Nicholas Bate

How To Write a Non-Fiction Book, version ii, Part 6

MISCELLANEOUS:

1. Check out Writing101 for more on getting the writing happening.
2. 
You have a book in you: you'll enjoy producing it. Do start writing.
3. I hope to release three books in 2009. One was a commission (they asked me); one was a pitch ( I bullied them); one is a passion (so I will need to self-publish as it ‘is not commercial enough’).
4. Once your proposals are in, do be willing to follow-up; I don't think I would have got a single book published without patient (and not-so-patient) follow-up. 
5. Publishers are desperate for something different. Believe it. People will never stop wanting inspiration on Life’s eternal subjects. Believe it.
6. Check out Creativity101 for more on generating ideas.
7. 
Get book 1 right. Future contacts will depend on it being at least a modest success.
 Act with urgency if you spot an opportunity but get the quality right.
8. Ensure your publisher understands design. It is more critical then ever in helping a book get noticed.
9. Believe in yourself. Your girlfriend will tell you the idea is brilliant. The publisher will say 'it's been done before'. 

10. Look at trends in your area. Some good books now appearing will seem inappropriate because of the down-turn. It'll be like this for sometime. How could you link to that? And get to market quickly?
11. The down-turn has turned pretty well every core area upside down: that’s good for your writing. E.g. Leadership: how do you lead people when all of the carrots have disappeared? and ain’t coming back. There’s your book: Leadership Without Carrots (only partly joking).
12. 
Do it - write - because it's there. Not for the money, nor to be on the New York Times Best-Seller list. If those happen: awesome.

13. Start today. Pencil. Paper. Mug of chai tea. Enjoy the ride.

How to Write a Non-fiction Book, version ii, part 5

Your writing is coming along nicely. It's time to think about a publisher.

Now if you know a bit about these things, you may have thought that with a non-fiction book - unlike a novel of course - you tend to pitch an idea first before writing. Theoretically so. And once you're established you can have a brainstorming conversation with your publisher on the phone to work up an idea and they may well give you a contract on nothing more than a high-level proposal. But I'd like to suggest why - especially with your first book- it's worth doing significant writing before you approach anyone.
1. Your first book is critical. If it doesn't do that well it will be very hard to get a second deal. Don't rush it just for the excitement of early publication. Give it plenty of thought. The topic may have produce a glorious 500 word post on your blog; but maybe that's it and that' dhow it should be left rather than trying to squeeze a whole book out of it.
2. Most authors find that the writing process is essential to the clarification of their thoughts. Through it their ideas are refined and they discover what they really want to write about. Hence your proposal will be stronger. Write at least several chapters. Certainly write the introduction and starting chapter and closing chapter. If those all flow well and you feel there is plenty to write that's a great sign.
3. As a first time author you are highly likely to be asked for a significant amount of text/copy before you get a 'go-ahead'. Your   is testing you on every level: can you produce, can you produce to time, is your product any good etc. You might as well have this ready.

So: step 1, get your product ready.

Step 2: go to your book-shop, library and search out the books which seem to be of your 'positioning'. And by that I mean, your topic areas, your audience. That's a likely publisher to approach.
Step 3: approach them. But do it the officlal way. Go to their web-site and there's probably a prompted method of sending a proposal. Do that. Don't send a manuscript attachment to individual names unless asked to: it just fills in-boxes and annoys someone who may later be a decision-maker on your proposal.

Step 3: realise that publishers are desperate for great new books. Really. They get thousands of 'me-toos'. So when sending in your proposal, remember they are looking for two main things: quality i.e. is this decent writing? But is it a great idea? However good the writing, if it is simply another book on leadership with no fresh angle, they are unlikely to take it. Unless you are a celebrity and even that aspect of publishing is falling out of favour.

To summarise:
1. Create as much of your product as you can so that you are confident you know what it is.
2. Identify some target publishers.
3. Approach them following their rules but remember the book can't be just good; it must be marketable.

Quick case study. 

During 2008, I had a bit of fun with some posts on The Blackberry, juxstapositioning our traditional e.g. Blackberry Picking with a modern equivalent for the (electronic) Blackberry user. The posts were well received and I thought maybe a Little guide-book would be helpful: a summary of the post with some simple line drawings etc? No, no, no was the view from every publisher until I created it myself an put it up on amazon. Then suddenly a few publishers were after it and now it will be 'formally' published by a 'real' publisher this coming September. The moral of the tale: it can take a heck of a long time to get a good idea across to a publisher: the more 'real' you can make it for them, it's better for them and it's certainly better for you.

