Writing fiction and nonfiction is the same in most novels. Most fictional stories have nonfiction blended within, although the names or locations may have changed. Adding nonfiction to fiction also adds a layer of credibility and authenticity to the story.
Do we, as writers, use fiction and non-fictional blends for better storytelling to sell more books? Yes, if your name is Tom Clancy or Danielle Steele!
Ultimately, the truth behind every novel is a deliberate balance between fiction and nonfiction. When I wrote Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon in 2019, many components of the story were nonfiction: the discovery of the Catholics, purchasing a water company in Vietnam and witnessing children dying from bike crashes.
Where did the non-fiction meet the fiction?
During my trip to Vietnam in 2012, the hotel I stayed at hired a translator named Phuong. I later dedicated the book to her. She helped me find many things inside Saigon that I wanted to see as a child. I will forever appreciate your kindness and patience during our walking tours of Saigon. Phuong helped run the water company for two years until I sold it after a massive storm.
Phuong and I remain close friends to this day. However, we didn’t have a Jack and Linh moment. That part was fictional.
Fiction.
Even though their marriages are heading in the wrong direction, Jack and Linh decide to see each other in person. Jack, married to Silvia, travels to Vietnam to meet Linh, who is still married to Vo.
Jack and Linh didn’t want to live their lives with regret. Truth be told, they both had the same desire in their hearts to meet in person and see if what they felt was true. Yet, by meeting in person and discovering the truth of their feelings, they ultimately realized they would always have a river between them (Book Cover). No matter how many bridges existed, Jack and Linh still needed to retreat to their side of the river.
Non-Fiction.
Some older people who have Forever Our Sunrise prefer to skip the love scenes; however, many of them appreciate the deep storyline behind the two lovers' choice to meet over a lifetime of regret.
The feeling of regret plays strongly through the Forever Our Sunrise story. In real life, everyone has a regretful moment: either not taking a job, traveling to a far-off place, or not telling someone they love them.
Welcome to the fictional world of Forest Adams.
Another beautiful element of creative writing, both fiction and nonfiction, is the choice of characters! While writing Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon, I wanted to add a mentor for the main character. The character had to be one that Jack could relate to and have a similar background.
Forest's mentorship of Jack helped create a very positive and honest plot in the Forever Our Sunrise story.
Forest, a CIA Station Chief in Saigon and a former U.S. Marine during the Vietnam War, later secretly married the beautiful hotel general manager Bui Nguyen. Forest became Jack’s guardian and mentor throughout Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon and later in the sequel, Shores of Okinawa.
Forest encourages Jack to evaluate his life and decide about his marriage to Silvia. Forest and the Catholic priest encourage Jack to live a more authentic life.
How To Discover the Fiction and Not Fiction?
Fictional elements blended into a nonfiction plot give us the freedom to write what we want, even though, in real life, things don’t always play out that way. Interpreting the blend between fiction and non-fictional comes down to the reader.
Having the reader develop their interpretation is one of the greatest blessings of creative writing using this style!
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Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - November 2024. Downolad the full magazine at:
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