How To Write Nonfiction - Demystified

By Deborah Wirsu

If you want to write Nonfiction but need help figuring out where to start, what to write about, and how, this book is for you. 

 

This fully revised and updated Second Edition of How to Write Nonfiction [demystified] offers a comprehensive introduction—a beginner's guide—to planning and writing different kinds of Nonfiction, along with strategies for profiting from your work. Whether you want to write your memoir or biography, a travel, self-help, or motivational book for business or pleasure, this book can help get you started. 

• Discover how to write Nonfiction that people want to read (even if you've never written a book before).
• How to develop your idea and choose an ideal framework.
• Structures for different Nonfiction genres—memoir, biography, narrative nonfiction, 'How to', self-help, and motivational.
• Take your book from idea to finished manuscript. 
• Techniques for ruthless self-editing.
• Nonfiction business strategies.
• A guide to formatting for self-publishing.

The best time to write a nonfiction book is now. So, stop saying 'One day...' and start writing now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spoonbill Press
• Release date: Mar 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9780645449440

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

‘If the book is true, it will find an audience that is meant to read it.’ Wally Lamb

High on a barren Himalayan Plateau, you’ll find a small, frozen pond—Lasagongma Spring—from which a trickle of meltwater promises a journey—a journey that will take you from the eerie silence of the mountains to the bustling Mekong Delta. Six countries and nearly 5000 km from its source, the river spills into the South China Sea, making the Mekong one of the world’s great rivers.

Along the way, the Mekong widens and deepens as smaller streams and rivers join the flow. Picture yourself rafting down this mighty river. Every now and then, you encounter rapids, waterfalls, ravines, and dams, as well as stretches where the flow is calm, allowing you to float serenely downstream, basking in the tropical warmth. You see sights you never dreamed of seeing, meet people and cultures you never dreamed of meeting. By the time this vast watercourse reaches the delta, you realise you’ve been on the ride of your life.

Your writing journey resembles that ride. You’ll encounter long stretches where the passage is smooth and your confidence high, as well as turbulence and obstacles. There’ll be times when you’re afraid or doubtful and times when joy permeates every pore of your body. The writing journey may begin as a trickle, but over time, words start to flow more easily. After a while, you’ll find, one day, that you’re a writer.

Every word you write, every book you read adds to your font of knowledge and skill. Writing a nonfiction (or fiction) book takes time, patience, and persistence. However, adhering to those qualities and allowing your creativity to flow freely pays off in the long run.

When you embark on the journey to becoming a nonfiction writer, you discover surprising things. Firstly, there is no magic wand that turns you into a bestselling author overnight (sorry). You’ll find that writing can be challenging. But don’t let these things distract you because if you want to be a writer, you can.

Writing nonfiction can change your life

It’s likely that you want to write your memoir, a biography, a ‘How to’ book, children’s book, history, or a true crime story. And if this is your first book, you might be wondering, Where do I start? Can I pull this writing thing off? Is it really worth the effort?

Yes, you can pull it off.

And yes, it is worth it.

My writing career took off when I began writing and self-publishing niche-targeted nonfiction books to meet a demand in the market. I realised that becoming a published author was not only possible but profitable, as well. Seeing the success of my first book was all I needed to spur me on to write more nonfiction.

Writing your first book is just one step to building a career as an author. That first book may seem the most challenging, but it’s also the most important—it marks the beginning of an exhilarating journey to establishing yourself as a successful author.

Welcome to the world of writing nonfiction

This book is for you if you want to use your knowledge, life experience, and creative skills to write nonfiction. Nonfiction embraces a wide range of writing styles and formats, so opportunities abound.

Whether you plan to establish a career as a nonfiction author or write for personal satisfaction, this book will help you get started. I’ll demystify the process, taking you through the entire process of planning, writing, and editing your nonfiction book in readiness for self-publishing.

Demand for nonfiction books is escalating

There has never been a time when people were more eager to learn than now. Writing and self-publishing nonfiction gives you an entree to worldwide markets hungry for information. As a result, the demand for nonfiction books for both adults and children is exploding. But, of course, this desire for knowledge is not a new phenomenon. People, by nature, are curious beings; they want to learn.

The growing trend in online shopping

Nevertheless, what has changed is how readers find and consume books. The rise of online publishers and the ease of self-publishing has made writing a viable pursuit for anyone prepared to try. The recent global pandemic has turned millions more readers into online shoppers. Brick-and-mortar bookstores shifted to online distribution outlets to survive. Schools began remote teaching, so the demand for nonfiction resources escalated. Digital and print-on-demand publications offer everyone an easy way to access quality information.

This online shopping trend is unlikely to change anytime soon. With the global ebook market currently valued at over US$18 billion p.a., it’s expected to surge to US$23–28 billion by 2025–26. So why not share your knowledge and experiences by writing nonfiction books?

But is there room for you, too?

A common misconception is that the market for self-published nonfiction books is saturated. Despite the plethora of books published daily, there is still room for you. There is always room in the market for good-quality nonfiction.

