Be an Ambidextrous Writer! (A.K.A On Nonfiction Writing)

This morning I had the immeasurable pleasure of writing an enormous lab write-up for my chemistry class, complete with paragraphs of dry, nonfiction-style facts about the experiment I performed on Thursday. Completely emotions-and-opinions-free, and completely devoid of personality or flair. Which I'm not used to (or particularly fond of), but still is a skill I've had to acquire for things just like this.

It inspired this short, reflective post.

If you're anything like me, you're strictly a fiction writer. It's your strong point, it's your delight, and it's (in your opinion) the best kind of writing out there. I mean, we can appreciate nonfiction as far as education and other such (boring?) things that it's necessary for. But there's really no comparison to fiction. None.

But I think, and it's been told to me by a wise english teacher of mine, that it's important to hone your non-fiction-writing skills. Kind of like football players taking ballet lessons. You've got to work out that set of muscles. Knowing how to write nonfiction well will, in theory, actually improve your fiction writing skills, and just writing skills in general. It makes sense to me.

So, you devout fiction writers out there! I challenge you. Become an ambidextrous writer! Hone your non-fiction skills, and see if it makes a difference.

I'm in the same boat.

What are your thoughts on nonfiction vs. fiction? Do you agree or disagree with all I've said above, and why? I'd very much like to know.

Best Part of Today: Hot tea. Or perhaps learning I didn't have to be at work until 4pm...
Currently Craving: More tea. 
Music Pick: "Los Angeles" by Peter Bradley Adams
I'm Reading: "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens (bleh!)

WIP: Fire [on hold!] (11,261 words) + Blink Revisions!!