Know the difference between fiction and nonfiction. Fiction writing is based on the author's imagination and creativity. In other words, fiction is mostly made up and based on the author's ideas.
Nonfiction writing is based actual events, such as actual crimes or the author's life. Thus, it combines fact, research and the author's credibility or truthfulness.
Understand the reach of nonfiction writing. Nonfiction writing includes a diverse, broad spectrum of information. For instance, nonfiction writing includes technical writing, legal writing, journalism, scholarly writing, as well as autobiographies, memoirs, diaries or blogs.
Understand the nature of creative nonfiction writing. Here, the writing is more stylistic or novelistic, rather than straightforward and to-the-point. The writer has placed more emphasis and effort on including emotional or compelling language.