Need a fresh way to spark conversations and bust writing myths in your fiction writing community? Fact or Fiction posts ignite curiosity and draw in writers at every level, making your group more lively and interactive. Discover how these ready-to-use templates can get your members guessing, discussing, and connecting instantly.
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Fact or Fiction content taps into our natural curiosity and love for challenging assumptions. By presenting statements that blur the line between myth and reality, you invite members to engage intellectually and emotionally. This creates an irresistible urge to respond, guess, or debate, which drives higher participation.
For fiction writers, this format is especially powerful. It not only entertains but also educates, prompting members to reflect on their craft, reconsider common beliefs, and share industry knowledge. The interactive element encourages even quieter members to join in, making the community more inclusive and dynamic.
Fact or Fiction: You must always show, never tell, in good fiction writing.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You must always show, never tell, in good fiction writing. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Stephen King wrote Carrie on a typewriter he found in the trash.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Stephen King wrote Carrie on a typewriter he found in the trash. Guess below!"
Fact or Fiction: The average novel is over 100,000 words long.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The average novel is over 100,000 words long. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: All good stories must follow the three-act structure.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All good stories must follow the three-act structure. Share your thoughts!"
Fact or Fiction: J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before Harry Potter was published.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before Harry Potter was published. True or false?"
Fact or Fiction: You cannot use adverbs in modern fiction writing.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You cannot use adverbs in modern fiction writing. Agree or disagree?"
Fact or Fiction: Ernest Hemingway wrote his stories standing up.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Ernest Hemingway wrote his stories standing up. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: First-person narration is less popular than third-person.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: First-person narration is less popular than third-person. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: The protagonist must always be the hero of your story.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The protagonist must always be the hero of your story. Share your view!"
Fact or Fiction: Most debut novels never sell more than 500 copies.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Most debut novels never sell more than 500 copies. What do you believe?"
Fact or Fiction: You must outline your story before you begin writing.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You must outline your story before you begin writing. Agree or disagree?"
Fact or Fiction: All bestselling authors write every day.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All bestselling authors write every day."
Fact or Fiction: The word 'said' should be avoided as a dialogue tag.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The word 'said' should be avoided as a dialogue tag. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: Famous author Agatha Christie once disappeared for 11 days.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Famous author Agatha Christie once disappeared for 11 days. What is your guess?"
Fact or Fiction: You should never start a story with dialogue.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You should never start a story with dialogue. Do you agree?"
Fact or Fiction: The term 'plot device' refers only to twists at the end.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The term 'plot device' refers only to twists at the end."
Fact or Fiction: Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Clemens.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Clemens. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: Setting is less important than character development.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Setting is less important than character development. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: The 'hero's journey' applies to every successful story.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The 'hero's journey' applies to every successful story. Agree or disagree?"
Fact or Fiction: The longest novel ever written is over 1 million words.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The longest novel ever written is over 1 million words. What is your guess?"
Fact or Fiction: You should avoid using prologues in modern novels.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You should avoid using prologues in modern novels. True or false?"
Fact or Fiction: All fantasy stories must include magic.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All fantasy stories must include magic. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month."
Fact or Fiction: You must write in chronological order for clarity.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You must write in chronological order for clarity. Agree or disagree?"
Fact or Fiction: World-building only matters in science fiction and fantasy.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: World-building only matters in science fiction and fantasy. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: Writers should never use cliches in their stories.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Writers should never use cliches in their stories. What is your view?"
Fact or Fiction: The first draft is always the hardest part of writing.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The first draft is always the hardest part of writing. Share your thoughts!"
Fact or Fiction: Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was a teenager.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was a teenager. True or false?"
Fact or Fiction: Dialogue should always sound exactly like real speech.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Dialogue should always sound exactly like real speech. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: You cannot publish a novel without an agent.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You cannot publish a novel without an agent. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: The phrase 'kill your darlings' means deleting favorite characters.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The phrase 'kill your darlings' means deleting favorite characters."
Fact or Fiction: Multicultural characters are a new trend in fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Multicultural characters are a new trend in fiction. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Ernest Hemingway's shortest story is just six words long.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Ernest Hemingway's shortest story is just six words long. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: All stories need a villain to be compelling.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All stories need a villain to be compelling. What is your opinion?"
Fact or Fiction: The climax should always be in the last chapter.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The climax should always be in the last chapter."
Fact or Fiction: The term 'pantsing' means writing without an outline.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The term 'pantsing' means writing without an outline."
Fact or Fiction: Most classic novels were self-published.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Most classic novels were self-published. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: You should never edit while writing your first draft.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: You should never edit while writing your first draft. Do you agree?"
Fact or Fiction: All fiction genres require a love story subplot.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All fiction genres require a love story subplot. Fact or fiction?"
Fact or Fiction: The first sentence of your novel determines its success.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The first sentence of your novel determines its success. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Charles Dickens invented the cliffhanger.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Charles Dickens invented the cliffhanger. True or false?"
Pick a template from the list and tailor it to your community's interests or recent topics. Post it as a standalone thread or as part of a weekly challenge. Encourage members to comment with their guesses before revealing the answer. You can use polls, comment threads, or story features depending on your platform. After discussion, provide the correct answer and a brief explanation, ideally with a credible source. Rotate topics to keep the content fresh and relevant.
These Fact or Fiction templates work across all platforms. For forums and Facebook groups, use bold or emoji markers to highlight the question. On Discord or Slack, try pinning the post for visibility or using threads for deeper discussion. For Instagram or TikTok, use Story polls or video clips to reveal answers. Adjust formatting to fit the platform's strengths and your community's habits.
You can create Fact or Fiction posts centered around well-known writing adages and misconceptions. For example, present statements like 'You must never use adverbs' and let your community vote Fact or Fiction, then provide follow-up discussion and expert insights. This encourages nuanced conversation and helps writers challenge or validate industry norms.
Customize your templates by referencing genre conventions or tropes. For instance, in a fantasy group, use statements like 'Dragons are overused in modern fantasy' or in mystery, 'The detective must always solve the crime.' This sparks genre-relevant debates and draws on members' specialized knowledge.
Frame your Fact or Fiction posts to invite respectful discussion rather than definitive judgments. For example, pose: 'AI can never write compelling characters – Fact or Fiction?' and add context to promote nuanced responses. Set community guidelines for civil debate and consider follow-ups with expert opinions to balance perspectives.
Absolutely. Construct statements such as 'You need a finished manuscript before querying agents' or 'You automatically own copyright to your stories once written.' These prompt members to test their publishing knowledge, clear up misconceptions, and learn industry best practices together.
Phrase Fact or Fiction prompts in a non-intimidating way, such as 'Outlining always improves story structure – Fact or Fiction?' Emphasize that all experience levels are welcome and there are no wrong answers. Consider anonymous polls or options to submit answers privately to reduce performance anxiety.
Feature statements about classic tropes, like 'The chosen one trope is outdated' or 'Every story needs a twist ending.' Invite discussions on whether these are overused or still effective, and encourage members to share examples from their own writing or well-known books, fostering both learning and engagement.
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