Fiction vs. Nonfiction: Volume II-Author Pet Peeves
Do you agree with my pet peeves about other writers?
Short version:
Fiction authors tend to be too absolutist. Nonfiction authors tend to be too indecisive. ⬇️
Medium version:
Over the years working with authors, I’ve developed a couple of pet peeves about fiction and nonfiction authors.
(I know, I know… “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Just being honest here…)
To my own surprise, I’ve found my pet peeves about each group of authors is the opposite from what you’d expect.
So here it goes…
My biggest pet peeve with fiction authors is they are too absolutist.
My biggest pet peeve with nonfiction authors is they are too indecisive.
Let’s go a bit deeper.
You’d think fiction authors would be more open-minded and less judgmental.
But in general, they’re not.
As a group, fiction authors tend to have very black-and-white absolutist views of writing and authorship. Hang out with them long enough and you’ll hear:
“Traditional publishing is the only thing that counts.”
“All hybrid publishers are a scam.”
“If you use a ghostwriter, you can’t call yourself an author.”
And so on.
I got so burned out by hearing these absolutist/elitist/judgmental views, I turned away from the world of fiction for a couple of years. But now I’m cautiously wading back into it, recognizing that I don’t have to hold these absolutist views just because someone else does.
Now let’s go pick on the nonfiction authors…
Given many nonfiction authors are CEOs, executives, and general Type-A go-getters, you might be surprised to hear how indecisive they can be.
But it’s true. They’re constantly second-guessing themselves in the writing process. Here’s what you might hear with nonfiction authors:
“I know we’re several chapters in, but I think I should change the core message of my book.”
“I want to sound like [Such-and-Such Famous Author] but I also want to sound like me.”
“I want to write for my ideal customer. But I also want to write for everyone.”
And so on.
Despite their authority in their subject, they question their every move, which actually undermines their own authority and turns a potentially potent message into an impotent mess.
Both sides need to find a middle ground:
Fiction authors need to be less absolutist and more inclusive in their approach to books and what qualifies as writing.
And Nonfiction authors need to be more decisive, more confident in their vision, and stop second-guessing themselves. Nothing wrong with some iteration…but iteration can turn into never-ending tinkering which will hurt the book more than help.
In Volume III of this series, we’re going to get thematic and look at how the two sides approach theme differently.
If you’re a paid subscriber, scroll down for a preview. (Lucky you.)
Mug of the Month - ALSO - I just discovered the other day a lot of my mugs had disappeared from the shop because I failed to renew them. Oops. So I created a special sale of 20% off on orders of at least 2 mugs.
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