First Draft Friday #68: The Similarities & Differences Between Creative Nonfiction & Fiction
TLDRIn this engaging conversation, host Alexandre Tor welcomes author Lynn Gadner to discuss the nuances between creative non-fiction and fiction writing. Gadner, who has a background in journalism and marketing, shares her journey from writing poetry and non-fiction to her debut novel, 'Woman of Valor'. She delves into the challenges of transitioning to fiction, the importance of research, and the creative processes involved. The discussion also touches on the marketing opportunities for authors, such as writing essays and op-eds to support their novels, and the value of connecting with the writing community. Gadner's experiences in Scotland and her passion for writing compelling Jewish characters are highlighted, offering insights into her writing process and the inspiration behind her work.
Takeaways
- 📝 Lynn Gadner is a Detroit-based writer with a background in journalism, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
- 📚 Lynn has released her debut novel 'Woman of Valor', a women's fiction with a literary bent, set in the Orthodox Jewish community of Chicago.
- ✍️ Lynn's writing journey includes poetry, non-fiction, and creative non-fiction essays, with her first book published at the age of 25.
- 🔍 Research plays a significant role in Lynn's writing process, whether for fiction or non-fiction, to ensure authenticity and depth.
- 📖 Creative non-fiction uses the techniques of fiction to tell true stories, focusing on evoking senses and immersing readers in the narrative.
- 📈 Lynn's marketing experience helps her in promoting her books, suggesting that writers can use their skills to connect with their audience and build their brand.
- 🌐 Lynn emphasizes the importance of writing consistently and creating a habit, as well as connecting with the writer community for support and inspiration.
- 📅 Setting a book in the past, like Lynn's second novel set in 2014-2016, can add complexity to the story and provide a different context for the characters.
- 📍 Lynn's choice of setting for her novels is often influenced by her desire to learn about and explore new places, which she does through writing retreats.
- 📝 Lynn suggests that writers can use essays and op-eds related to their books as marketing tools, targeting niche audiences and establishing themselves in a genre.
Q & A
What is the main difference between creative non-fiction and fiction according to Lynn Gadner?
-Creative non-fiction involves writing truthful stories using the techniques of fiction to be creative, evoking senses, and immersing the reader in the scene or character, while fiction allows for complete invention of the story.
What is Lynn Gadner's debut novel called and what is it about?
-Lynn Gadner's debut novel is called 'Woman of Valor'. It's a story about a young woman living in Chicago who becomes Orthodox in Judaism, gets married, has three kids, and then faces a crisis when her son is abused at school, leading to different responses from her and her husband.
How does Lynn Gadner approach research for her writing?
-Lynn Gadner approaches research by setting boundaries on the time spent researching to avoid getting lost in the 'rabbit hole'. She takes notes and uses them for later, emphasizing that writing is her primary love.
What is Lynn Gadner's advice for writers who want to publish opinion pieces or essays related to their novels?
-Lynn advises writers to write essays related to their book's themes or subject matter and market them to publications that attract their ideal reader audience. She suggests looking for timely topics or local angles to create niche content.
How does Lynn Gadner describe her transition from writing non-fiction to fiction?
-Lynn describes her transition as a natural progression, emphasizing that the same creativity, attention to detail, and observational skills are applied to both genres. She also mentions the importance of research in both non-fiction and fiction writing.
What is Lynn Gadner's next novel about?
-Lynn's next novel, which is in revisions, is about some characters who are Jewish, but the story is not Orthodox. It takes place in both Michigan and Scotland and is completely made up.
How does Lynn Gadner handle the challenge of balancing research and writing?
-Lynn sets a specific time for research and sticks to it, taking notes for later use. She prioritizes writing and ensures that research does not distract her from the main task of creating the story.
What is Lynn Gadner's perspective on setting her novels in different locations?
-Lynn chooses settings that are either familiar or that she has researched extensively. She avoids setting her novels in locations that are too close to her personal life to maintain a certain distance from the story.
How does Lynn Gadner engage with the writing community?
-Lynn engages with the writing community by participating in writer retreats, joining writing groups, and offering writing programs. She believes that surrounding herself with other writers energizes and encourages her to keep writing.
What is Lynn Gadner's advice for new authors?
