‘Your reader has to feel the intensity of what you feel about an issue. Whatever issue it is, however you want to make the world better.’
– Nick Acheson, conservationist and writer the award-winning non-fiction book The Meaning of Geese.
Fact, meet story.
Some of the most extraordinary tales are found in the real world around us.
Creative Non-Fiction: An Introduction (12-week course)
Ready to master the techniques of factual creative writing?
Explore various creative non-fiction forms while gaining essential tools to develop your writing. Receive personalised feedback to confidently convey information and structure compelling narratives.
Led by Keiron Pim, writer of Endless Flight: the Life of Joseph Roth and Jumpin’ Jack Flash: David Litvinoff and the Rock’n’Roll Underworld.
Starts Monday 16 February 2026
Hear from the experts, from published authors to industry professionals:
Interviewing subjects for non-fiction: a beginner’s checklist
From filtering through personal stories about an important figure to getting the gritty facts from a potentially taciturn expert, interviewing is a challenging skill that needs the right preparation.
15 August 2025
Writing narrative non-fiction with Dan Richards & Edward Parnell
In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, writers and NCW Academy tutors Dan Richards and Edward Parnell discuss the journey of writing narrative non-fiction.
17 June 2024
Writing creative non-fiction with Sonia Faleiro
Sonia Faleiro joins us to discuss The Good Girls: An Ordinary Killing, her new narrative non-fiction book which examines the killing of two teenage girls in India in 2014. Content warnings apply.
11 March 2021
The Art of Noticing: Nature Writing (eight-week course)
Ready to start writing about the natural world?
Explore writing about nature and the environment, and receive personalised feedback to confidently map rich worlds in your work.
Whether you’ve already started writing and need guidance to move forward, or simply have an idea you’d like to develop, this course will provide you with the essential tools to progress confidently.
Led by Matt Gaw, writer of The Pull of the River: A Journey into the Wild and Watery Heart of Britain, Under the Stars: A Journey into Light and In All Weathers.
Starts Monday 23 March 2026
Five non-fiction writing tips for beginners
Try out this step-by-step process for writing non-fiction, biography or memoir from Polish journalist and blogger Marcin Wilk.
19 February 2021
Podcast: From Fact to Fiction
This episode of the podcast features crime writers Duncan Campbell, Jane Corry and Kate Rhodes as they discuss their research process and where fact meets fiction.
29 May 2017
17 tips for writing creative non-fiction
Writers and editors give their advice on writing non-fiction and tackling its challenges, including research, finding the story and developing an ‘editor’s eye’.
30 July 2022
‘I follow the compass of my interests’
‘Bit by bit, this research began to shape what I read and saw and listened to.’
Jenny Offill’s latest book, Weather, is described by the Guardian as ‘a dazzling response to climate crisis and political anxiety’ and ‘wit for the end times’ – and that was before the coronavirus changed all of our lives. In this especially timely feature, Jenny reveals some of the inspiration behind the creation of Weather.
What’s on — upcoming events, workshops & courses
Develop your research and writing skills in your specialist subject, gain insights from industry experts, and refine your interviewing technique through our upcoming events and practical courses.
How to Write True Crime
How do you write true crime in an informative, compelling and sensitive way?
Learn the tools and techniques needed to write a compelling true crime novel, article, or script for a podcast or documentary.
Perfect for writing non-fiction true crime and building the understanding of what makes great crime fiction.
Self-paced online course, £45
The devil is in the details
Research is a cornerstone of non-fiction writing and an absolute must for almost every subject. Learn how to find engaging facts and how to weave them into a rich narrative.
Writing narrative non-fiction with Kate Summerscale
Kate Summerscale joins the podcast to discuss the origins of her book, The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story, her approach to research and how the book sets poltergeists with the rise of Hitler and looming war.
21 October 2020
Writing ‘Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country’
In this article, writer and NCW Academy tutor Edward Parnell shares his experience writing his mixed-genre book ‘Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country’.
29 February 2024
From writing craft to witchcraft with Kirsty Logan
Award-winning novelist, Kirsty Logan, joins us on the podcast to discuss writing witchcraft, her books, poems and to discuss identity, revenge and research beyond the internet
3 January 2023
Research for writing with Megan Bradbury
Writer and NCW tutor, Megan Bradbury, describes how she went to New York to research the geniuses who lived there, to bring her novel to life. She also talks about working with Professor Pete Wilde on NCW’s Translating Science project.
