4 styles of non-fiction writing and how to combine them

When it comes to non-fiction - whether it's a book, news article, or essay - most authors follow one style of writing. But the best non-fiction combines multiple styles. What are these styles of non-fiction I'm talking about? There are generally four: expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive.

I'm going to show you how using them together makes for a much better reader experience than sticking to just one. But first, I'll explain the characteristics and uses of each and provide examples of them. Then I'll show you how you can combine them.

The expository style

Expository writing is focused on facts and statistics. It's often used in how-to books, manuals, scientific journals, and news articles. In those kinds of content, be cautious about bringing in other styles, as often their purpose is to establish expertise and communicate important information in a matter-of-fact way. Personal opinion that seeks to influence the reader may be frowned upon or irrelevant. That's why the first person is never used in this style of writing.

That being said, if your goal is to engage and persuade your audience or give weight to an issue's importance, using facts and statistics is a great idea. But communicating them in the expository style is less likely to make an impact. 

Characteristics of the expository style

• Purely factual
• Establishes expertise
• Avoids personal opinion or emotion

Expository style example

More than 1 million Americans will suffer from a heart attack this year, and about 150,000 of them will die from it, according to the American Heart Association. Yet more than half of the people who have a heart attack don't recognize its symptoms.

The descriptive style

Descriptive writing seeks to engage the senses and emotions of the reader. Common examples are novels, poetry, travel books, and song lyrics. While it isn't so commonly used in articles, helping your readers feel that they're experiencing a problem or moment for themselves by appealing to senses and emotions can hook your audience. And what writer doesn't want that?

Characteristics of the descriptive style

• Uses vivid imagery
• Employs descriptive language
• Appeals to emotion

Descriptive style example

John Wells realizes he should have known better. The stabbing pain in the center of his back whenever he walked up or down stairs. The indigestion. The feeling that two fingers were squeezing the life out of his heart with every beat.

 

The narrative style

The goal of narrative writing is story-telling, but that's not to say it's only usable in fiction. It can be very effective in problem-solving non-fiction. Narrative writing creates an emotional connection with your readers by making them become invested in relatable characters. In non-fiction, the characters are real people - they could be you and your clients (think success stories, for example).

Characteristics of the narrative style

• Offers insights into the thoughts and feelings of characters or real people
• Takes the reader on a journey
• Makes the audience curious about the outcome of an event or problem

Narrative style example

It was summer 2016. John Wells had just turned 57. It was hot and muggy outside. And every day, the pain in his back intensified whenever he climbed the stairs - until Saturday, Aug. 27, when his cousins came by...

The persuasive style

The purpose of this style is not merely to inform and educate but to convince the audience to take action. It's commonly used in opinion pieces, newspaper editorials, copywriting, and advertising.

Persuasive writing usually falls short when the writer doesn't connect with the audience, fails to demonstrate expertise and credibility, or doesn't appeal to the reader on an emotional level. That's why combining other styles makes for the best persuasive content.

Characteristics of the persuasive style

• Uses emotive words
• Usually expresses a sense of urgency
• Often makes use of rhetorical questions

Persuasive style example

If you experience the symptoms John Wells described, don't shrug them off. Call for help immediately.

Putting it all together

Now, let's combine the examples of all four styles we saw above into one concise article as a final example:

John Wells realizes he should have known better. The stabbing pain in the center of his back whenever he walked up or down stairs. The indigestion. The feeling that two fingers were squeezing the life out of his heart with every beat.

Wells is among the 1 million-plus Americans likely to suffer from a heart attack this year. About 150,000 of them will die from it, according to the American Heart Association. Yet more than half of the people who have a heart attack don't recognize its symptoms. John was one of those people.

It was summer 2016. John had just turned 57. It was hot and muggy outside. And every day, the pain in his back intensified whenever he climbed the stairs - until Saturday, Aug. 27, when his cousins came by. They spent the day together and then had dinner. "I started feeling a little funny before eating," Wells recalls — sweaty without sweating, feverish without a fever. Then, during the meal, he felt some indigestion. Still, he wasn't concerned and retired to the couch to chat with his cousin. "The pain was starting to build," he says. His heart no longer felt like it was being squeezed — now it was being crushed. "It traveled to my shoulder and arms and radiated to my jaw." But still, he did nothing, as he didn't want to appear ill to his family.

After Wells realized what was happening that summer night, he asked his wife to dial 911. Thankfully, the paramedics arrived just in time. But if he had delayed much longer, it might have been a very different story.

So, if you experience the symptoms John Wells described, don't shrug them off. Call for help immediately.

As you can see, putting all four styles together allows you to draw on the strengths of each of them for a more interesting and compelling read. Combining facts with story-telling, descriptive writing, and a narrative makes for more persuasive content.

So, next time you're writing an article, consider using multiple styles to engage, captivate, and convince your audience.