by Jackie Washington

 

After several years deep in nonfiction – editing books on stress, depression and other serious (but important) topics – I decided to take on fiction for a change of pace. Surely it would be lighter, freer, maybe even fun.

Spoiler: it was, but not in the way I expected.

My first shock? No style manual.

No APA Guidelines. No rulebook to cling to when things got uncertain. Suddenly, there were choices – so many choices. How long should this sentence be? Can that comma stay? And don’t even get me started on dialogue!

Switching from nonfiction to fiction wasn’t just about tackling new material – it was about changing how my brain worked. Here’s what I learned along the way, and what to keep in mind if you ever find yourself jumping between the two.

1. The Mindset Switch

Coming from nonfiction, I was used to order and logic – where every comma, citation and bulleted list was governed by rules, and style manuals were your safety net. There’s comfort in that clarity, especially when the subject matter is complex or needs to be handled with care.

Then I switched to fiction – and that definitely required some rewiring in the way I was thinking. It wasn’t just about how the words worked, but how they felt to the reader. Fiction needed more space, more rhythm, more trust in the voice. I had to learn to let things breathe – to stop agonising over every comma and focus instead on the reader’s experience.

Tip: Take a pause between projects to reset your thinking – it helps you tune into what each style really needs.

2. Purpose – Clarity vs Emotion

In nonfiction, editing is all about clarity. You’re checking that the structure makes sense, the facts are accurate, and the message comes through cleanly. Every sentence needs to support the purpose – whether it’s to inform, persuade or explain – and there’s little room for ambiguity.

Fiction, on the other hand, asks you to tune into emotion. The goal isn’t just to make sense, but to make readers feel something. Editing fiction means listening for rhythm, tone and pacing – making sure the story flows, the voice feels authentic, and the emotional beats land where they should.

Tip: Ask yourself what the writing is trying to do. If it’s delivering facts, clarity comes first. If it’s telling a story, focus on feeling and flow.

3. Style – Rules vs Rhythm

Nonfiction has its safety net: style manuals, reference lists and agreed conventions. Following APA or the Australian Government Style Manual means you always know where you stand. Sentences are clean, punctuation knows its place, and nothing surprises you.

Fiction doesn’t work like that. It’s gloriously unpredictable – fragmented sentences, stylistic quirks, and a narrative voice that bends rules to match tone and emotion. Thankfully, dialogue has rules, even if writers occasionally stretch them for effect!

Tip: Learn the rules so you can bend them with confidence. Clarity first – then creativity.

4. Accuracy vs Consistency

Nonfiction demands accuracy. A wrong fact, date or definition can instantly undo your credibility. Every statistic, reference, and quote needs to be checked and verified.

Fiction, meanwhile, lives on consistency. Your world can be entirely imaginary – dragons, portals, parallel dimensions – but it still has to follow its own logic. If a character’s eyes change colour halfway through the book, readers will notice.

Tip: Keep a simple style sheet or series bible. Your future self (and your editor) will thank you.

Final Thoughts

Nonfiction helps get important messages across to people who need them. At its best, it makes complex ideas clear and accessible – especially when the topic is serious or sensitive.

Fiction, on the other hand, invites readers into a story they want to keep reading. It’s a different kind of challenge – but one that rewards emotional depth, rhythm and voice.

No matter which one you’re working on, they both rely on consistency. Whether it’s your use of the controversial Oxford comma, the dilemma between en dashes or em dashes, or a particular stylistic choice, stick with it. Consistency builds trust – and trust keeps readers engaged.

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