More than a Formula

Source: Pixaby

Many people often view non-fiction writing as boring and structural.  For me, that’s mostly because I associate it with the essays I had to write in school.  I was always told that there is no absolute right and wrong when it comes to writing, handed a formula to follow, and graded on how faithfully I stuck to that formula.

However, the essays written in a classroom do not encompass all of non-fiction writing.  There’s plenty of pieces of non-fiction writing that go against those formulas that are handed off to students.  In his article comparing Wingard’s live-action adaptation of Death Note to the original anime, Justin Charity hooks readers by talking to them directly.  Using the second person perspective, even if only for a few sentences, is an attention-grabbing move.  In those few sentences, Charity hooks the reader and also establishes an informal tone, making the article feel more approachable.  This tone is carried throughout the article and is further reinforced with a finishing joke.

Another piece of non-fiction that I’d like to mention is the article Frank Guan wrote for the 20th anniversary of Cowboy Bebop.  Similarly to Charity, Guan hooks the readers right off the bat.  However, he does this through a story rather than through point of view.  Guan begins by telling the struggle for the show to even get aired, and how badly it did initially.  Guan continues this story through the article while also explaining where the show shines.  He uses the story of the show’s failure to explain why the show shouldn’t have failed.  

Non-fiction writing is more than just a formula; it’s also free-flowing and entertaining.  It can grab the attention of a reader just as well as any fictional story can.