Overview of this book

Writing a nonfiction book is much like planning a rafting trip down the Mekong River. Impulsiveness may be exhilarating but embarking on a journey with no prior planning is akin to flying by the seat of your pants. A rafting holiday needs planning—When will I go? What do I need to take? What gear will I need? Buying tickets. Booking accommodation. Passport. Visas. Organising health care essentials and travel insurance. Enlisting a support team… All before you even set foot on the plane!

Rather than starting your writing journey without a map, a little planning goes a long way towards publishing your book much sooner. Consider the time spent planning your book as time well spent. But remember, your plan is a fluid thing that keeps you on course without stifling your creativity.

This book is designed as a guide to every step of the nonfiction writing process—from developing ideas to finishing your manuscript. My goal is to help you create your map, set your compass to true north, and give you permission to open the door to your unique and creative mind.

Part One goes through getting ready to write. Learn about the benefits of writing nonfiction, your attitude to success, time management, and how to identify a topic people want to read about.

Part Two is where you lay the foundations and get to the nitty-gritty of researching and planning your book. Identify your genre and build the foundations of your idea. Discover how collecting and organising information leads seamlessly to creating a detailed plan and book outline. Learn about the varied structures you can use to help you write more efficiently.

Part Three is what you’ve been waiting for! Get stuck into writing your first draft and learn eight secrets to a winning style.

Part Four takes you through the revision and editing process. Get your head around the stuff you’d rather not think about (e.g. the potential minefield of copyright and permissions) and how to create a winning title.

Part Five introduces you to various nonfiction business models and how to choose an author name. Then, dive into the topic of formatting a book for self-publishing. Finally, discover all the little extras that contribute to a successful book.

Are you ready to write your first nonfiction book—one word at a time—and kickstart your journey to becoming a successful nonfiction author?

Part One

BEFORE YOU WRITE

Chapter 1

Why Write Nonfiction?

‘If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.’ Toni Morrison

THE NONFICTION MARKET

One of the most exciting things about nonfiction is the wide range of niche topics and genres to explore. When thinking about your interests, hobbies, work, education, and life experiences, it soon becomes apparent that you will have several themes or subjects to choose from. Very few people have just one interest or skill; however, the topic where you feel most confident is an excellent place to begin. And I suspect that because you’re here, now, reading this, that you already have a seed idea in mind for your future book.

And at this point, I’d also like to plant the idea that creating a book series is an excellent strategy for gaining more readers, helping more people, and earning more royalties. Could your first book turn into an entire series, with readers eager to get their hands on every new release?

At some time in their life, everyone has a need or desire to learn something or see things through someone else’s lens. Many nonfiction readers set out to find information, guidance, or advice; they want to learn something or solve a problem. Others yearn to look behind the scenes at people’s lives, travels, or experiences.

The market for nonfiction is never going to disappear. Although writing and presentation styles change over time, a good nonfiction book will endure for years or even generations. Figures released by Penguin Random House ¹ show that, since 2013, sales of adult nonfiction books have massively outstripped fiction sales. Children’s and Young Adult nonfiction sales have also steadily increased. In comparison to nonfiction, fiction sales have dropped like a stone over the same period. Nevertheless, there will always be a vast market for fiction, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t embrace both formats if you want to.

Despite the abundance of self-help, ‘How to’, and motivational nonfiction books, there is another cohort of nonfiction readers who simply want to be entertained or informed in a more general way, much as fiction readers do. Think about all the narrative nonfiction (aka creative nonfiction) you’ve read—biographies, historical, health, travel, or lifestyle books. Often, these read like novels, offering a similar experience. As an avid reader of narrative nonfiction, I enjoy peeking into the lives of others through a well-written book.

The difference between narrative nonfiction and novels lies in knowing that the story is true. So perhaps there’s some validity to the saying that ‘truth is stranger than fiction’.

There is no reason why any nonfiction book—even ‘How to’ and textbooks—can’t be enjoyable and engaging to read. Nonfiction is successful when you draw the reader in with your enthusiasm, passion, and dedication.

With the vast range of nonfiction subjects open to you, no niche or topic is too small to consider. If you want to write a book on ice fishing, cooking, overcoming an illness, your family history, yoga, understanding the role of black holes in astronomy, or the life of an eminent luminary or celebrity, you can. Perhaps the myths of ancient Greece, trekking in the Himalayas, or calculus are your forte. If so, write about them.

Over time, your natural writing style (your voice) develops. Use your natural voice to write a book that doesn’t bore your readers. When your passion is on display, people will buy and enjoy your books. Will you please everyone? No. But that’s a good thing. For every type of book, there is a reader. Opportunities abound in the world of nonfiction. Write for your market, and you will succeed.

DO YOU NEED TO BE AN EXPERT?

The road to becoming a great nonfiction writer is to write more. Consider these examples…

If you take a copywriting job, you’ll become a better copywriter.

Writing art or performance reviews for Arts magazines, newspapers, and websites makes you a better creative arts writer.

Writing a blog makes you a better niche market writer.

Writing your family history makes you a better narrative or historical writer.

Keeping a daily journal makes you better at expressing