--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like writing non-fiction - and when you…" description: "\"I like writing non-fiction - and when you pick a [non-fiction] subject, it saves you the hassle of coming up with a plot.\" — Richard Hell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg" --- # I like writing non-fiction - and when you pick a… ![“I like writing non-fiction - and when you pick a [non-fiction] subject, it saves you the hassle of coming up with a plot.” quote by Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg) > “I like writing non-fiction - and when you pick a \[non-fiction\] subject, it saves you the hassle of coming up with a plot.” [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing non‑fiction avoids the need for invented plots, allowing focus on real‑world ideas. **In simple terms:** Non‑fiction skips fictional plotting. Key Takeaway Write about real topics. Themes writing non‑fiction creativity Mood analytical practical Type literary educational When to use this quote - journalism - educational content - documentary filmmaking - blogging Key Concepts truth‑seeking narrative simplicity Questions to Reflect On - Why prefer factual subjects? - How does this affect reader engagement? A Different Perspective May limit imaginative storytelling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-pick-6133743/) [Fiction Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-subject-5563723/) [Hassle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hassle/) [Like Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-writing/) [Non fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-fiction/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Non](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-non-328834/) ## Related quotes > [In high school, I was very active in extracurricular activities such as art, theatre, and choir. I also wrote for the school newspaper, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/in-high-school-i-was-very-active-in-extracurricular-activities-such/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [I have been tossing around the idea of writing some non-fiction. Maybe a collection of short stories about my experience being a mom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-peterman/i-have-been-tossing-around-the-idea-of-writing-some-non-fiction-maybe/) [Melissa Peterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-peterman/) > [It would have been very easy to drift into writing a non-fiction book so by taking it away from Nottingham I forced myself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-mcgregor/it-would-have-been-very-easy-to-drift-into-writing-a-non-fiction-book/) [Jon McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-mcgregor/) > [I'm not writing non-fiction. I don't feel anything about me as a kid was unique. 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The rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/the-lowest-stress-environment-is-the-radio-show-i-am-not-on-camera/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [When I'm in my studio, it usually feels like a hassle to actually press all the buttons and make music come out the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tundra/when-i-m-in-my-studio-it-usually-feels-like-a-hassle-to-actually/) [Max Tundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tundra/) > [You should definitely have a travel agent. Why go through all the hassle of dealing with airlines, hotels, and rental-car agencies yourself, only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-should-definitely-have-a-travel-agent-why-go-through-all-the/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [If your memory was OK you could descend upon on a bookshop – a big enough one so that the staff wouldn’t hassle a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-spufford/if-your-memory-was-ok-you-could-descend-upon-on-a-bookshop-a-big/) [Francis Spufford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-spufford/) ## More by Richard Hell > [If you take text and image and you put them together, the multiple readings that are possible in either poetry or in something visual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/if-you-take-text-and-image-and-you-put-them-together-the-multiple/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [A memoir takes some particular threads, some incidents, some experience from a person's life and gives an account of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/a-memoir-takes-some-particular-threads-some-incidents-some-experience/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [You're always thinking, "What does that add up to?" You can't really get a handle on it. I was curious. I felt like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/you-re-always-thinking-what-does-that-add-up-to-you-can-t-really-get/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I usually don't think of anyone ever suspecting that I might be someone who'd cry at stuff. I cry at movies all the time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-usually-don-t-think-of-anyone-ever-suspecting-that-i-might-be/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I love a good play, but they're too hard to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-love-a-good-play-but-they-re-too-hard-to-find/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [“I think love is sort of a con you play on yourself. 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Everything's always changing in really obvious ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/nothing-lasts-in-new-york-everything-s-always-changing-in-really/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I shake my head and the tiny acrobats fall like spangles, like the cool rain on another planet, down to the inside of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-shake-my-head-and-the-tiny-acrobats-fall-like-spangles-like-the/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [“Amazing how the most obvious things escape your notice. Maybe the truth is exactly the things you don't notice. Maybe the aim to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/amazing-how-the-most-obvious-things-escape-your-notice-maybe-the/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [The purpose of rock n' roll is to convince girls to pay money to get close to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/the-purpose-of-rock-n-roll-is-to-convince-girls-to-pay-money-to-get/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [In fact I thought life was pretty much a losing proposition, and I didn't mind saying so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/in-fact-i-thought-life-was-pretty-much-a-losing-proposition-and-i/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I'm not into this memoir craze that's been going on for 20 years now and doesn't seem to ever let up. People just indiscriminately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-m-not-into-this-memoir-craze-that-s-been-going-on-for-20-years-now/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [When you're young, you don't especially think of yourself as being young. You're just alive and everything's interesting and you don't think of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/when-you-re-young-you-don-t-especially-think-of-yourself-as-being/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) [Explore all 39 Richard Hell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) [Coheed and Cambria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coheed-and-cambria/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. 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It has to do with taking a large fiction itself and writing within it; that kind of self-reflecting writing that emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coover/metafiction-says-something-it-has-to-do-with-taking-a-large-fiction/) [Robert Coover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coover/) [Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like writing non-fiction - and when you pick a [non-fiction] subject, it saves you the hassle of coming up with a plot.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Hell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you-pick-a-non-fiction-subject-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you-pick-a-non-fiction-subject-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0af/richard-hell-16720_fiction_i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you_2422163.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I like writing non-fiction - and when you pick a [non-fiction] subject, it saves you the hassle of coming up…” — Richard Hell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Hell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I like writing non-fiction - and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you-pick-a-non-fiction-subject-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-like-writing-non-fiction-and-when-you-pick-a-non-fiction-subject-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```