Writing nonfiction is a challenging task. You’re working with facts and real events, making the margin of error extremely slim.
Despite a writer’s efforts, there are common mistakes that persistently recur. Whether you’re writing journalistic pieces, scholarly articles, or nonfiction books, these errors can diminish both the credibility and quality of your work.
Common Nonfiction Writing Mistakes
Here are some mistakes that nonfiction writers frequently experience. Most of these are focused on writing nonfiction books but can be applied to any nonfiction writing.
1. Not telling a story.
Just because you’re working with facts and real events doesn’t mean you’re not telling a story. All literature is narrative, even the more boring ones.
Most people think of fiction and nonfiction as opposites. That is true, but only to a certain extent. What you can’t ignore is that both are creative pursuits and involve storytelling.
Consider these two paragraphs:
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928. It paved the way for modern antibiotics, saving countless lives from bacterial infections.
In his cluttered laboratory, Alexander Fleming peered into his microscope. A patch of mold had invaded his petri dish, stopping the bacterial growth within. This was the moment he discovered penicillin, forever changing medical history.
Telling a story is the difference between writing down dry facts and creating an informative, immersive experience. Use your imagination and skills to relay information interestingly and entertainingly. Otherwise, you risk your book not being read simply because it is boring.
2. Not using a story structure.
Yes, even nonfiction needs a story structure. It doesn’t even need to be complicated. The most basic one you can use is the three-part structure: having a beginning, middle, and end.
The structure is your roadmap, setting down where you start, where you want to go, and how you will get there. It ensures coherence and direction. It also stops you from falling into the trap of endlessly rewriting your manuscript.
Without one, you risk writing a book that’s all over the place. Worse, you’ll end up simply writing down information. The first lacks coherence, the second lacks storytelling.
3. Not researching your target audience.
A lot of first-time writers make the mistake of catering to everyone. However, you should never assume that your chosen subject matters to everyone.
Most people will understand what you want to say but only to an extent. Instead, write for a very specific reader—one who has an interest or first-hand experience with your topic. This is the person who will resonate best with you.
This helps you in two ways: concentrating your marketing efforts and the scope of your work. The more specific both are, the better it will reach your target audience and the higher the quality of work you produce.
4. Not solving your audience’s problem.
If someone reads your book, it’s likely because they’re seeking a solution they believe you can offer. This is why you must be as specific as you can in identifying your target audience.
To connect with them, you’ll need to make your work more personal. You must know their desires, motivations, and most importantly, their pain points. This will make it easier for you to tailor your text and message to their preferences.
The problem doesn’t even need to be grand such as deforestation and war. Readers pick up books for various reasons. Satisfying that reason is your goal.
5. Not bringing new things to the table.
Five writers can write five books about the same topic. They work with the same facts and events but will still arrive at five completely different works.
Sure, you might have fresh information that’s never been discussed before. But fresh information isn’t just the way to contribute something new.
You could work on a popular topic but still make it new by approaching it through different perspectives and goals. A businessman might write about the economic details of Covid-19 while another writer might focus on its effects on global carbon emissions.
The differences you bring might be slight but will have a huge effect on the overall writing of your book. The trick is to present your topic in a way that deepens your readers’ understanding, even if they’re already familiar with it.
6. Not being consistent.
Consistency isn’t just about keeping the correct details throughout your book. It’s also about being consistent with its logic.
Every book operates in its own internal logic. Cookbooks assume you have basic kitchen knowledge. Biographies view the events portrayed within as accurate. Spirituality books claim certain beliefs as truth while science books purely operate on empirical data.
Consistency is how you get your message across. Imagine if an inspiring book suddenly became cynical. Not only does it weaken your message but it also confuses your reader.
7. Not writing deep enough.
Don’t write a book that has a lot of words but doesn’t convey much value. You’ll make your readers go through a whole lot of effort for nothing.
There are two ways writers don’t write deep enough: not doing the research and wanting to write about everything on a subject. The first leaves you with barely any information to write anything with. The second leaves you with such a wide net of superficial information.
Just like what was discussed in #3, narrow down your topic. Rather than saying a little about everything, focus on specific parts. You’ll be able to discuss them more thoroughly and meaningfully this way. Dig deeper, not wider.
Write your Book!
Writing is a harsh journey. It takes a lot of work and time to come up with a halfway-decent manuscript. Even then, there’s still no guarantee your work will be picked up for publication.
Paying attention to the mistakes above will get you closer to success. Embrace the process of writing, learn what you can with each step, and celebrate any insights you experience.
Do you know any other nonfiction writing mistakes? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 17 Popular Nonfiction Genres
- 40 Nonfiction Writing Prompts to get the Creative Juices Flowing
- Why Publishers Reject Nonfiction Book Proposals
- Fiction vs. Nonfiction: Breaking Down the Differences
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
