Writing non-fiction requires just as much detailed work and finesse as writing fiction. It takes a level of patience as well as some very serious research. All biographies, autobiographies, memoirs or any other personal stories need some form of research as well. However, when you decide to write about a topic that interests you but you are not exactly familiar with, it is highly important that you check your facts and do some research.

Readers of non-fiction can be highly finicky when it comes to fact-checking, as well they should be. No one wants to pick up a book that is supposed to be true and accurate only to find out later that it wasn’t. No student wants to get a bad grade on their research papers because they picked up a poorly written non-fiction book. It not only makes the student unhappy but it discredits the writer as well and, let’s face it, our readers are what makes our writing so important. If not for the avid reader, we would have no reason to write anything, especially in this new digital age.

Poorly written non-fiction can deter readers from picking up any more books by the same author but can have quite the opposite effect if the author was meticulous in their own research. That being said, make sure to check every angle when writing about non-fiction subjects so that every idea is covered.

Doing this kind of heavy research can take a very long time, it can take days or weeks and sometimes even several years to get everything you need to complete the manuscript. The overall result is what counts here and your readers will be highly grateful for the effort you put forward.

It is also highly recommended that the author looks into finding the correct images that go with the subject they are researching. Most readers do like to have some sort of visual reference, especially when the subject has a lot of in-depth information.

Photographs, artwork, and graphs come in very handy for the visual portion and can be found in several places from libraries to websites. If you choose to use anything for visual reference that you didn’t create for yourself, make sure you have the correct permissions to use them.

Either way, whether your work is illustrated or not, make sure you check your facts. You can go to the library to research the subject, look in old newspapers, browse libraries on the internet, use encyclopedias and of course you can also get input from other people who know about the subject you are writing about.

Don’t forget to credit anyone who helps you write and leave an acknowledgment in your finished book. This includes credit for any photos, graphs or images you use. Other than the obvious fact that not crediting your sources can constitute copyright infringement, it can also be a discredit to the author for taking all of the credit when they didn’t do everything themselves.

Besides, if you choose to write anything that is non-fiction, shouldn’t it be as accurate as possible right down to the credits given to those who helped make your manuscript the finished product it is? Remember to always maintain accuracy by checking and double-checking your work. Take notes, do highly meticulous research and give credit where it is due.