How do I define literary works as fiction vs non-fiction ?

Question

I am writing a book based on true events, but it is not a "self-help" book

Answer 1

If it's a story based on true events but is not merely documenting those events, then it's fictious.

Answer 2

Perhaps it could be non-fiction depending on the route you take with it; I mean that it could be either autobiographical or a memoir.

If I remember correctly from Creative Non-Fiction if its autobiographical its based on your life experiences but written so that it can relate to other people. Not really "self-help" but in a way that you become understandable to other people. With the memoir your recalling past moments in your life like they were a story, and you get some creative leeway there, but not a lot. Too much and it's just fiction.

You can always at the beginning where the acknowledgments are just say "Based on true events". Works for the movies.

Answer 3

In fiction, you create the plot, the characters, the situations or based on facts, you change them to conform to the story you are writing. Non-fiction is simply the telling of actual events, poorly or masterfully.

Answer 4

If it is not meant to be a documentary type book, it is fiction. Non-fiction is actual historical events. If your'e consolidating events or characters, or having certain things loosely based on truth, it's fiction.