Social Fiction: bridging academic inquiry and creative writing

The evolution of research methodologies across disciplines has prompted a re-evaluation of knowledge creation and dissemination. This article examines Social Fiction writing as an innovative Practice As Research method that integrates academic inquiry and creative writing. Social Fiction offers a compelling medium to critically engage with complex social issues through fostering dialogue, disrupting entrenched narratives, and supporting inclusive knowledge production. By engaging with this approach, researchers can craft nuanced narratives that resonate across disciplines, catalysing meaningful reflection and social transformation. This article outlines Social Fiction's principles, including its speculative nature, focus on verisimilitude, and reader engagement, as well as its transformative impact on research and representation. Drawing on practical applications from the authors’ experiences, we explore the challenges, including ethical considerations, issues of recognisability, the writers’ and readers’ roles and the need for balancing creativity with truthfulness. Strategies such as composite character creation, co-authoring with participants, writing as community, and interdisciplinary collaboration are proposed to strengthen this practice. In doing so, we position Social Fiction as a valuable tool for advancing inclusive and socially engaged research.