To write non-fiction, choose a specific topic that you know well, research what readers already buy, find a working title, finish your first draft quickly, edit it thoroughly, and get a professional cover. This article goes through those 6 steps.
Writing a non-fiction book is, for the most part, much like writing fiction. Still, there are differences, big and small, that make it a task of its own. If you plan to write a non-fiction book, keep the following points in mind.
1. Decide on the topic
Your book should focus on solving one specific problem. Do you want to help people build better self-esteem? Is it about urban gardening for people who live in tiny apartments?
Pick a topic that you have experience in. Yes, you can write about something totally new to you, but it will take much longer to research, write, and edit.
Make sure you understand who your readers are and what they want. Put yourself in their shoes. What problems do they face? How can you help solve them? How many people have this problem? If you can't find enough people who struggle with it, your niche is too narrow, and it will be very hard to make a profit.
The topic you choose must be specific enough to be practical, yet broad enough to be profitable.
2. Do your research
Now start reading, and read a lot. Look for the best-selling books on your topic, in bookshops and online, and read as many of them as you can. Take notes on their reviews: what do people love about these books, and which parts do they dislike?
"Won't my book end up like everyone else's?"
Not if you set it apart. People don't always use the same method to solve the same problem, so your book should approach the problem from a different angle. Put your own solution up front, so readers know that you have something new to offer.
Adding your personality to your writing also helps set your book apart from the rest, so don't forget to be yourself. For where to look, see 3 best places to do research when writing.
3. Give it a title
It is hard to come up with a title catchy enough to grab your readers' attention. Look at the popular books in your niche: is there a pattern in how their titles are written? You can also make up your own kind of title instead of following the herd. Write four or five versions of the title. You don't need to settle on one yet, and if you later think of a completely different title, it's fine to use that instead. How to pick a title for your new book has more tips.
4. Finish your first draft
You want to publish this book in your lifetime, right? Then get the first draft done as soon as you can. Tape your goal to your monitor and set a deadline. For a short book, aim to finish the draft in one or two weeks.
The sooner you finish the draft, the sooner you can move on to editing and publishing.
5. Edit it thoroughly
Now that you have a diamond in the rough in front of you, it's time to polish it, and then polish it some more, until it shines.
Because you are writing non-fiction, double-check every fact that you present. Unlike an online article, a printed book is hard to correct once it is out.
Remove every grammar and spelling mistake, too. Running each chapter through the Spell Checker helps you find them faster.
Whenever possible, show your work to beta readers. These few people represent your target market, and their feedback is invaluable.
A good place to find beta readers is an online forum. If you are writing a book about urban gardening, for example, visit forums about that topic and ask whether anyone would like to give feedback on your new book.
6. Design your book cover
Get a professional to design the cover. You want to spend your time writing and editing, not on other things. Leave the cover to people who are good at it and save yourself the extra stress.
Once everything is in place, publish your book and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back.