COMPARATIVE STUDY: READING FICTION VS. NON-FICTION AND ITS EFFECT ON WRITING

Abstract

This study explores the comparative influence of reading fiction and non-fiction on the development of writing skills. It argues that fiction enhances imagination, empathy, and expressive language, while non-fiction improves analytical thinking, logical structure, and factual accuracy. Drawing on the ideas of Irvine Welsh and Yann Martel, the paper demonstrates that both genres are essential for well-rounded writing. Welsh emphasizes how each type of reading nurtures different cognitive and creative capacities, whereas Martel highlights the emotional truth embedded in fiction. The study concludes that combining both reading types results in richer, more authentic, and intellectually balanced writing.