OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
I started with writing non-fiction and it really did change my life. I'm actually working on rewriting my first book at the moment and I also devour non-fiction books so it definitely remains important to me. In this guest post Nina Amir, author of ‘How to Blog a Book' poses some provoking questions that anyone embarking on writing a non-fiction book should ask themselves.
Inspiration hits. The light bulb goes on. You’ve got a passion, and you pursue it. You see a need, and you fill it. There’s a question, and you answer it. You have a purpose, and you fulfill it.
These are all great reasons to begin writing a nonfiction book. And most writers, when struck by a good idea and the desire to write, simply begin writing. However, an even better reason exists to take a bit of time before you beginning writing to evaluate your idea—at least if you want your book to be successful.
Evaluate? I can hear you groaning. No one wants to evaluate anything, especially that book idea you are so psyched about.
If you simply want to write the book of your heart and you don’t care how many copies you sell, great. Go for it.
If you want to write a successful book, meaning one that sells to lots of readers or to a traditional publisher and to lots of readers, however, it behooves you to take the time to consider if your idea is a good one by industry standards.
To do this, I suggest you discover nine things about your book idea. Once you have this information, you’ll know if your book has a chance of success.
1. What Your Book Will be About and Why Would Someone Would Want to Read (Buy) It
You’d be amazed at how many writers cannot tell you in 50 words or less, or in 30 seconds or less, what their book is about. They also may not be able to list the benefits their book will provide to readers. Before beginning to write your nonfiction book, hone your topic and its angle. Figure out why someone would want to read your book rather than someone else’s book on the same topic. Write a pitch or elevator speech, a short statement that describes the essence of your book, and follow it with some bulleted points—the added value readers will take away from its pages. Think of this exercise like writing back cover copy. What might you say or write about your book that would make someone carry it to the register?
2. Who Wants to Read Your Book
Make sure you know your average reader—that one person you are writing for—as well as the size of your book’s market. Who wants to read your book, and where do you find them? How many of these people exist in the world? Are there enough of them to justify writing your book? This market research tells you if anyone is out there to read (buy) your book and helps you know for whom who you are writing.
3. Whether Your Book Will be Unique and Necessary
Make sure the book you plan on adding to the mix is not only unique compared to the other books in your niche or category but also necessary before you add one more title to the staggering number of books in print. Take a good hard look at what other authors have already written and published. Is what you want to write different—different enough to make someone purchase your book rather than an established title or a book by an established author? And is there a need for another book on the subject? If no books have been written on the subject, why? Is there a need for even one book on the topic?
4. If You Have Enough Content to Fill a Book
Sometimes writers think they have enough material for a book when really they only have enough for an article, or a couple of articles. Or they think they know what content they are going to include in the book, but when they finish the first draft, they discover they produced a manuscript that is scattered, rambling, misses the point, or leaves out essential information. Avoid these problems by mapping out your content first. Actually do a mind mapping exercise, which entails brainstorming while creating a large diagram of all your possible content and then organizing all these ideas into a table of contents or an outline. When you are done with this process you’ll know if you have enough content to fill a book, and you’ll know what content you plan to include in the pages of that book.
5. How You Would Describe Your Book’s Content
Bring your book to life with a short synopsis for each chapter. This accomplishes two things. First, when you couple this chapter-by-chapter synopsis with your table of contents, your pitch and list of benefits, you will have the best writing guide possible. Second, when you have finished the synopsis of all your chapters, and you have completed the previous four steps, you will suddenly have a clear picture of your book and feel ready to write your book. Why? Because it will seem real to you. If you can see it and it seems real, if your idea stood up to all the prior steps, it’s likely a viable book.
6. How You Will Ensure You and Your Book Succeed
Whether you self-publish or land a traditional publishing deal, you will need to promote your book. And promotion does not begin after the book lands in your hands as a finished product. It begins the moment that light bulb goes off in your head. Spend some time considering all the options you have to build awareness for yourself and your book as you begin the writing process as well as after you launch the book.
7. Why You Are the Best Person to Write This Book
Most nonfiction books are written by experts. Decide if you are the expert on your topic, how you will become the expert, or if you might need to bring in other experts (maybe a co-author, contributors or experts to interview). Also, does writing this book fulfill a sense of mission for you? If so, you might want to consider how to get that message across in the book and in your promotional efforts. Plus, in this step, it’s important to ask yourself if you have what’s called an “author’s platform.” Do you have a fan base or a large, loyal following of people who know you in relationship to the topic about which you plan to write? If not, you need to consider how you will begin building that built-in readership for your book.