How To Write a Non-Fiction Book, version ii, Part 4

Write, write, write. That's the main thing. Through quantity will come quality. Some tips:
On generating words
1. Write fast, edit slow. Set yourself tough deadlines: don't give yourself time to procrastinate. Bash out the words; set up the spell-checker and perhaps basic grammar-checker then write, write, write. I know some books have taken decades to write and some of those have been brilliant. But plenty of great book are written over a few weeks. Go for speed to break that 'getting blocked' pattern.
2. Keep your reader in mind; write for them; not for you. This is critical for non-fiction. Be careful of constantly establishing your credibility (which after all can be done once on the blurb) throughout the text with complicated references, constructions , and jargon. Put across the simplicity which is the far side of complexity.
3. Write even when you don't feel like writing; the process of starting can often change your mood and start the flow. Set a time period and stick to it. And stop when you are still feeling good; then you will wish to re-start tomorrow. If you write to a point of exhaustion you are associating pain with your beloved writing.
4. Look for the fresh angle-what's your thing on time management? Difference, difference, difference is the thing which will pull your book out of the crowd of others. 
On structure
Increasingly readers of business/personal development books prefer them to be shorter and well-structured. One reason I gave my first book Being the Best an A-Z structure was it allowed me twenty-six simple chapters which I know has proved very popular with readers. But too little material means it's not a 'book' and so doesn't sit on shelves. Less is more will be the new trend in non-fiction, especially business books.
On features
Summaries, case-studies and how-to-apply-the-ideas are highly desirable. Too much theory may show how good you are but doesn't help the reader.

How to Write a Non-Fiction Book, version ii, Part 3

One big difference between fiction and non-fiction writing at the proposal stage is that unless you are very well established, you will need to write your novel before pitching. But with non-fiction theoretically you can pitch an idea and if you have enough of a track-record or reputation in the field then the deal will be done on that. But for the rest of us you'll probably need to write a chapter or  two so that your potential publisher can see that (1) you can write well enough (2) you can produce to deadlines (3) the idea is more than 'a chapter'. That latter point is critical. Increasingly the world of bloggers is generating books: good news in that blogging get you developing the writing skills. Bad news in that many blog ideas are only a paragraph or two of real material. Before getting too excited, test that you produce at least 60K words on the subject; your first book will set your reputation. Make it a great one.

And what about generating the words? In our previous discussions we’ve mentioned the importance of having passion for your topic. The following ideas are based on that premise i.e. that you want to write and that you know your topic. You believe you can add value. So what’s the problem? Busy lives that block us. Here are some ideas for getting the words appearing:

Draw up a timetable and make it visible. Decide when and where you will write and turn up. Even if you feel low, distracted and have got a cold (or all three) turn up and write. Out of quantity you can get quality.
Just write. Get the fingers to the keyboard or pencil to paper and write. Even if you are writing: this is rubbish , I don’t know I ever thought I could produce anything useful on garden design…., you must break the barrier of perfection. Of staring at the paper/screen and waiting for the perfect sentence.
Read about writers for inspiration: start with Stephen King’s excellent biography.
Just write.
Set targets. 1000 words before the next coffee break. Proof two pages before the next cigarette.
Just write.
Write a lot, write regularly. You love it, so why have the weekend ‘off’?
Just write.
Quit themelodrama. You are not blocked: you are simply not writing.
Just write.
Write without expectation of being judged or wanting to appear smart. Many critics have written little else apart from their criticisms.
Just write.
Coming soon: on structuring, marketing and selling

How to Write a Non-Fiction Book, version ii, Part 2

So: what do you write about? That shouldn’t be the main problem. Ideally you will want to write about something; you simply need to refine it to make it marketable. The key is to channel your passion. What is it? Leadership? Snow-boarding? Chinese Cookery? Writing your book, convincing a publisher and getting credible sales will be straightforward if you have passion for your topic. It will be tough if you don’t. I have no doubt many books have been written ‘mechanically’ e.g. 'we need a book on work-life balance'. But they will be hard work for the author and mechanical to read. So can you write a book simply 'for the money', simply because you have-you believe-'spotted an opportunity'? Of course, as long as you read Part 1 and realised the author's pot of gold is not that accessible despite the media tales.
So: Stage 1 is what do you want to write about? Let’s move to Stage 2: making it a marketable idea. If you self-publish (and we’ll talk about that in another post) then you can write about what you like. But if you want a serious publisher to support you, then the submission must appear to be one which will sell plenty of books. Your passion isn’t enough and any publisher will have endless tales of us naive authors who thought passion was enough. You need to target and focus. I’ve found the best way to do this is to identify your book title. You see, you may have a real passion and flair for time management: not only are you good at it yourself, you are very good at explaining it to others and you have your own clever and simple little system. Is that a potential book? Yes. Although the world is flooded with time management books, there are plenty of readers who are new to the field and plenty of readers who have read half-a dozen books on the subject. They are all desperate for help. So your real problem is pulling ahead in the crowded field. The good thing is people understand the field i.e time management. Recently a new 'lifestyle' design field appeared: this was difficult to describe until Tim Ferriss managed to encapsulate it.