Megan explains how different types of research can become a regular part of your writing routine as well as helping to inspire stories and characters, while making worlds feel rich and authentic. She describes some of the more immersive and unusual methods that help her get inspired, build characters and develop the creative process. Supported by Arts Council England.
Building a solid structure
Crafting any kind of creative writing requires a lot of thought around structure and flow. Learn how to build a compelling, factual narrative from our experts.
Structuring non-fiction with Nick Acheson
In this podcast, NCW Programme Officer Ellie is joined by author and presenter Nick Acheson to discuss structuring non-fiction, and how to create rhythm with your writing.
23 September 2024
Jenn Ashworth on writing fiction & non-fiction
Jenn Ashworth is on the podcast this week to discuss her writing across fiction and non-fiction, taking in projects Ghosted: A Love Story and Notes Made While Falling. It’s a detailed, honest conversation about Jenn’s writing life.
8 October 2021
Structuring a non-fiction book with Ed Parnell
Edward Parnell is on the pod to talk about his first non-fiction book, Ghostland. He discusses his obsession with structure, how to pitch a non-fiction book and how he switched from fiction to non-fiction.
19 December 2019
Writing about music with Aniefiok Ekpoudom
In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, cultural writer and editor Josh Baines is joined by writer and storyteller Aniefiok Ekpoudom, author of Where We Come From: Rap Home and Hope in Modern Britain, to discuss writing about the music industry.
The many facets
There are many types of writing under this broad umbrella, including true crime, memoir and life writing, nature writing and more. Hear from some of these genres’ leading writers.
Researching true crime with Stephanie Scott
Crime novelist Stephanie Scott gives her tips for researching difficult subjects, finding agents and working through a large project.
24 April 2020
Writing about nature with Chloe Dalton
In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, writer Chloe Dalton shares her insights into nature and landscape writing.
13 January 2025
Writing Real People in Memoir with Katy Massey
In this episode of The Writing Life, NCW Programme Officer Vicki Maitland speaks with writer, editor and workshop leader Katy Massey about the process of writing real people in memoir.
14 August 2023
‘Valletta to Tromsø’ by Suzy Joinson
Sitting in an airport, she questioned her constant urge to leave. Was she searching for discovery or simply escaping?
For years, travel writer Suzanne Joinson believed true travel meant chasing distant adventures. From Yemeni markets to Siberian ice fields, she moved restlessly—until a moment of doubt changed everything.
Creative activism
Making a difference can feel like a daunting, impossible task. ‘What could my actions possibly change?’ Through the power of research, creative non-fiction can bring issues to life and to the forefront of people’s minds. Stories are a powerful tool to help your audience understand the subject matter, no matter what it is or who it effects.
How to incorporate climate change solutions into your writing
Five tips to improve your writing and make the world a bit greener
19 February 2021
‘Do People Really Talk Like This?’ by JC Niala
In this commissioned article, JC Niala shares her experience translating a play originally written in Swahili during her virtual residency with NCW.
17 January 2025
The Sorrows of Mexico
Meet Mexico’s famous investigative journalists, Lydia Cacho and Anabel Hernández. Between them, they’ve delved into the backstreets of Mexico to uncover the grim realities of trafficking, abuse and corruption.
2 April 2017
Five books inspired by gardens
Five books as recommended by garden enthusiast and CEO of National Centre for Writing, Peggy Hughes.
‘Evocative, curious, attentive; inviting us (as gardens do, too) to both look closely and to consider the longer view, these are books that offer new worlds, large and small, personal and shared. I hope they might inspire you to write about your own gardens and green spaces.’
Find more recommendations here.
More for creative non-fiction writers and readers
For non-fiction writers:
- The Society of Authors is a UK trade union for writers, illustrators and literary translators.
- Historical Writers’ Association brings together historical writers, both fiction and non-fiction, for social and professional support.
- The Nonfiction Authors Association is a supportive community for writers to connect, exchange ideas, and learn how to write, publish, promote, and profit with nonfiction books. (US-based)
Non-fiction prizes:
- Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction is an annual prize for non-fiction books.
- RSL Christopher Bland Prize is an annual award for debut novelists or non-fiction writers published aged 50+.
- East Anglian Book Awards is an annual award celebrating writers shaped by the region of East Anglia.
- The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize is a competition for all genres of writing based around a central theme.