Comments on: Can a Novel be Nonfiction? http://waltshiel.com/2008/08/16/can-a-novel-be-nonfiction/ Walt Shiel commentary on writing, books, and publishing Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Walt Shiel http://waltshiel.com/2008/08/16/can-a-novel-be-nonfiction/#comment-4503 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:03:24 +0000 http://publishingtrenches.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-4503 That depends — is it fiction or nonfiction?

]]> By: Jay Evans http://waltshiel.com/2008/08/16/can-a-novel-be-nonfiction/#comment-4502 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:16:47 +0000 http://publishingtrenches.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-4502 What would one call something that would be called a “nonfiction novel”?

]]> By: deb http://waltshiel.com/2008/08/16/can-a-novel-be-nonfiction/#comment-1594 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:19:33 +0000 http://publishingtrenches.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-1594 that’s what I thought. …totally agree. A novel should always be fiction.

]]> By: Walt Shiel http://waltshiel.com/2008/08/16/can-a-novel-be-nonfiction/#comment-1523 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:27:35 +0000 http://publishingtrenches.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-1523 Maybe, but I think Capote came up with the nomenclature just to make his books seem different from the other novels in the market. After all, he made a career out of being different.

But, just because somebody of Capote’s literary stature invented (assuming he really did) the label nonfiction novel, doesn’t mean it’s a great idea.

Of course, movies have been muddying the waters for years. What exactly does “based on a true story” really mean, anyway?

]]> By: Darrelyn Saloom http://waltshiel.com/2008/08/16/can-a-novel-be-nonfiction/#comment-1522 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:03:09 +0000 http://publishingtrenches.wordpress.com/?p=157#comment-1522 Great post, Walt. I imagine the terms nonfiction novel and now true-life novel are used to protect publishers and authors from lawsuits. Why else would anyone want to complicate something that should be so simple?

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