8. If This is the Only Book You Will Write on This Topic
The more books you write, the more books you sell. That’s why it’s a good idea to spend a moment brainstorming other “spin-off” books on your topic. This is especially important if you want to create a business around your book or attract a traditional publisher. As an expert author, if you have more books, you can create more products and services to sell to readers. And publishers like to take on multiple-book authors.
9. How You Want to Publish Your Book
At this point, if you decided your book is marketable and has a chance of succeeding, you can begin writing your book—with one caveat. You need to know what publishing route you plan to take. If you plan on self-publishing, you can go ahead and write the whole book. If you plan on approaching traditional publishers, you only need to write 25-30 pages, or about two chapters, but you also need to write a book proposal, which includes all the information you just compiled. You then will submit the proposal to agents and publishers
Armed with this information, and assuming you discovered your idea is a viable one, you’re ready to take action on your inspiration. Turn your idea into a successful book.
Do you write non-fiction? What are some of the lessons you've learned along the way? Please do share in the comments below.
About the Author
Nina Amir, Inspiration-to-Creation Coach, inspires people to combine their purpose and passion so they Achieve More Inspired Results. She motivates both writers and non-writers to create publishable and published products, careers as authors and to achieve their goals and fulfill their purpose.
Nina is the author of How to Blog a Book, Write, Publish and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time (Writer’s Digest Books) as well as 10 more short books.
A sought after editor, proposal consultant, book and author coach, and blog-to-book coach, Nina’s clients’ books have sold upwards of 230,000 copies and landed deals with top publishers.
Jesse says
Joanna,
I’m a professional writer. I was a journalist, a speechwriter, and an article author. Tried my hand at my first non fiction book last year, and it bombed. Self-published and no one bought it but friends. I had a Facebook page, website, ran ads. Nothing. I know my content is quality and feel strongly that if I rewrote the book in a more effective style, it would fill a need. Nothing else out there on this topic. Rave reviews on the info, just no interest in the book. Feeling anxious about investing additional months into a book that didn’t do well, and feeling a bit confused about how to rewrite an entire nonfiction book. Is it a waste to rewrite a nonfiction book that already bombed? How to pick a new direction? Thanks!
Joanna Penn says
Hi Jesse – I think you have the problem with this line: “Nothing else out there on this topic.”
If there is nothing out there on the topic, then it is either very early for it e.g. tech stuff – or you’re titling it wrong or aiming for the wrong market. The bestselling books are in genres where there are rabid readers desperate for more books on a topic e.g. weight loss 🙂 or romance 🙂
You don’t have to write in these bestselling genres – but you do need readers. I’d have a good look at positioning and finding where your audience is, rather than rewriting the book. It’s more likely that your targeting was wrong – see this for my own retargeting – http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2015/04/28/changing-book-titles/
Terry Erle Clayton says
Given what you say about your experience, its not your book. You need to invest as much time (or more) in learning fo market the book.
Joe Gregorka says
My name is Joe and I want to write a non-fiction book about my husband of 28 years.He died on August 27,2017 . He passed away at UCLA Hospital in Calafornia.WE were there to see if he was a canadate for a liver transplant.WE got there on August 15 2017 to days later he went into cadiacte arrest and died in our hotel room but that wasnot the end of this story I came screaming out of our room call the paramedics my husband just died.They got there very fast and had to bring back from the dead twice before they got him stable.He was at UCLA hospital for about 2 week b efore he
had a heart attact and died a 4th time.I thougt I might use a goust writer where I would tictate my book to someone and they would type for me I donot kn ow if that is the way to do that what do you think
Angie says
Hi, my friend passed away last year after fighting cancer for 2 years, i used to text her nearly everyday, when possible, my last text was 5 days before she passed away in the hospice. I have kept all these texts, some funny some sad and have printed them out 131 pages (approx 5000 txts). My other friends, hers and mine, say I should write a book!! Do you think it would be feasible? Thank you.
Jay says
it is feasible Angie…. it would be an interesting book to read… i have one more suggestion to it. if you can manage to get a audio book of it ( your own voice is preferable) would be great….
The only thing is how you tell this to the world that makes it interesting….
You can contact me if anything requires.. by the way i am a beginner in writing but i have written a lot (mostly diary), but now working on my own non-fiction book…. Am learning things.. so would be happy to help you….\
if you wish, reach me @ nevergiveupjay@gmail.com
Mbambo Isaac says
I came from an extremely struggling environment, it was not easy but I’ve made it to university. I was just thinking of writing about all I’ve encountered…Is it possible??
Ken says
Have you read “Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance?