Titles are very important with non-fiction books. Let’s use a few of mine and those of other authors as an initial example and then widen the discussion. Instant MBA: the title is short, strong and snappy. It suggests something we would all like: the knowledge, easily. We know it’s not truly possible (i.e. an INSTANT MBA), but the idea is attractive. The by-line helps clarify the position. By-lines are increasingly the norm and I wish I had used them on my earlier books; thus on Being the Best I now would like the by-line Being the Best Version of You. A publisher wants well-written, well-researched and quality materials. But they also want a good title. When I submitted Get a Life I wasn’t the first to write on work-life balance issues but I had (1) a good title (2) a useful model I had created: Personal Compass.
There is no perfect title. It is well know that Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People title was not liked by his publishers; Covey insisted and of course the rest is history. The 4h Work Week by Tim Ferriss is a wonderful title because we would all like to work just 4h; in fact the book is really ‘lifestyle design’ but that would have been an awful title. My new book is How to Sell and Market your Way out of this Recession and get your Business Buzzing like Never Before (even though your customers don't want to know). Quite! I certainly worry about the Welsh and German translations.
So: have a go: (1) what’s your passion and (2) what’s the title?

How To Write a Non-Fiction Book, version ii, Part 1

Back in October '08, I wrote a short series-How To Write a Non-Fiction Book-on this blog. I know from the queries and comments I receive that it's been a useful series of postings for many. So, here it is again but up-dated as a result of the many continuing discussions I have had on the subject. 

It's clear that recently for many, their decision has been driven by sheer practicality; they have sat down with a piece of paper and brain-stormed how they can  increase their income, how they can supplement a 4-day week or how they can get out of the grip of a weak market-place. It is worth emphasising that writing a book as a source of income still needs a good reality check. It can be done, but it will require effort and creativity to break through the inordinate number of barriers which will be placed in your way and those barriers are only increasing. The first is that the majority of publishers are currently reducing the number of commissions. Why? To reduce cost and sell what they have. Secondly, generally speaking book sales are down and most outlets are only taking the safest of bets. With that reality check in mind, there is still one huge advantage to writing a book: it can be done alongside other activities.

It’s often said that everyone has at least one novel in them; I believe everyone has a non-fiction book or two or more in them, as well.

To write one, you need to get a couple of potential blockers out of the way. Firstlymoney. The majority of authors do not make anywhere near enough to live on. Sure the advance can be nice and the royalties a pleasant surprise when they turn up. But they won’t be enough to give up the day job. Secondly ego. To write a book to ‘impress’ people will block your best work, undoubtedly. 
So, why write a non-fiction piece of work? I’d suggest:

Because you have a product. A better leadership model, an answer to obesity or a brilliant guide-book to hidden Paris.
It clarifies your thoughts and hence you can offer better value in whatever field you work, especially consulting. Writing requires discipline, logic, clarity and research. These produce better thinking.
It helps build your brand. Your books help define you, your field and what you are about. It will hence lead people to your door.
It’s a nice ‘business card’ to leave a client. Having met a client, leave them your book with your card; it has more impact.
It’s an additional ‘while I am asleep income’. How can you earn money that is not time dependent? A book.
Because it’s there: just like the mountaineer. It’s a fair challenge to take on. Do it-because it is there.
It'll develop new horizons and new networks. Via your publisher you will make great contacts. Radio interviews will get you thinking in 'sound-bites'. All of it will help your personal growth.
Tomorrow we’ll take a look at choosing the topic for your new book.

