Got an angle for a non-fiction story? If so, you’ve probably already thought about writing a book. Why not, right? Non-fiction novels are on an uptick and by 2026 non-fiction book sales are expected to reach $16 billion globally.

So what is non-fiction?

Non-fiction is all about real life. Non-fiction is based on a true story and with true crime stories skyrocketing in the print, film, and docuseries markets, the market is wide open. The public can’t get enough of these stories and with so many things happening in the world, there is no lack of subject matter.

Non-fiction is not just about true crime, though. It also covers things like nature, animals, the American diet, self-help, history, and more. The sky’s the limit when it comes to putting together these types of stories. Since you’re writing about factual events or ideas, there is more research involved than there is in fiction. It’s imperative to make sure to get your facts straight if you are going to put a real story into print.

The first order of business is to learn as much as you can about the subject matter.

Turn over every stone, find the tidbits that are the least known and the most interesting, and tie it all together into a cohesive story. Ask yourself why you’re drawn to the subject and what about it grabs you. Will it have mass appeal or is it more of a niche market?

Niche markets can be a great way to differentiate yourself from other authors as long as there is enough material in that niche to write on. It’s always a good idea to test your market. Social media is a great place to start. Look for groups or pages dedicated to your subject or post about it and see what type of reaction you get. You may even be able to tweak your idea based on the feedback that you receive.

Non-fiction & true crime.

If you’re going the true crime route, make sure the topic isn’t oversaturated, unless you can come up with a different angle that no one else has found. A great example of oversaturation is the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. There are already documentaries, a docuseries, and a book about the young woman who was just released from prison for killing her Munchhausen-afflicted mother. You could jump on the bandwagon and write something about her or you could find a new angle to the story. This is just an example, but there are many stories like this one that have a huge following, such as politics. Politics are all over the media as elections approach, and there is no shortage of subjects, ranging from the loud and outrageous to the ambitious but obscure. Many of our clients want to describe how a religious revelation impacted their lives.

A word of advice: If your true story will be using actual names, businesses or venues, it would be a very good idea to speak with a lawyer early on. While the truth is usually an excellent defense, people can and do sue others over literally nothing. And defense lawyers are expensive.