Non-fiction is neither superior or inferior to fiction. Both are written with the hope of revealing a truth, whether it be emotional or intellectual. If mere 'facts' were the highest pursuit of literature then one would admire the phone book as the greatest work of world literature. However, a phone book does not reveal emotional truth. Nor does it engender in the reader great thoughts. Dismissing fiction as superfluous is demonstrative of abject ignorance. Why did our ancestors paint on caves?
Non-fiction isnt just buography and history - non-fiction is where all the revolutionary ideas are. It's what fiction is based on. Fiction is on the exact same plane as movies and comic books. Entertainment, with maybe some thought-provoking thrown in.
@taicleis I have to disagree with you. Fictional writing can absolutely be revolutionary (as can movies and comic books/graphic novels). People respond better to stories than to straight fact - sometimes when you have the freedom to create a story around a fundamental truth, regardless of exact facts, the truth is more easily revealed. Not that a lot of fiction isn't mostly entertainment, but it isn't all just fluff.
I don't think fiction is 'all fluff', but it's never been very revolutionary. Stories can inspire people and communicate ideas, but I've never heard of a storybook communicating ideas that weren't FIRST put forward in a non-fiction context.
The reason I point it out is because there is a prevailing attitude that fiction is where all the creativity is. I highly disagree. The true wonder of books is in ideas - which are not precluded by being factual.
@taicleis While the majority of fiction is re-hashed stories there are some fantastic stories that speculate on what is to come. Sci-Fi writers have speculated for years on how technology will develop or at the very least how applying technology will change society. The better writers put forth the possibilities that many scientists try to bring to reality. Like a mental blue print. Some scientists became such because of early influences reading science FICTION.
Good discussion between two writers on their positions on fiction and and non-fiction. Worth the four minutes to watch the video. And somewhat funny about having to tell the truth when writing non-fiction as apposed to making up the facts in a fiction piece. Well done, thanks.
Good discussion between two writers on their positions on fiction and and non-fiction. Worth the four minutes to watch the video. And somewhat funny about having to tell the truth when writing non-fiction as apposed to making up the fact in a fiction piece. Well done, thanks.
The gist of this video discussion seems to me to be a contrast between writing fiction FROM facts (which facts are usually the starting point which may be digressed from) and the second part that not all facts make a good starting point, and secondly, that some authors prefer writing about only on facts.
The trailing comment at the end is that fictional writing is more everday fun for the factual writer. The male guest is not used to analytical thinking and is reflecting on his writing mode.
@TheSilhouette Do you really think Zadie has a Jamaican accent? I don't think so. As a fellow Briton, I'd say her accent is very English in a Cambridge way.
Somebody once said: "there are two kinds of authors: the one rarely says something, and when they do they come straight to the point, while the others just won't shut up."
@Secretsareasickness Hmmm. I'm not going to PAY to watch the full version. Flora TV, if you are reading this, you need to know that there are many literature lovers such as myself who simply won't pay to watch something like this.
@ZachClooney ya, especially since fora is taking to nonsensical and imo, fascist capitalistic model of "pay but not own", where i pay, yet the product is only available to me for a limited time.
fuck that!
if pay for something, i want access to it whenever i like.
you can shove your 30 days right up your ass!
that being said, if you change your model, i might consider paying $5/month for ALL content on your site, for a long as i'm a paying member.
@ZachClooney I'm not going to pay to read your comment. ZachClooney, if you are reading this, you need to know that there are many literature lovers like me who simply won'tpay to read something like that.
@acr08807 Hey acr08807, or whatever Philistine you are behind that bland username, you ranted: "... there are many literature lovers like me who simply won't pay to read something like that." Well, you just have :) Time is money. And you just paid to read my comment, and then, took the time to type that dumb comment. And you call yourself a "literature lover"? Get a life!
@ZachClooney You totally misunderstand. I don't care about ForaTV, I was just making fun of some moron who called himself a "literature lover." What a dweeb he must be!
Non-fiction is neither superior or inferior to fiction. Both are written with the hope of revealing a truth, whether it be emotional or intellectual. If mere 'facts' were the highest pursuit of literature then one would admire the phone book as the greatest work of world literature. However, a phone book does not reveal emotional truth. Nor does it engender in the reader great thoughts. Dismissing fiction as superfluous is demonstrative of abject ignorance. Why did our ancestors paint on caves?
huttcore 2 months ago
All fiction is bullshit. Good fiction is fairly entertaining bullshit.
