Have you experienced a flash of inspiration for your first-ever non-fiction book but don’t know where to start? No worries! We’re here to show you the roadmap to turn your literary idea into a high-selling masterpiece.
Know that writing a publication on most non-fiction genres can drive various advantages. It will boost the business’s reputation and maximize sales for entrepreneurs. Influential personalities can amplify their integrity and credibility within their industry through it. Aspiring authors can publish their work to generate massive money and even, a passive income stream.
So, are you ready to become an author within this genre?
Here are ten solid steps to write a non-fiction book that actually sells:
Don’t Know Where to Start? 10 Steps to Write Your Non-Fiction Book
- Find Out What You Want to Achieve
You may have thought of writing your first-ever non-fiction for a reason. The root cause can be either to help others, generate money, or something else. So, take a moment to get clarity on what you want to achieve by going on the ups and downs of the authorial journey. This will give meaning to your upcoming steps and help you get closer to your goals.
Here are the typical reasons authors usually write non-fiction publications. You can select one of them to get started:
- To Guide Others:
If you have overcome personal or professional life challenges and gained victory over them, write about them. Your valuable experience and insights can act as a guidance to your readership. It will bring a positive change into their life.
For instance: career change or self-healing guides.
- Build Authority and Business:
Are you an entrepreneur aiming to attract new clients? Writing or publishing a book in your name can serve as your business card. It will boost your integrity and reputation in the target market, thus driving more sales.
For instance: How to Become a Billionaire in 365 Days.
- To Mint Money:
Are you passionate about writing and want to turn it into your full-time profession? Publishing your manuscript in collaboration with online credible nonfiction book publishers can lead to a sustainable income stream. Make sure the one you hire doesn’t share your royalties and lets you enjoy 100% revenue.
For instance: The Forty Rules of Love.
- Determine the Specific Topic You’ll Write On
Once you have got to the bottom of the goal you want to achieve, get more specific. Choose the perfect topic for your manuscript that will keep you going till the end. Self-assessment and identifying your passion will help you in this case. Think of what you feel genuinely interested in. Something that ignites your fascination.
Assess your expertise. There may be something regarding which you can offer unique insights. Consider your experiences and obstacles you have battled against. After a particular topic is in your mind, conduct market research to find out its value. Use tools, such as Amazon’s keyword Research and Google Trends to identify the trendiest topics and trends.
Examine the existing books on your chosen topic and evaluate their performance. Also, dig deeper into market gaps to look into underserved issues that you can explore. Ultimately, ensure whatever topic you pick will grab your target audience’s attention and has the potential to make high sales.
- Choose the Structure
Choosing the right structure is quite important to put forward your ideas in a crystal clear manner. Consider your story’s goals and audience. Think of the reading experience that will make them explore your book. While we’re sharing the common narrative structures, you can always try something new:
Traditional Three-Act Structure:
This layout consists of three acts. The first is where you introduce the protagonist and a turning point. The second act is referred to as confrontation where the protagonist goes through a rough patch. The third and final act is where you describe the climax, resolution, and ending point.
Circular Structure:
This layout type begins with the climax instantly to keep the readers hooked. Then, flashes back to past events that lead to the climax. Finally, ties up all the loose ends and emphasizes the turning point.
Manipulating Time:
This structure type starts with a nonlinear narrative. It jumps between past, present, and future, keeping the reader’s mind absorbed in the narration. Opt for it if you want to build suspense and reveal information bit by bit.
- Brainstorm Your Table of Contents
A well-structured table of contents will not only effortlessly guide your readers through your book, but also streamline your writing process. Therefore, create a clear and well-formatted one before jumping onto the writing part. For this, understand your book’s core message or central idea. Break down according to your key arguments.
Create a logical flow in your ToC by arranging all the chapters in sequential order. Organize them based on their level of difficulty, i.e. from simple to complex concepts. Name every section with clear, concise, and informative titles. Use strong verbs to captivate your potential readership.
Break down your table of contents to your audience’s knowledge level. Structure in a way that helps them easily get to their potential questions. Brainstorming techniques, such as mind-mapping, outlining, or storyboarding will greatly benefit you.
- Decide Your Book’s Title
Take advantage of search engines to discover keyword-rich titles. Use relevant words to optimize your research. Amazon Keyword Research tool can benefit you big time. Add letters or words to your search items to get more specific. Dig into appropriate sub-categories. Leverage data analysis software, such as K-lytics to get more information about readers’ preferences and market trends.
Here are the steps to undertake to uncover a high-selling topic:
- Think of who you’re writing for
- What is the core message of your manuscript?
- Use Amazon’s search bar to hunt for relevant keywords
- List down your potential titles
- Assess options using factors, such as clarity, attractiveness, and SEO
- Whatever title you choose, test it via online tools or surveys to gauge its effectiveness
- Select Your Style Guide
Next comes the style guide you would like to follow for your manuscript. Though various options are out there, picking the right one can elevate your content’s quality to the next level. A style guide typically refers to a set of rules for writing and formatting.
Adhering to a specific one throughout your manuscript will ensure consistency and clarity. It will offer an unmatchable reading experience to your readership.
