# How to correctly write nonfiction

These are the necessary aspects that work solely for writing effective nonfiction.

All great messages contain a WHAT and a WHY:

- WHAT communicates the information and events you want to share.
  - Event details, date, time, location
  - Educational information, data, facts
- WHY communicates the benefits from knowing the information or the cause for the WHAT.
  - It gives the [reason](purpose.md) you're writing at all.
  - It answers the "call to action" the reader must take.
- The rest spins off from these two:
  - WHO is the character (or reader) that does WHAT.
  - WHERE is the setting for WHAT.
  - WHEN is the chronology of WHAT.
  - HOW is the detailed set of processes to explain the WHAT and WHY.

Transition correctly with "signal words":

- Descriptive language indicates an expansion of an idea (for example, in particular, to illustrate, most important, in addition).
- Sequence language gives an indication of multiple elements (when, first, next, before, third, following).
- Comparison gives a demarcation between two things (like, likewise, unlike, although, in contrast).
- Cause-and-effect indicates a sequence (because of, for this reason, may be caused by, since, therefore).

When using examples and anecdotes, carefully consider your quantity:

- 1 demonstrates raw power.
- 2 is useful to compare or contrast.
- 3 gives a sense of completeness, fullness, or wholeness.
- 4 or more can list, inventory, compile, and expand.
- In reality, 3 gives a stronger sense of completeness than 4.

Focus on the positive form of the idea:

- Say "do" instead of "don't".
- What something "isn't" is less informative than what something "is".