P says
I would like to find someone write my life story it’s true and factual and is plenty of content how do I go find someone to write this
Greg Young says
Hi everyone,
I am a specialist in resilience, resilient leadership and post-traumatic growth and I have the privilege of presenting at many first responder conferences around the country on the above-mentioned topics. I also teach seminars on this subject at various colleges, (primarily law enforcement, fire/ems personnel, hospital staff, and also 911 emergency dispatch staff.) I also am called in to respond to large scale as well as regional critical incidents, the most noteworthy being followup responses to the Newtown/Sandy Hook School tragedy as well as the Sikh Temple mass shooting in Wisconsin. I have written articles for magazines, but am feeling the urge to write a book on what has become a very popular topic. I do quite a bit of research and hope that I can bring an additional perspective to this important topic. I have an outline, based on my presentations, and what I am struggling with are: 1. A lack of time to sit down and write. 2. A desire write the book so that it speaks to a more inclusive audience. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Terry Erle Clayton says
Greg, everything I have read, everything I have heard authos say about writing a book : WRITE. SOMETHING. EVERY. DAY. There are no excuses.
John Weaver says
If I write a book using real names and real people in it, what do I have to do to not get sued for naming them. If I use fake names but based on real events, is it still a non-fiction book or is it fiction?
Joanna Penn says
Check out this interview https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2014/10/06/legal-helen-sedwick/ and Helen Sedwick’s Legal Guide for Self-Published Authors.
Terry Erle Clayton says
I published my first book in Jan 2016. Ever since I have been learning how to market my book. I am making some progress but it’s slow and painful. Almost everything out there about marketing boks is for fiction writers.
Joanna Penn says
I disagree with your comment on marketing – in fact, most marketing stuff is for non-fiction authors because it is MUCH easier to market non-fiction because of SEO principles and the fact that people are searching for an answer to a problem. Pretty much all content marketing is aimed at non-fiction e.g. this blog exists to sell my non-fiction books and 90% of what’s in How to Market a Book is applicable to non-fiction authors.
allan cheshire says
After reading the exploits of the CIA security consultant Raymond Davis who caused a diplomatic uproar while in Lahore Pakistan i lived and operated as a security consultant to the christian community for nearly 10 years from Karachi to Islamabad and most of the villages in between teaching alternative power and installing RO units to schools and missions
My background is Pathfinders and Brigade of guards i saw operation in Oman and served with the tribesmen from Baluchistan I worked for the British Army in central Bosnia around Vitez and witnessed the Muslim massacre of Shrebanica ive also completed in the Iditarod dog race twice between Anchorage and Nome 1049 miles
do you think it would make a good read !
Valerie Rolland says
I have been married for 30 yrs to a man 17 years younger than myself. I think I might be one of the original Cougars, (hate that word) before it became fashionable. I happened to be watching a very popular talk show that was showing a couple why the percentages are so high for “unconventional” marriages that don’t work out;
2nd marriage for one of the couple….bad —–this is my second marriage.
Age gap……bad —–I’m 17 years older, and the Woman.
Family disapproval…..bad——my mother-in-law and I are very good friends and both of our families are very supportive.
Serious illness for the older of the two…..bad——I battled breast cancer in 2013.
We have been through some very tough times together, that might have driven “conventional” couples apart, but we’ve only grown closer. We have a very unique story that somehow seems to be fitting for the times we find ourselves in and the relationships women are finding that fit who we are and what we want, not the pigeon holes we have always lived in.
I even have a title! Do I have a book?
Joanna Penn says
You’ll definitely have a book if you write it 🙂 Sounds like an interesting story – but ideas are nothing, execution is everything. Get writing!
John says
HI Joanna Penn, i am writing a motivation book that has be made of numerous topics.
what should i have take care while writing such motivation book and how i will do marketing as we have less interest on self help book.
Kesian Bennett says
Hi, I am from Jamaica and I want to write a book about living in a 3rd world country being in your 20’s and what young people need to be taught about dating, career and life skills, specific to our context. Do you think it’s worth exploring?? I would include advice and material from talk shows, interviews and what other people have written.
Joanna Penn says
Of course you should write it 🙂 There’s room for many voices and your experience is so important! Happy writing 🙂
Kristen Czaplicki says
Hi my name is Kristen and I am currently 44 approaching 45 quickly. I lost 5 biological children all by miscarriage, the worst being my daughter who was 39.5 weeks and I had an u/s two days before she died.
I am wondering if it is a feasible non-fiction work. I am also a recovering addict and just got married in 2012.
Thank you.
Kristen