Things to Keep in Mind While Making the Right Decision:
- If you’re writing on an academic niche, opt for the Chicago Manual or MLA format. AP Stylebook will work perfectly for you if you’re targeting general readers. Consider the IEEE or APA style guide if you write for a technical audience
- If working with a traditional publisher, get their specific guidelines. Otherwise, the self-publishing route offers flexibility related to your chosen style
- If you’re opting for a formal style, Chicago Manual Style is the way to go. On the other hand, AP Stylebook is suitable for informal tone
- Whatever you choose, stick to it throughout your content, such as heading, citations, and references
- Don’t hesitate to deviate from it if it enhances your text’s readability
- Target A Daily Word Count
Your non-fiction manuscript may vary between 100 to 250 pages and 20,000 to 60,000 words. Rather than writing all at once or within a few days, set yourself a timeline. Otherwise, the process may overwhelm you. It may drain your energy. You may no longer want to continue writing or experience writer’s block.
Setting a daily word count goal can save you from any unwanted situation. It will ensure that you complete your non-fiction manuscript without sucking the life out of you.
The Right Approach to Stay On Track:
- Estimate the word count you may have to meet based on your planned chapters
- Be honest about how much you can write daily
- Set a healthy and realistic goal that you can easily meet
- Divide the total word count by the number of your writing days
- Allocate the duration and decide the time of the day you would like to work on
- Allow flexibility in your schedule to accommodate any writer’s block or cooperate with any unexpected interruptions
- Use a writing journal or its digital version to track your writing progress
- Reward yourself for achieving your targets, no matter how small they are
- Create the First-Ever Draft
Once you have determined all the above aspects, you’re all set to move your fingers on the keys (or a pen on the paper). Gather data from reliable sources, such as books, articles, journals, or credible online platforms if necessary. Take notes while ploughing through logically. Organizing them in an outline will greatly benefit you during the writing process.
If including any information from external sources, always fact-check to verify its accuracy. Avoid plagiarism as you include those data in your manuscript. Embrace the mistakes as you work on your first draft. It is completely okay for it to be messy. Don’t fear to experiment with different writing styles or approaches at this point.
Try out new things to discover what’s best for your publication. Stick to the outline or table of contents you created to avoid including unnecessary information.
Additional Tip:
If you alone are unable to write an awesome manuscript, let experienced ghostwriters enter into your picture. Many Canadian fiction publishers also have skilled co-authors in their teams who are ready to extend their helping hand. And that too – without asking for any copyrights.
- Focus On One Thing at A Time
Many times, new authors, unaware of the authorial nuances, take too much on their plate. They end up overwhelming themselves and make the process complicated. The trick is to concentrate on one thing at a time. For instance, if you’re at the stage of creating a table of contents, direct all your attention to it.
Don’t instantly jump into the writing process or decide your book’s title unless you experience a lightbulb moment. If your manuscript allows you to write according to any order, start with the one that calls you the most. Let your creative juices flow and elevate your content’s quality.
Whenever you write, focus on it entirely. Don’t try to multitask in that moment. Staying in the moment will help you unlock your utmost creativity and complete the first draft speedily. Plus, don’t try to be a perfectionist at this stage. You can make mistakes during the writing process. The editing and proofreading steps are for a reason.
- Go Through the Proofreading and Editing Process
Take some time off from your rough draft. Come back to it once you have recharged your battery. Read loud enough that your voice is clear to you. Otherwise, let the audio assistant go through your draft to identify all awkward phrasing, repetitive sentences, or missing words.
Check the clarity and coherence aspects of your manuscript. Ensure every idea flows to another like a river. Review sentence structure and word choices to ensure your content is logically correct. Use strong, concise language to make your manuscript binge-worthy.
Share your draft with beta readers, trusted friends, and family to get honest feedback. If your refining skills are poor, let professional editors overtake the finalizing process. A skilled proofreader will check for typos and grammatical errors, plus verify facts or figures. They will also make the necessary adjustments to your draft’s format to keep it up to the mark.
- Do non-fiction books generate massive money?
Yes, it is typically more profitable than the fiction genre. Non-fiction authors can make around $5,000 and $20,000 for their first-ever book. However, it also depends on various factors, such as the genre, particular topic, author’s reputation, and quality of the publication.
- What types of nonfiction books make high sales?
Biographies, memoirs, self-help, religion, and spirituality are the highest-selling genres in the non-fiction theme. Opt for one of them if you want your publication to make a killing.
- What makes a non-fiction book high-selling?
A non-fiction publication that offers one or more solutions to solve potential readers’ problems breaks sales records. Always ensure your manuscript provides a valuable outcome that will make readers buy your work.
Summing Up
That’s a wrap on this informative guide! We have successfully acquainted you with ten solid steps you need to take to write a high-selling non-fiction book. Though the journey to become a successful author is time-intensive and nerve-wracking, but worth it. Implementing the above-mentioned steps whether alone or with professional assistance will help you publish a manuscript that readers can’t put down.
We recommend you seek help from experienced individuals as much as required to effortlessly overcome authorial challenges. Even better, collaborate with a reliable agency that covers various aspects of publishing and helps you launch a page-turner publication.