by Palmerston North City Library

Starting to research and write a non-fiction book can seem a daunting task! But there are many different resources that you can use to help you in your task.

A non-fiction book cannot be written without some form of research. When writing a fiction book, you can use creativity to elaborate and exaggerate the truth. However, a non-fiction book must be more truthful, and facts must be researched accordingly.

In this day and age the internet is often your main research tool. It is advisable to break your research down in manageable chunks, perhaps chapter by chapter or by using key words. Search engines such as Google will often direct you to where you can find articles, newspapers and databases. Some databases that you find may require a subscription fee to join, although others may be free for public use. Another useful tool could also be public forums, where you will be able to gain other people’s opinions and thoughts on a variety of topics.

However, you cannot believe everything that you would read on the internet, as a lot will be based upon people’s opinions and thoughts. When writing your book you need to make sure that you can fully reference any facts given in your work.

Several books have been written for guidance as to how to research on the internet. For example, The Associated Press Guide to Internet Research and Reporting by Frank Bass, or Internet Research Illustrated by Donald I Barker and Carol D Terry (both available on Amazon UK).

Warning! Reading threatens ignorance and leads to education! Oh, and by the way, “ignorance” is written with only one “r”.

Question by Logan: What are some really good non-fiction books for teenage girls, around 14, would like to read?
My teacher is making us do a weekly reading log where we have to read an hour a week and do a one-sentence summery on the book. But the thing is, it has to be NON-fiction. And know no books that meet my interest in non-fiction. Some things I like are Harry Potter, The Clique series, and the Twilight books. Anything similar?

Best answer:

Answer by SeriouslyNow
Okay, this book is nothing like the ones you suggested, but I like the books you like, so maybe you’ll like this as much as I. It’s called Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs, and it’s a memoir or autobiography, therefore non-fiction, and it’s absolutely hilarious. If you give it a shot, you’d probably enjoy it, I read it when I was your age. Also, there are plenty of books on vampires that are non-fiction, or you could even read a “guide” to Twilight or Harry Potter, those are also non-fiction, for example.

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Twilight-Companion-Unauthorized-Guide-Series-Lois-H-Gresh/9780312387051-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527twilight%2527

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Harry-History-True-Story-Boy-Melissa-Anelli-J-K-Rowling/9781416554950-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527harry+potter%2527

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Hidden-Myths-in-Harry-Potter-COLBERT-DAVID/9780312340506-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527harry+potter%2527

Hope that helps.

Give your answer to this question below!

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) July 23, 2006

The Islamic Writers Alliance is soliciting signatures on a petition targeting Muslim publishers, book distributors, wholesalers and retailers, asking that they produce and stock more Islamic fiction in the English language, especially fiction aimed at a teenage or adult audience.

Currently, most Muslim book publishers and retailers exclusively stock non-fiction in the adult and teen sections. Fiction is limited to picture books aimed at the very young. Mainstream publishers’ selections with Muslim characters are far and few between, and often are derogatory to Islamic culture.

The Islamic Writers Alliance believes that there is a demand for quality Islamic fiction, both in the Muslim community and in the greater North American society. We hope to demonstrate this demand through a collection signatures of individuals who would be interested in purchasing inspirational Islamic literature akin to Christian fiction, novels that explore issues in living as a Muslim, books whose characters and plot provoke spiritual and religious reflection, and stories about Muslims and their daily lives.

To sign this petition, please go to http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/islamicfiction

Full text of the petition:

Islamic Fiction in the English language – in all genres, but especially contemporary fiction – is needed and wanted by Muslim parents/teachers and readers, however Muslim publishers have rarely printed works of fiction. The vast majority of Muslim retailers, distributors, and wholesalers do not consider these published books for purchase and/or listing. We believe that this reflects ignorance about the importance and benefits of fiction in general, and Islamic fiction in particular. Muslim fiction is vital to our community for a variety of reasons:

Muslim children, youth, and adults want to read fiction. Fiction touches people’s hearts and emotions in a way that non-fiction and even true-life stories cannot. It moves us, it captures our imaginations, and affirms our understanding of the world and of ourselves. It allows us to work through issues in our lives without actually having to experience the ramifications ourselves. It allows us to explore other cultures from the safety of our homes. It makes us laugh, cry, quake in our shoes, or soar on the heights of joy, providing an emotional outlet and relieving tension and stress. This is why story-telling is a part of every culture. Currently Muslims in the West have no choice but to read books written by non-Muslims, books that often have morals and content incompatible with Islamic teachings. Even the books that are being published by Muslims in the mainstream press are at best questionable, and at worst downright haram (forbidden Islamically). We need a Muslim, Islamic alternative to this. Unfortunately, the mainstream presses are not interested in providing the kinds of books we want and need; it will have to come from within our community.

Every state requires that children read fiction as a part of their school curriculum. Most of the books Muslim children and teachers have to choose for this required reading are filled with questionable characters, children acting and believing in ways contrary to Islam, emphasizing Christian holidays and romantic relationships. Often the main characters commit acts which are haram in Islam. Very few of these books have Muslim characters, but when they do, they are usually “the bad guys” – backwards, dirty, scary, and certainly not spiritual. Children are impacted greatly by the things they read; they want to be like the “cool” characters, dress they way they dress, act the way they act, and think the way they think. This effect is magnified when nearly every book presents the same picture of normalcy. We need Islamically sound books that show Muslim kids living in today’s world trying to be good Muslims. And we need lots of them. We need books appropriate for kindergarteners and first graders, but also for fifth and sixth graders, for junior and senior high students.

Study after study has shown that young people and adults who read fiction do better in life. Reading, and writing fiction, improves grammar skills that are vital in the workplace and increases the vocabulary. It also strengthens creativity and self-expression, helping to develop persuasive speaking skills. Not only that, important tests like the SATs and GREs require students to read, analyze and write about fiction selections. If we want our children to be competitive in the business world, we should be encouraging our children to read fiction, and providing them with quality books.

Fiction can be a powerful tool for dawah (outreach). As mentioned above, fiction has a unique capability to touch people’s emotions and bend their hearts. Even though the stories are not “real,” fiction deals with real issues, real emotions, and the reader relates to the characters like friends or family members. As such, it can have a much greater impact on a person’s feelings, thoughts, and beliefs than non-fiction. It can inspire them to question their values and their habits, leading to positive change, both for Muslims and non-Muslims. The immense and ever growing Christian fiction industry should serve as an example to the Muslim book industry. Fiction has the potential to alter lives.

For these reasons, the Islamic Writers Alliance and the undersigned individuals call on Muslim publishers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to publish, stock, and sell English-language Islamic fiction.

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