Thoughts about Writing Nonfiction

FOCUS IN

• Write out what your book is going to be about. You may start out with a paragraph, but then condense it to one sentence. This is often called an elevator pitch and will help you focus. At any time when you are writing and you are not sure where to go, reread your statement. It’s the goal you are headed toward.
  • Some suggestions to get started:
    • This book is about …
    • My story is …
  • A resource: “Writing a One Sentence Summary“
• Determine the main take away you want readers to get from reading your book. This again helps you focus as you write.
• Who is audience for this book? Women? Young Christian wives? Midwestern adults? The more specific you get helps you slant the book appropriately.
• Know where your book would fit on the shelf. It you can’t define this, will booksellers know where to put your book?
  • A resource: “Exploring Your Writing Genre”

 
SET SOME GOALS

• Schedule your writing time and stick to it. Will it be Saturday mornings? Evenings after the kids are in bed? Or ? Nothing will happen if you don’t put in work to get the words down. Chuck Warren said, “It was only when I made a commitment to my goal that I accomplished what I wanted. And, so much more. When I finally stopped talking about writing, and stopped promising myself and others that I would start tomorrow with grand plans and dramatic hand gestures, and then dove in head first, I began to see results.”
• Keep learning about writing. Read articles and books, attend workshops and conferences, and keep practicing. “Poor writing can muddle and dismantle a message, rendering it ineffective.” - Michael A. Blaylock
• Learn the average word count ranges for books like yours.
  • See the charts on this page: “Your Guide to Book Word Counts”

 
THE ACTUAL WRITING

• Have a plan for the structure of your book. That doesn’t necessarily mean outlining, but it could. One website (https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2018/11/21/writing-tips-7-mistakes-first-time-nonfiction-authors-make/) put it this way:
  • What Was: the way things used to be.
  • What Happened: the event or situation that changed everything.
  • What Is: what things are like now after the change.
• Make what happened come to life.
  • Use specific details.
  • Share emotion. That means being honest and letting them know your pain, fears, anger, etc. as well as the positive emotions.
  • Use dialogue when possible.
  • Share actions.
  • Give a sense of time and place when appropriate.
• Complete a first draft. Whether you write every day, measure time you’re writing, or words written, get it done.

REVISE AND GET FEEDBACK

• All writers rewrite and revise. Reading aloud can be very helpful in hearing your mistakes, awkward phrasing, where more is needed, overused words, etc.
• Critique groups or beta readers can be a tremendous help in pointing out areas to work on.
• A few good resources:
  • “Top 10 Editing Tips for Christian Writers”
  • “Top 12 Word Usage Errors”
• An editor will request more revisions. (Often, agents do as well.)

 
“You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.” – Arthur Polotnik

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