JeffersonDinedAlone 8 months ago
Non-fiction isnt just buography and history - non-fiction is where all the revolutionary ideas are. It's what fiction is based on. Fiction is on the exact same plane as movies and comic books. Entertainment, with maybe some thought-provoking thrown in.
taicleis 11 months ago
@taicleis I have to disagree with you. Fictional writing can absolutely be revolutionary (as can movies and comic books/graphic novels). People respond better to stories than to straight fact - sometimes when you have the freedom to create a story around a fundamental truth, regardless of exact facts, the truth is more easily revealed. Not that a lot of fiction isn't mostly entertainment, but it isn't all just fluff.
ArtemisRampant 9 months ago
@ArtemisRampant
I don't think fiction is 'all fluff', but it's never been very revolutionary. Stories can inspire people and communicate ideas, but I've never heard of a storybook communicating ideas that weren't FIRST put forward in a non-fiction context.
The reason I point it out is because there is a prevailing attitude that fiction is where all the creativity is. I highly disagree. The true wonder of books is in ideas - which are not precluded by being factual.
taicleis 9 months ago
@taicleis While the majority of fiction is re-hashed stories there are some fantastic stories that speculate on what is to come. Sci-Fi writers have speculated for years on how technology will develop or at the very least how applying technology will change society. The better writers put forth the possibilities that many scientists try to bring to reality. Like a mental blue print. Some scientists became such because of early influences reading science FICTION.
runepainter 9 months ago
Good discussion between two writers on their positions on fiction and and non-fiction. Worth the four minutes to watch the video. And somewhat funny about having to tell the truth when writing non-fiction as apposed to making up the facts in a fiction piece. Well done, thanks.
RobertWriter8 1 year ago
Good discussion between two writers on their positions on fiction and and non-fiction. Worth the four minutes to watch the video. And somewhat funny about having to tell the truth when writing non-fiction as apposed to making up the fact in a fiction piece. Well done, thanks.
RobertWriter8 1 year ago
The gist of this video discussion seems to me to be a contrast between writing fiction FROM facts (which facts are usually the starting point which may be digressed from) and the second part that not all facts make a good starting point, and secondly, that some authors prefer writing about only on facts.
The trailing comment at the end is that fictional writing is more everday fun for the factual writer. The male guest is not used to analytical thinking and is reflecting on his writing mode.
aamusc 1 year ago
She looks so bored while he's talking.
benben42 1 year ago 5
Zadie Smith has a really interesting accent.
When you first hear it, it sounds British, but if you listen more closely you can definitely hear a Jamaican influence there.
TheSilhouette 1 year ago
@TheSilhouette Do you really think Zadie has a Jamaican accent? I don't think so. As a fellow Briton, I'd say her accent is very English in a Cambridge way.
ZachClooney 1 year ago
Somebody once said: "there are two kinds of authors: the one rarely says something, and when they do they come straight to the point, while the others just won't shut up."
tmafkap 1 year ago
Where is the rest of this talk with Zadie?
ZachClooney 1 year ago
@ZachClooney
The link is in their description. It's hosted at their primary website.
Secretsareasickness 1 year ago
@Secretsareasickness Oh... thanks for that.
ZachClooney 1 year ago
@Secretsareasickness Hmmm. I'm not going to PAY to watch the full version. Flora TV, if you are reading this, you need to know that there are many literature lovers such as myself who simply won't pay to watch something like this.
ZachClooney 1 year ago 14
@ZachClooney ya, especially since fora is taking to nonsensical and imo, fascist capitalistic model of "pay but not own", where i pay, yet the product is only available to me for a limited time.
fuck that!
if pay for something, i want access to it whenever i like.
you can shove your 30 days right up your ass!
that being said, if you change your model, i might consider paying $5/month for ALL content on your site, for a long as i'm a paying member.
;d
666norton420 1 year ago 2
@ZachClooney I'm not going to pay to read your comment. ZachClooney, if you are reading this, you need to know that there are many literature lovers like me who simply won'tpay to read something like that.
acr08807 1 year ago
@acr08807 Hey acr08807, or whatever Philistine you are behind that bland username, you ranted: "... there are many literature lovers like me who simply won't pay to read something like that." Well, you just have :) Time is money. And you just paid to read my comment, and then, took the time to type that dumb comment. And you call yourself a "literature lover"? Get a life!
ZachClooney 1 year ago
@ZachClooney You totally misunderstand. I don't care about ForaTV, I was just making fun of some moron who called himself a "literature lover." What a dweeb he must be!
acr08807 1 year ago