It's June 4th already and I'm delighted to have Nancy Stewart visit Write What Inspires You. Today she will be discussing "Non-fiction and Ethics." Welcome Nancy, your insight and tips in researching writing on-target non-fiction is imperative for true success!
Non-Fiction
and Ethics
by Nancy Stewart
So you want to write a non-fiction book. You are in plentiful company. Each year nearly 300,000 books are published
in the US. About four out of five are
non-fiction!
While there are lots of non-fiction books out there
to keep yours company, there are some potential pitfalls associated with the
genre. Let’s discuss that.
We all know non-fiction is just that—something that
must be truthful, not concocted from our imaginations as with fiction. Not only, however, does it have to be the
truth, we as authors have to do due diligence to make it that way. Simply put,
we must hold ourselves to the highest standard
to ensure the content of our work is true and accurate to the best of our
ability. Yes, it’s exactly what lawyers
are expected to do, and is, in fact, a legal term.
So how do we achieve this high-minded
standard and not get sued for all our efforts, which is the end game of this
post. Here are a few guideposts:
- If you’re not sure of your source/s be sure to investigate their credentials, making certain they are qualified and are who they say they are.
- Obtain confirmation from unrelated sources to support what your primary sources provided. (More research on your part but necessary and well worth the effort.)
- Whenever possible, try to get confirmation from secondary sources what you learned from your primary sources.
- When depending on your memory or personal experiences, secure independent corroboration. *Crucial in narrative non-fiction.
- If something does not seem correct, even though the source is trustworthy, satisfy whatever doubts you have about the veracity of the material. Trust your instincts.
- Try to avoid relying upon only one eyewitness account or what only one person remembers. Two or more can make all the difference!
Let me end by saying I usually don’t give lists of
how to do things. These six tips,
though, can save a non-fiction writer many headaches with a lawsuit on the
side! Again, I cannot stress enough the
due diligence factor in tackling non-fiction, particularly with topics as
medicine, history or biography. Due
diligence is first among equals for a strong, successful and well-executed work
of non-fiction!
Website: http://www.nancystewartbooks.com
Blog: http://www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com
Nancy, thank you for visiting today...as always a true pleasure!
Nancy, thank you for visiting today...as always a true pleasure!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval Recipient and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
