better than the other. It all depends on you, your goals, and what’s best for your author future.
Your first book is your launching pad into the realm of publishing. It’s a way to get your foot in the door, learn about the book market, and prepare for future publications.
