I think most of you know I am writing my first novel. What a very different exercise in writing. I am so enjoying the journey and am learning a lot. I must say, I am also gaining tremendous admiration for those of you who write fiction so eloquently and seemingly easy.
There are fiction writers who, at some point in their career, decide they want to write a how-to, self-help or informational book related to an interest or special knowledge they have. You might realize, after years of writing fiction, that you have something to teach or share. Or you have been seeking a book on a topic of your interest and can’t find one, so you’ve decided to write one.
It looks easy. But, for someone who is accustomed to writing fiction or children’s stories, nonfiction can be a challenge. What should know before attempting a nonfiction book?
• You must consider your audience just as you do when developing a novel. Give your reader what they need/want. What is missing out there? What information is not currently covered in books? For example, you might be well-versed in vegetarian cooking for a family and you want to share some of your recipes and tips for cooking vegetarian. Your recipes might be unique. But is there an angle you could take with your book that isn’t being covered—something that would make it stand out from the others? Maybe it would be vegetarian cooking for preschoolers or easy vegetarian meals with plenty of nutrition for seniors. The point is, make sure there is an audience for your nonfiction book before you go to work on it.
• Just as plot and the flow of the story are important to a novel, organization is vital to a nonfiction book. Make sure you present the various aspects, steps, information in the most organized manner so that your reader can easily absorb and learn from the material. If you are writing a book on how to bathe a cat, you might start by discussing why you would bathe a cat—what you would hope to achieve—how often it should be done, the types of problems that might occur when bathing a cat, for example. And then list the supplies you’ll need, the type of tub that you would recommend and then the technique. You could follow up with a trouble-shooting section. Strive for logical organization of your nonfiction book or article.
• While listing instructions can be second nature to someone who is used to writing how-to material, it isn’t always easy for the novelist or children’s book author to manage. This is why I suggest hiring an editor who is accustomed to editing and writing nonfiction. But first, you might ask friends to read some of your lists of instructions for their comments and suggestions. It’s especially helpful to run a how-to book on the subject of gardening, for example, or horseback riding by someone who does not garden and who has never ridden a horse. If they can make sense of your instructions, you are probably on the right track.
I encourage writers to work within their area of expertise as much as possible. But if you desire the experience of stepping outside your comfort zone and writing in a new genre or category, be smart. Take with you, the basic skills, but be willing to learn and use new (to you) techniques in order to make your writing experiments work well.
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