How To Write a Non-fiction Book 6

MISCELLANEOUS:

1. Check out Writing101 for more on getting the writing happening.
2. You have a book in you: you'll enjoy producing it. Do start writing.
3. Once your proposals are in, do be willing to follow-up; I don't think I would have got a single book published without patient (and not-so-patient) follow-up.
4. Publishers are desperate for something different. Believe it.
5. Check out Creativity101 for more on generating ideas.
6. Get book 1 right. Future contacts will depend on it being at least a modest success.
7. Believe in yourself. Your girlfiend will tell you the idea is brilliant. The publisher will say 'it's been done before'.
8. Look at trends in your area. Some good books now appearing will seem inappropriate because of the down-turn. It'll be like this for sometime. How could you link to that? And get to market quickly?
9. Do it - write - because it's there. Not for the money, nor to be on the New York Times Best-Seller list. If those happen: awesome.
10. Start today. Pencil. Paper. Mug of chai tea. Enjoy the ride.

How To Write a Non-fiction Book 5

Your writing is coming along nicely. It's time to think about a publisher.

Now if you know a bit about these things, you may have thought that with a non-fiction book - unlike a novel of course - you tend to pitch an idea first before writing. Theoretically so. And once you're established you can have a brainstorming conversation with your publisher on the phone to work up an idea and they may well give you a contract on nothing more than a high-level proposal. But I'd like to suggest why - especially with book 1- it's worth doing significant writing before you approach anyone.
1. Your first book is critical. If it doesn't do that well it will be very hard to get a second deal. Don't rush it just for the excitement of early publication.
2. Most authors find that the writing process is essential to the clarification of their thoughts. Through it their ideas are refined and they discover what they really want to write about. Hence your proposal will be stronger.
3. As a first time author you are highly likely to be asked for a significant amount of text/copy before you get a 'go-ahead'. You might as well have this ready.

So: step 1, get your product ready.

Step 2: go to your book-shop, library and search out the books which seem to be of your 'positioning'. And by that I mean, your topic areas, your audience. That's a likely publisher to approach.
Step 3: approach them. But do it the officlal way. Go to their web-site and there's probably a prompted method of sending a proposal. Do that. Don't send a manuscript attachment to individual names unless asked to: it just fills in-boxes and annnoys someone who may later be a decision-maker on your proposal.

Step 3: realise that publishers are desperate for great new books. Really. They get thousands of 'me-toos'. So when sending in your proposal, remember they are looking for two main things: quality i.e. is this decent writing? But is it a great idea? However good the writing, if it is simply another book on leadership with no fresh angle, they are unlikely to take it. Unless you are a celebrity and even that aspect of publishing is falling out of favour.

To summarise:
1. Create as much of your product as you can so that you are confident you know what it is.
2. Identify some target publishers.
3. Approach them following their rules but remember the book can't be just 'good'. It must be marketable.

More ideas to follow.

How To Write a Non-Fiction Book Part 4

Write, write, write. That's the main thing. Through quantity will come quality. Some tips:
On generating words
1. Write fast, edit slow.
2. Keep your reader in mind; write for them; not for you.
3. Write even when you don't feel like writing; the process of starting can often change your mood and start the flow.
4. Look for the fresh angle-what's your thing on time management?
On structure
Increasingly readers of business/personal development books prefer them to be shorter and well-structured. One reason I gave my first book Being the Best an A-Z structure was it allowed me twenty-six simple chapters which I know has proved very popular with readers. But too little material means it's not a 'book' and so doesn't sit on shelves.
On features
Summaries, case-studies and how-to-apply-the-ideas are highly desirable. Too much theory may show how good you are but doesn't help the reader.

Tomorrow: approaching a publisher.

How To Write a Non-fiction Book: Part 3

And what about generating the words? In our previous discussions we’ve mentioned the importance of having passion for your topic. The following ideas are based on that premise i.e. that you want to write and that you know your topic. You believe you can add value. So what’s the problem? Busy lives that block us. Here are some ideas for getting the words appearing:
Draw up a timetable and make it visible. Decide when and where you will write and turn up. Even if you feel low, distracted and have got a cold (or all three) turn up and write. Out of quantity you can get quality.
Just write. Get the fingers to the keyboard or pencil to paper and write. Even if you are writing: this is rubbish , I don’t know I ever thought I could produce anything useful on garden design…., you must break the barrier of perfection. Of staring at the paper/screen and waiting for the perfect sentence.
Read about writers for inspiration: start with Stephen King’s excellent biography.
Just write.
Set targets. 1000 words before the next coffee break. Proof two pages before the next cigarette.
Just write.
Write a lot, write regularly. You love it, so why have the weekend ‘off’?
Just write.
Quit the melodrama. You are not blocked: you are simply not writing.
Just write.
Write without expectation of being judged or wanting to appear smart. Many critics have written little else apart from their criticisms.
Just write.
Coming soon: on structuring, marketing and selling.