Having trouble sparking meaningful discussion in your non-fiction writing community? Fact or Fiction posts are a proven way to ignite curiosity and get members talking. Use these ready-made templates to make engagement effortless and fun.
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Fact or Fiction prompts tap into our innate curiosity and love for discovery. When community members are challenged to separate truth from myth, it encourages critical thinking and participation. This interactive content lowers the barrier to entry, making it easy for everyone to join in, regardless of expertise.
Such posts also foster learning and debate, which are vital for non-fiction writers seeking to sharpen their research and analytical skills. By inviting members to question what they know, you create a dynamic environment where knowledge is both shared and tested, strengthening community bonds.
Fact or Fiction: The first printed book was the Gutenberg Bible. What do you think?
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The first printed book was the Gutenberg Bible. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Ernest Hemingway wrote all his novels standing up.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Ernest Hemingway wrote all his novels standing up."
Fact or Fiction: The Oxford English Dictionary took over 50 years to compile.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Oxford English Dictionary took over 50 years to compile. Vote below!"
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction can include made-up stories if labeled as creative nonfiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction can include made-up stories if labeled as creative nonfiction. Discuss!"
Fact or Fiction: The word autobiography was first used in the 19th century.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The word autobiography was first used in the 19th century."
Fact or Fiction: Memoirs and autobiographies are the same thing.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Memoirs and autobiographies are the same thing. Share your thoughts!"
Fact or Fiction: The term nonfiction appeared in print before the term fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The term nonfiction appeared in print before the term fiction."
Fact or Fiction: Bestselling nonfiction books always have a subtitle.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Bestselling nonfiction books always have a subtitle. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Biographies should never include the author's opinion.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Biographies should never include the author's opinion. Discuss!"
Fact or Fiction: Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is considered the first true crime novel.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is considered the first true crime novel."
Fact or Fiction: All non-fiction must be completely objective.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All non-fiction must be completely objective. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: The Diary of Anne Frank was originally published under a pseudonym.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Diary of Anne Frank was originally published under a pseudonym."
Fact or Fiction: The Pulitzer Prize includes a category for nonfiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Pulitzer Prize includes a category for nonfiction. Guess below!"
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writing was valued less than fiction in the Victorian era.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writing was valued less than fiction in the Victorian era. Share your view!"
Fact or Fiction: The Chicago Manual of Style is only for fiction writers.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Chicago Manual of Style is only for fiction writers."
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction books can use dialogue if based on real events.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction books can use dialogue if based on real events. Discuss!"
Fact or Fiction: The Guinness World Records book started as a bar argument.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Guinness World Records book started as a bar argument. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Ghostwriting is used more in nonfiction than in fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Ghostwriting is used more in nonfiction than in fiction."
Fact or Fiction: All memoirs are written in the first person.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All memoirs are written in the first person. Vote now!"
Fact or Fiction: The phrase truth is stranger than fiction was first used by Mark Twain.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The phrase truth is stranger than fiction was first used by Mark Twain."
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction books outsell fiction books every year.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction books outsell fiction books every year. Guess!"
Fact or Fiction: A biography must always be authorized by its subject.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: A biography must always be authorized by its subject. Share your thoughts!"
Fact or Fiction: The longest non-fiction book ever published is over 30,000 pages.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The longest non-fiction book ever published is over 30,000 pages."
Fact or Fiction: Travel writing is considered a form of non-fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Travel writing is considered a form of non-fiction. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: Self-help books are the most popular nonfiction genre.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Self-help books are the most popular nonfiction genre."
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writers never use literary devices.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writers never use literary devices. Discuss!"
Fact or Fiction: The Library of Congress holds more non-fiction than fiction books.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Library of Congress holds more non-fiction than fiction books. Guess below!"
Fact or Fiction: The Nobel Prize in Literature can be awarded for non-fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The Nobel Prize in Literature can be awarded for non-fiction."
Fact or Fiction: All non-fiction writing must include citations.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All non-fiction writing must include citations. Share your view!"
Fact or Fiction: Oral histories are a recognized form of non-fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Oral histories are a recognized form of non-fiction. Vote below!"
Fact or Fiction: The phrase creative nonfiction was popularized in the 1960s.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The phrase creative nonfiction was popularized in the 1960s."
Fact or Fiction: It is possible for two non-fiction writers to give opposite accounts of the same event.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: It is possible for two non-fiction writers to give opposite accounts of the same event. Discuss!"
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction books are never adapted into movies.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction books are never adapted into movies. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: The first known memoir dates back to ancient times.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The first known memoir dates back to ancient times."
Fact or Fiction: All essays are considered non-fiction.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All essays are considered non-fiction. Vote now!"
Fact or Fiction: The phrase fact or fiction was coined in the 20th century.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The phrase fact or fiction was coined in the 20th century."
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writing cannot use metaphor or simile.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writing cannot use metaphor or simile. What do you think?"
Fact or Fiction: The shortest published non-fiction book is just 26 words long.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The shortest published non-fiction book is just 26 words long."
Fact or Fiction: All non-fiction must be written in the third person.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: All non-fiction must be written in the third person. Share your thoughts!"
Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writers are not allowed to change the order of events for clarity.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction writers are not allowed to change the order of events for clarity. Discuss!"
Fact or Fiction: The term narrative nonfiction is less than 50 years old.
💡 Example: "Fact or Fiction: The term narrative nonfiction is less than 50 years old."
To use these templates, simply pick a prompt and post it to your community along with clear instructions. Encourage members to state whether they think the statement is fact or fiction, and share their reasoning. After some discussion, reveal the answer and, if possible, provide a credible source for validation. Rotate topics to keep content fresh and relevant to your members' interests.
These templates work well on all platforms. For forums or Facebook Groups, use polls or threaded replies for guesses. On chat apps, pin the prompt and reveal the answer after discussion. For newsletters or email-based communities, use the prompt as a hook and follow up with the answer in the next issue.
Fact or Fiction posts are an effective way to spark discussion about research best practices, such as the importance of primary vs. secondary sources or the reliability of oral histories. You can use templates to present statements like 'Fact or Fiction: Wikipedia is a reliable primary source for non-fiction books' and encourage members to weigh in, leading to deeper conversations about research integrity.
Consider prompts such as 'Fact or Fiction: Paraphrasing information without a citation is acceptable in non-fiction writing' to engage your community in best practices regarding plagiarism. These discussions can help clarify the nuances between proper citation, fair use, and original analysis, all of which are crucial topics in non-fiction.
Absolutely. Memoir writers might respond to statements about memory accuracy or ethical considerations in portraying real people, while biography writers may be more interested in the use of archival evidence or source triangulation. Customizing posts to address genre-specific dilemmas increases relevance and engagement.
Encourage respectful discourse by reminding members to cite reputable sources and focus on evidence-based arguments. As a community manager, you can moderate discussions by providing additional context, referencing style guides, or inviting subject matter experts to weigh in when topics are particularly contentious.
Yes! Use statements like 'Fact or Fiction: Non-fiction book proposals don't need sample chapters' to invite experienced authors or editors to share their insights. This helps demystify the publication process, clarifies industry standards, and supports emerging writers navigating submissions.
Create prompts around real-world scenarios, such as 'Fact or Fiction: It's acceptable to change minor details in a subject’s quote for clarity.' These posts encourage discussion about the boundaries of editing interviews, consent, and maintaining journalistic integrity, helping community members learn responsible interviewing practices.
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