"The advice contained in this book comes from those who have succeeded in their writing careers. The sensible counsel in this well-written anthology has immediate and long-term benefits for the serious writer." --Ray Newton, National Coordinator,  Reader's Digest Writing Workshops The Chapter One starts with a lucid commentary on writing. Writing is a creative act. Building a nonfiction book requires planning, structure and lots of labor. Your intellectual property is a piece of art; it will not design itself or be created overnight. Writing a book is a journey, a trip to be enjoyed on the way to the reward at the destination. Learning as you research your subject is stimulating. The thought process of distilling the pertinent information for your readers is invigorating. Crafting just the right words to convey your message is energizing and provides the power to maintain your writing momentum. The published book is your goal but the process is fun. You are fortunate to be a writer. Chapter Two focuses on the rationale of writing. There are many justifications for investing your time and money in writing a nonfiction book. Some are fame, fortune, to help other people and/or because you have a personal mission. Chapter Three stresses need of a book. A nonfiction book is a product, an information product that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to distribute. A book speaks with more authority than other media. Chapter Four explains a reader what to write. In First, decide whether to entertain or inform. In other words, decide between fiction and nonfiction. As you will discover, nonfiction is easier to sell. Chapter Five stresses on Research. Most of a nonfiction writer's time is spent in study. You must locate and read through all the relevant materials available in other books, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, interviews, museums, historical societies, public libraries, university libraries and special (law, medical) libraries. You have an obligation to your audience, to your book and to yourself to exhaust every possible source of information. Chapter Six focuses on Building your book. It is hard to put some time aside to write. But we all encounter unexpected bits of time throughout our day. With the binder under your arm, the project will be constantly active in your mind. As you visit a friend, walk on the beach or see a film, you will be searching for relevant ideas, stories, examples, quotations and sources. Chapters eight till nine explains details of Copyrights, Finding an Agent, and Book Promotion.

Get the reader past page eighteen. Start your book off with an action chapter; make it exciting. Like the introductory part of a speech, Chapter One should arouse the reader and whet his or her appetite. Too many authors want to start from the beginning and describe their research or put a boring history chapter first. The reader wants to know where to and how to . Do not sedate the reader in the first chapter; encourage him or her to read on. It has been reported that most book buyers do not get past page 18 in a new book. They buy it, bring it home, begin reading, and then put it down on the bedside table. And they never get back to it. Your book has to be exciting in the initial pages to keep the reader involved and reading. Getting a customer to buy your book is not enough. You want your buyer to read it, underline it, highlight it, talk about it, move to action and profit from it. A satisfied reader will recommend your book to friends and your fan will buy your next book. Hit the page writing. "It is the writer's fault, not the reader's if the reader puts down the book." --David Halberstam, author.

 

Nonfiction is easier to sell. Fiction is an art that comes from emotion; nonfiction is a craft derived from information. As entertainment, fiction has to compete for peoples' time with other books, taking in a movie or playing with the kids. Nonfiction, on the other hand, does not compete for readers' time, with any other book or any other activity. Each nonfiction book is unique. Hal Zina Bennett has written two novels, four children's books and more than 25 nonfiction books including Write from the Heart. He is good at, and likes doing both, but says "fiction does not pay as well." TenacityPR@aol.com Most publishers will urge you to work on your nonfiction first and to save your fiction until you can afford it. Spend your time writing how-to's--valuable information that people buy in order to save time or money. Fiction writers tend to be creative, interesting people who are fun at parties. But nonfiction writers drive better cars. "It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating." --Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), Irish-born writer and wit.

 

The Chapter One starts with a lucid commentary on writing. Writing is a creative act. Building a nonfiction book requires planning, structure and lots of labor. Chapter Two focuses on the rationale of writing. There are many justifications for investing your time and money in writing a nonfiction book. Chapter Three stresses need of a book. A nonfiction book is a product, an information product that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to distribute. A book speaks with more authority than other media. Chapter Four explains a reader what to write. Chapter Five stresses on Research. You have an obligation to your audience, to your book and to yourself to exhaust every possible source of information. Chapter Six focuses on Building your book. It is hard to put some time aside to write. But we all encounter unexpected bits of time throughout our day. Chapters eight till nine explains details of Copyrights, Finding an Agent, and Book Promotion.

Contents Chapter One On writing Chapter Two Why Write? Chapter Three Why a Book? Chapter Four What to write Chapter Five Research Chapter Six Building your book Chapter Seven Copyright Chapter Eight Finding an agent;  Finding a publisher Chapter Nine Book promotion Appendix Resources Index

"This book is so reduced, so concise, so easy to grasp--so if you're really serious about writing grab it."

 

"The advice contained in this book comes from those who have succeeded in their writing careers. The sensible counsel in this well-written anthology has immediate and long-term benefits for the serious writer."

 

"(This book is) loaded with practical and inspirational tips for writing success."

 

"The information in this book is worth thousands of dollars. Don't even think about writing or publishing a nonfiction book without it!"

 

"Dan Poynter is a wealth of publishing information. That makes what he's selected to share all that more valuable."

 

"Dan Poynter's Successful Nonfiction is a must read. He gives many valuable tips that can move you light years ahead in your work. I plan to keep his book on my desk alongside my Chicago Manual of Style and Roget's Thesaurus."

 

"The main reason people don't finish their books is lack of motivation. If this book doesn't inspire you to finish your manuscript and get it into print, nothing will."

 

"There are not many perfect books but this is one of them. It provides two of the three 'in words a writer needs to succeed--information and inspiration. The third is inner drive, but the writer must provide that himself. And Dan delivers it all with the greatest weapon a writer has at his disposal--fun. Dan knows how to entertain, so his reader enjoys the experience of reading."

 

"Throw away your library of how-to-write books and grab this one. It's packed with ideas, tips and tricks to help you write and sell your book. I love it!"

 

"I can't imagine a better gift for anyone who ever thought of writing."

 

"This book is a keeper with practical insights on every page. It belongs in every writer's library."

 

"Fun. Informative. Motivational. The perfect gift for your writer friends."

 

"Once again, Dan untiringly offers up more of his expertise and experience to the army of nonfiction warriors. This is a marvelous 'crack sealer'."

 

"Why settle for writing a good book when you can write a great one? This book shows how to create a great book even if it's your first. You will find wisdom on every page."

 

Dan Poynter fell into writing. He spent eight years researching a labor of love. Realizing no publisher would be interested in a technical treatise on the parachute, he went directly to a printer and "self-published". Orders poured in and he suddenly found he was also a publisher.

Since 1969, he has written 77 books, 47 special reports, 500 magazine articles, nine audiotapes and two videotapes. Most of these information products focus on book writing and publishing. In the publishing field, he is widely known for his best selling The Self-Publishing Manual, How To Write, Print & Sell Your Own Book. Dan Poynter's seminars have been featured on CNN, his books have been pictured in The Wall Street Journal, and his story has been told in U.S. News & World Report. The media comes to him because he is the leading authority on nonfiction book writing, publishing and promoting. Dan is descended from a long line of published authors including Stephen Vincent Benét, William Rose Benét, James Thompson, Frank Norris, Charles G. Norris, Kathleen Norris, Margaret Bridgman, and Josephine Poynter. A consultant to the book industry, he was recently presented with the Benjamin Franklin Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Publishers Marketing Association. Dan is a past vice-president of the PMA. Dan is a frequent speaker at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, the Maui Writers Conference and many other industry events. He runs his own publishing company, Para Publishing, in Santa Barbara.

 

Successful Nonfiction by Dan Poynter
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