Can I Write A Non-Fiction Book If I’m Not An Expert?

“There’s no one in the world who can do what you can do, who can think and see the way you do, who can create what you can create.” Barbara Sher

I surveyed my audience on The Creative Penn in preparation for this book and asked the question, “What is stopping you from writing?”

Over half of the respondents included some variation of self-doubt and imposter syndrome around whether they would be qualified to write a book.

Here are some of their comments:

Can I write on a topic that I am not an expert in? I sometimes feel like a fraud.
I don’t have the authority to write non-fiction
I’m not an expert in this field. What right do I have to write this book?
Do I need a PhD to be taken seriously?
I don’t have the expertise or experience to be an authority on this topic.
Should I write the book even if I'm not an established professional in my field?
I have 30 years’ experience, but regardless of how much experience I have, self-doubt stops me from writing.

This is an excerpt from How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge into Words by Joanna Penn. Available in ebook, print, audiobook and workbook formats.

If you feel this way, consider the following.

You can help people wherever you are on the journey

You might have noticed that I am not Malcolm Gladwell … or Elizabeth Gilbert … or any of the other famous non-fiction writers you might like to list.

But I’m an author and I’ve written eight non-fiction books, so I have experience of the topic of this book. I’m not famous, I don’t have a degree in writing or publishing, but I can share my journey and what I’ve learned along the way.

Perhaps you will even find my experience and advice more relevant because I’m not famous, as I’m nearer to where you are on your own author journey. Perhaps something I say will touch you or help you or inspire you, so this book will be value enough.

In the same way, you can write a book based on wherever you are on the journey. Your experience is valuable, and can be shared.

“You are not the only one who feels lost, broken, desperate, joyful, wildly hopeful, yearning or seeking … and you can reassure others who feel the same way.” SARK, Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper

It’s not about you

Of course, the book is all about you in that you write it based on your experience. But on another level, the book is not about you at all.

When it goes out into the world, the book is all about the reader. They read to make their life better and ultimately, they don’t care about you. They just want to improve their life or learn something from your writing, or escape their life for a while.

When I decided I needed to give up sugar for health reasons, as discussed in The Healthy Writer, I read a whole stack of books from people who had given up sugar. I don’t remember any of their names or much about the detail of the books, but I read lots of them over a period of a few weeks, trying to understand how I would feel and gleaning tips and tricks for getting through cravings.

When those authors were writing the books, I’m sure they were obsessing about their lack of credentials, but all I wanted as a reader was their truth, their journey and how it would help me.

You don’t have to be ‘right.’ It’s your opinion.

Some writers worry that their book has to be objectively true and correct in every way, and since that’s impossible, they don’t ever finish the book.

In The Healthy Writer, my co-writer, Dr Euan Lawson, sought out medical studies in peer-reviewed journals to back up his suggestions for healthy practices, but it was our personal anecdotes that impacted people the most.

Many types of non-fiction books are not required to be objectively true. For example, this is not the definitive guide to writing non-fiction. It can’t be, because there are as many ways to write as there are writers and all will have a different take on the subject. But my opinion is valid and hopefully will help you.

Your vulnerability and authenticity will touch people

“The moment that you feel, just possibly, you are walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind, and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself…That is the moment you might be starting to get it right.” Neil Gaiman

Another common response in the survey was “Why would people be interested in me?”

In the end, it all comes down to your story and how honestly you share it. Emotion and heart will beat perfect factual prose every time. We are all flawed and our life stories are filled with mistakes and wrong turns, heartache and (hopefully) soaring moments of triumph and joy. Share those and you will touch your reader.

You don't have to be a ‘great writer’ to write a great book

You do not have to have a degree in writing to be a writer. You do not have to have a college education to write a book that helps people and resonates with them. You don't have to be any good at grammar – you can hire an editor for that.

You DO have to have a passion for sharing your story and lessons learned, and be focused on helping your target market achieve their goals. Be useful, be inspiring, be entertaining, be genuine, and the reader will forgive any foibles in writing.

Who is really an expert anyway?

“Expert: a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority. Possessing special skill or knowledge; trained by practice; skillful or skilled.” Dictionary.com

It’s not exactly clear what an expert is. How many degrees do you need? How many years’ experience do you need? How many other books should you have read? How do you define skilled?

Language is powerful and our own beliefs about words can keep us in boxes of our own design. You can either go get more degrees and more years of experience, or you can write from where you are now.

You have permission to share your truth

If you’re waiting for someone to anoint you with the writer stick, then here you are. You have permission to write your book.

Don’t dream of what might be. Get over yourself, go forth, and write!

“Now to have things alive and interesting it must be personal, it must come from the ‘I’: what I know and feel. For that is the only great and interesting thing. That is the only truth you know, that nobody else does.” Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write