True or False: All stories, by definition, are fiction.
What do you think? Can a story be completely true and still remain a story? Are truth and storytelling destined to exist in separate worlds like non-overlapping circles in a Venn diagram?
The answer is FALSE. Story and truth can—and often do—overlap. Their intersection is where narrative nonfiction shines, blending the art of storytelling with fact.
What Is Narrative Nonfiction?
Narrative Nonfiction Definition
Let’s get started with a definition:
Narrative nonfiction is a genre of storytelling that presents the facts of someone’s life, or of some topic or event, as a true story. It uses the engaging tools of narrative, including strong characters with clear goals and motives, to create a compelling and truthful story.
Narrative nonfiction novels include detailed descriptions, antagonists, and the risks and dangers they pose. And their story arcs track with those we find in fiction.
Examples of narrative nonfiction include memoirs, biographies, historical accounts, and true crime stories.
What Is Historical Nonfiction?
Historical nonfiction is a branch of narrative nonfiction. It brings to life the stories about people, places, and moments that shaped the world. Though it often reads like a novel, the events it shares are based on careful research and factual evidence.
For instance, it might tell the story of a famous battle from the perspective of a soldier. The story allows readers to connect with history on a deeper level.
Narrative Nonfiction Examples
Narrative nonfiction happens to be my favorite genre. Allow me now to share six examples from my personal top ten list:
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson
This book tells the true story of John Wilkes Booth and how he was hunted down after killing President Abraham Lincoln. For 12 intense days, detectives and soldiers searched for him everywhere.
Swanson uses journals and records to create a fast-paced, exciting story. The details make it feel like you are there, following the chase step by step.
Manhunt is a great example of narrative nonfiction because it uses real events and facts to tell a gripping, unforgettable, and action-packed story.
Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Howard Taylor
This book tells the true story of Hudson Taylor, a missionary who shared the Gospel in China. Hudson trusted God through sickness and danger, and he never gave up.
Written by his son- and daughter-in-law, this book shows how his faith shaped his work and how he loved the people he served. It’s a great example of narrative nonfiction because it uses real events and personal stories to inspire readers.
By following Hudson’s journey, you’ll learn about faith, courage, and the power of trusting God in difficult times.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Endurance is the name Ernest Shackleton gave to the ship he sailed to Antarctica in the early years of the 20th century. Shackleton’s ship became stuck in ice, forcing the crew to survive extreme cold and hunger.
Shackleton’s leadership kept his men alive and hopeful, even when they faced impossible odds. Lansing tells this story using diaries and interviews. Readers feel the danger, courage, and teamwork in every chapter.
It’s a great example of narrative nonfiction because it uses real events to tell a dramatic, inspiring story that shows the strength of the human spirit.
Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose
This book tells the story of Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery as they explore the American West.
It’s based on Lewis’s journals, which detail the hardships, discoveries, and triumphs of their journey. Ambrose uses these real accounts to create an exciting and vivid narrative. Readers can feel the danger and wonder as the team maps unknown lands and meets new people.
This is another great example of narrative nonfiction because it brings history to life with real events, personal details, and a gripping story that keeps readers turning the pages.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
This book tells the true story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and World War II airman. After his plane crashes, he survives 47 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean. Then, he’s captured and sent to a Japanese prison camp where he faces even more challenges.
Hillenbrand’s writing shows Louis’s strength and determination, and makes you feel the struggles and victories.
It is yet another powerful example of narrative nonfiction because it combines real events and vivid storytelling to create a powerful, unforgettable story about courage and survival.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Into the Wild tells the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who gave up his possessions to live in the Alaskan wilderness.
Krakauer pieces together McCandless’s journey through interviews and diary entries, making readers feel the adventure and risks he faced. The story shows his idealism, challenges, and ultimate fate.
It’s a great example of using a story approach to draw readers into the mystery and emotion of McCandless’ life.
Narrative Nonfiction StoryTelling Tips
If you’re writing narrative nonfiction, here are some tips to make your story stand out:
- Focus on the Story: Think about the main idea of your story. Who are the people it’s about? What is the big problem or challenge they face? A strong story pulls readers in and keeps them excited to see what happens next. Make sure each part of the story helps tell the big picture so readers stay engaged all the way through.
- Pay Attention to Story Arc Scenes: Every good story needs key moments like an inciting incident, climax, and resolution. The inciting incident kicks off the action and pulls readers into the story. The climax is the most intense moment, where everything comes together. Make sure these scenes stand out and carry the emotional weight they need to keep readers hooked.
- Do Thorough Research: Narrative nonfiction needs facts to be accurate. Look at old letters, newspapers, or talk to experts to get the details right. True stories are more powerful when they are based on real evidence. Careful research helps you gain readers’ trust while making your story stronger.
- Bring Characters to Life: Even though it’s nonfiction, the people in your story should feel like characters in a novel. Describe what they look like, how they talk, and what they think or feel. This makes it easier for readers to care about them and stay interested in their journey.
- Use Dialogue: Real conversations add excitement to your story. When characters talk, their words make scenes come alive. Use quotes from interviews or historical records when possible. If you have to guess what someone might have said, make sure to let readers know you’re imagining.
- Create Tension: Every story needs a problem to solve. It could be a race against time, a struggle for survival, or a big decision someone has to make. Show how hard it is to overcome the challenge so readers feel the suspense and want to keep turning the pages.
- Write with Emotion: Stories are easier to remember when they make us feel something. Help readers feel what the characters feel, like joy, sadness, fear, or hope. When readers connect with emotions, they care about the story more. This connection helps the story and its message stick with them for a long time.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Use words to paint pictures in readers’ minds. Instead of saying, “It was a cold day,” describe the frost on the ground and how people’s breath made little clouds in the air. Details like these make the story feel real and help readers imagine themselves right there.
- Signal Speculation: If you’re not sure about a detail or event, make it clear. Use words like “maybe” or “possibly” to show you’re guessing. This helps readers know what is fact and what is your best guess, building trust while still keeping the story interesting. By combining these techniques, you can create a narrative nonfiction piece that educates and inspires while keeping readers hooked from start to finish.
Conclusion
Narrative nonfiction shows us how true stories can be just as exciting as fiction. It blends facts with storytelling to teach, inspire, and entertain. It’s proof that truth and storytelling don’t have to live in separate worlds.
With this in mind, the nine tips we explored can help bring your narrative nonfiction story to life. From creating strong characters to building tension and adding emotional depth, these techniques make true stories unforgettable.
So, whether you’re writing about a brave explorer, a life-changing event, or an inspiring person, a narrative nonfiction approach will help you bring these moments to life.
You’ve got this!