Narrative Nonfiction and Magazines

If you’re interested in trying your hand at narrative nonfiction, there are options beyond massively researched full-length books. Some children’s magazines buy narrative nonfiction in the form of biographical sketches, profiles of contemporary figures, and anecdotal stories of researchers and scientists dealing with the natural world. And if you favor telling your own story, the Chicken Soup Anthologies and nostalgia magazines are full of the specific type of narrative nonfiction known as memoir. So let’s look at these.

Narrative Nonfiction for Children’s Magazines

We’ll begin with the specific nonfiction needs of two well-known children’s magazines. Spider magazine’s guidelines, for instance, include the words “We look for kid-friendly nonfiction shaped into an engaging narrative” and say they are interested in articles about kids doing amazing things. That would definitely be narrative nonfiction as it would tell us the story of the kids and the amazing things they do. A piece like that would include quotes from the subject and possibly quotes from other people about the subject, but at its heart it would be the story of a real-life kid doing something that would interest readers.

Highlights has always loved nonfiction with a strong narrative, and their guidelines say “We prefer research based on firsthand experience, consultation with experts, and primary sources.” All of these elements lead to narrative style in the nonfiction. And their biographical pieces are often tiny slices from a larger narrative and very focused. From their guidelines: “We prefer biographies that are rich in quotes and anecdotes and that place the subject in a historical or cultural context.” As a longtime fan of Highlights, one of my favorite narrative nonfiction articles was a piece on Abraham Lincoln that focused on his interaction with his sons based on the recounting by a babysitter. It was a small moment from Lincoln’s life but one that would be particularly meaningful for young readers.

Clearly to write narrative nonfiction for magazines, you must deal with short word counts and the high demand of meticulous research. Children’s magazines can be among the most demanding publishers when it comes to research. Many don’t want to see online sources (unless you’re dealing with scans of primary sources like historical journals or historical newspapers). Magazines are demanding for all their nonfiction, but it can be especially tricky with narrative nonfiction where it might be tempting to make up a few details of weather or setting to make the narrative feel more immediate. Remember, you can only include details you have research to back up.

Short Memoir

Memoir is a specific type of narrative nonfiction. It is akin to autobiography but memoirs tend to be more emotional and intimate than a general autobiography. Memoir almost always has a theme that brings a sense of purpose to the recounting. Chicken Soup for the Soul is a famous publisher of this type of narrative nonfiction. Chicken Soup for the Soul essays are recounting of specific events intended to elicit a specific reaction in the reader. The “recounting of specific events” makes this narrative nonfiction and memoir. Chicken Soup pieces always fit a general theme for the edition of the anthology, but not all memoir writing adheres to a predefined theme by the publisher. Many memoir magazines are open to all sorts of personal stories as long as they do feel purposeful.

An example of such a nostalgia magazine is Reminisce. According to their guidelines, they are open to narrative nonfiction memoir “of personal experiences in years gone by; memorable people in your life; family trips or anecdotes; seasonal or holiday memories (may be submitted at any time of the year); recollections of now-famous people you knew “back when;” little-known historical items, etc. We especially enjoy reading humorous stories about the past.”  So you’ll decide what the story reveals or means, and let it shape the retelling. The demands of memoir (in terms of research) are far less stringent than those of the children’s magazines mentioned above. However, it is important that you get general details correct.

For instance, if you remember you were sharing a soft drink with a friend when the event happened, be careful if you decide to mention a specific soft drink. It is important that the specific soft drink was available then in that location and that might take a moment to confirm. Our memories can sometimes lead us astray, causing mistakes that readers will catch, mistakes that will reflect badly on you. Readers who catch mistakes in this kind of piece seem to love writing in to point them out, so it’s worthwhile to read through your piece looking for elements that might need a little research and confirmation.

The short word counts of magazine and anthology memoir are best met by focus. Focus on the very specific event you’re recounting and on the purpose of the recounting. Let that guide you so that you don’t allow extraneous detail creep in. If you’re recounting the story of getting a hunk of coal for Christmas when you were six, you won’t need to include the life story of all your siblings or tales of dozens of other Christmases. You’ll focus on the event, including just enough to make the event real and meaningful for the reader.

You may have noticed that the memoir markets aren’t for children. This is usually the case. Children tend to be uninterested in the emotional retelling of events of the past unless they have a tie to something historically significant. A nonfiction piece on meeting a president when you were a child might work for a children’s magazine (for instance) if the meeting was somehow unexpected and probably longer than a simple handshake as the president rushed by a line of admirers.

Equally, a memoir from the child of an astronaut from an early Apollo mission that experienced trouble, recounting the feelings about having such a parent might work for a magazine, because the event would be considered important historically. But do keep in mind that it’s not easy to capture the interest of a young reader in the memoirs of an adult who isn’t related to them. But nostalgia magazines and anthologies thrive on stories that are more normal and connect with adult readers who’ve had similar experiences. So when it comes to personal narrative nonfiction, there is a market, but sometimes you have to have a broader view.

Related Links

• • Narrative Nonfiction
  • Narrative Nonfiction: Tell Us a Story
  • Structure in Narrative Nonfiction
  • Narrative Nonfiction: Finding the Lesser Known Story
  • Top 3 Narrative Nonfiction Missteps