Non-fiction writing research

Although non-fiction writing has been a core part of such disciplines as history, journalism and literature (in the form of writing articles, essays and books), creative writers often find the instructions given regarding researching and writing non-fiction in these disciplines inadequate to serve the increasingly complex procedural and ethical challenges they face. In response, as more writers, undergraduate students, higher degree candidates and teachers of writing publish or study non-fiction, how to conduct research in, and about, this genre has become a prominent area of interest in creative writing studies. In the wake of a number of recent ‘scandals’ around non-fiction publications, moreover, the ethical issues involved in producing non-fiction texts have also come to the forefront as a concern for writers. At the same time, the recognition of such work as valid research in the university context, and the justification for this classification, is also important. This chapter defines research in the context of the discipline of writing generally and non-fiction writing more specifically. It focuses on the different ways non-fiction creative writing is researched and how this research can be validated. It also highlights the ethical issues involved in researching and writing non-fiction texts, and how the writer of non-fiction can approach and deal with these challenges.