-Lynn advises new authors to write consistently, create a habit of writing, and connect with the writing community. She emphasizes the importance of doing the work and finding ways to stay motivated and inspired.
Outlines
Introduction to Lynn Gadner and Her Writing Journey
The host, Alexandre Tor, welcomes Lynn Gadner, a Detroit-based writer with a background in journalism, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Lynn discusses her transition from writing poetry and non-fiction to her debut novel, 'Woman of Valor', which explores the life of an Orthodox Jewish woman in Chicago. She shares her experiences with writing for various formats, including journalistic articles and creative non-fiction essays.
Exploring the Genres of Creative Non-Fiction and Fiction
Lynn explains the concept of creative non-fiction, which involves telling true stories using fictional techniques to evoke senses and immerse readers in the narrative. She contrasts this with journalism, which focuses on straight reporting. Lynn also addresses the challenges of transitioning from non-fiction to fiction, including the expectations of her audience and the research involved in creating a believable fictional world.
The Creative Process and Research in Writing
Lynn discusses the similarities and differences between writing creative non-fiction and fiction. She emphasizes the importance of research, whether it's for a non-fiction piece or a fictional story, and shares her approach to managing research to avoid getting lost in the details. Lynn also talks about her next novel, which involves Jewish characters and takes place in Michigan and Scotland, and her efforts to create likable characters.
Setting and Research for 'Woman of Valor'
Lynn explains why she chose Chicago as the setting for 'Woman of Valor' instead of her hometown, Detroit. She also discusses the research she conducted for the novel, including understanding the Orthodox Jewish community and the city of Chicago. Lynn shares her experiences with writing about places she has not personally visited and the importance of getting the details right for the story's authenticity.
Marketing and Supporting Content for Authors
Lynn talks about her marketing background and how it has influenced her approach to writing and promoting her books. She suggests writing opinion pieces and essays related to the book's topic as a way to market the novel and build the author's brand. Lynn also discusses the importance of connecting with the writing community and offers advice on finding the right platforms for publishing these supportive pieces.
Lynn's Upcoming Projects and Writing Retreats
Lynn shares her experiences with writing retreats and how they have helped her connect with other writers and generate new ideas. She discusses her upcoming projects, including her next novel set in Scotland with a historical element. Lynn also provides advice on how to find writing retreats and communities, and the benefits of being part of a writing community.
Closing Remarks and Where to Find Lynn's Work
In the final moments of the conversation, Lynn encourages writers to write consistently and connect with the writing community. She shares her experiences with writing retreats in Scotland and Nova Scotia and how they have inspired her work. Lynn provides information on where to find her books and her writing programs, and she recommends a book on creative non-fiction by Mary Carr.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Creative Non-fiction
💡Fiction
💡Transition
💡Orthodox Judaism
💡Research
💡Writing Community
💡Marketing
💡Branding
💡Writing Retreats
💡Genre
Highlights
Lynn Gadner discusses the differences between creative non-fiction and fiction.
Gadner's debut novel, 'Woman of Valor,' explores a woman's life in the Orthodox Jewish community.
The novel's protagonist faces challenges after her son is abused at school, leading to conflicts with her husband.
Gadner's background includes a journalistic career, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
She has written thousands of articles and creative non-fiction essays.
Creative non-fiction uses fiction techniques to tell true stories, evoking senses and immersing readers.
Gadner's previous books were non-fiction, based on real events and experiences.
The transition from non-fiction to fiction involved research and distancing from her own life experiences.
Gadner's next novel includes Jewish characters but is not set in the Orthodox community.
She emphasizes that her characters are fictional and not autobiographical.
Gadner's writing process involves extensive research, even for non-fiction.
She sets boundaries for research to avoid getting lost in the 'rabbit hole' of information.
Gadner's marketing background helps her in promoting her books through writing related essays and op-eds.
She suggests writers find niche audiences and write essays related to their books to attract readers.
Gadner recommends writers join writing communities and attend retreats for support and inspiration.
She emphasizes the importance of writing regularly and creating a habit.
Gadner's book 'Flavors of Faith: Holy Breads' is a non-fiction work that explores the commonality of bread in different faiths.
She suggests writers use platforms like Medium or Substack to publish shorter pieces that support their novels.
Gadner shares her experience of writing in Scotland and how it inspired her next novel.
She advises writers to find their unique angle and market to specific communities.