Nonfiction Ink

Struggling to get your book topics in order and create a chapter outline for your manuscript?  The easiest and quickest way to organize the structure of your book is… drum roll, please… CLUSTERING.

Clustering is a form of word-association or brainstorming.  You may know it as “mind-mapping”.  It is a technique that allows you to get information inside your head out onto a piece of paper so you can visualize your thoughts.  It is a powerful tool to in preparing to write and organize your book.

When clustering, you quickly write all the words and phrases you associate with a specific keyword or key-phrase.

Here is my NO-NONSENSE, SIMPLE METHOD FOR CLUSTERING:

1. Get a large, blank piece of paper (oversized construction paper works best).
2. In the center of the paper, print your book topic   Draw a circle around the keyword or phrase. (For example, if you are writing a book on the topic of marketing your business using the Internet, you might use the key-phrase: “Internet Marketing”).
3. Moving quickly, draw a dash-line from your key word and scribble down the first word or phrase that pops into your mind (for example, “social networking”). Circle the word or phrase.
4. Now draw a dash-line from that word and jot down the next word that comes to mind (for example, “Twitter”).
5. Repeat this process until you’ve run out of word associations.
6. Now, return to your keyword or key-phrase and repeat the exercise.
7. Continue clustering until have created 10 to 15 sub-topics, each with several sub-sub-topics.

They key is to move quickly through the process, without censoring yourself or thinking about what you are doing – just let the creativity flow.

When you’ve finished, put your cloud-cluster diagram aside.  Review it later and extrapolate the topics, sub-topics, and sub-sub-topics that will make up the content of your book.

Congratulations!  You have just created your CHAPTER OUTLINE.

When editing manuscripts, I often come across passages where the author has included sections taken from another writer’s book (wherein the author is using the other writer’s material to support or clarify his or her own position), or inserts of photos and letters from a well-known figure the author is writing about, or famous and not-so-famous quotes printed at the beginning of a chapter, or even song lyrics or lines from films used to set a tone or evoke a time-period.

Reprinting copyrighted material usually requires permission from the copyright holder unless it falls under the Fair Use provision.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED FAIR USE?
The Fair Use copyright statute states that “fair use of copyrighted work for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”  If your work does not fall into any of the above categories, then using copyrighted material in your work is probably not considered Fair Use.  You can view the full statute by visiting http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107

MATERIAL IN THE PUBLIC-DOMAIN
Material and works that are in the public-domain do not require permission to use.  A work may fall into the  public-domain once its copyright has expired (such as Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre, Pachelbel’s Canon symphony,  da Vinci’s Mona Lisa painting, and anything written by Shakespeare) or was never protected by copyright – such as in the case of material created by officers or employees of the U.S. government as part of a government job (for example a handbook on buying a new home). The U.S. copyright office provides the pamphlet How To Investigate The Copyright Status of a Work at http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ22.pdf

USING SHORT ATTRIBUTED QUOTES
Quotations of copyrighted works, which are only a few sentences in length, are usually allowable under the Fair Use statute as long as the work is attributed to the original writer.

CHECKLIST TO DETERMINE FAIR USE
If you check more than two of the items below regarding your use of copyrighted material, your intended use is probably not considered Fair Use and you need to receive Permission to use the copyrighted material.

– The material you create using the copyrighted work is to be used for commercial use, advertising use, or profit.
– The copyrighted material is a creative work or unpublished work.
– Credit for the copyrighted material will not be given to the author.
– The portion of the copyrighted material to be used, in relation to the copyrighted material as a whole, is 15%, more than 15%, or is a substantial portion.
– Use of the copyrighted material will significantly impair the market for the copyrighted work.
– Use of the copyrighted material could replace a sale of the copyrighted work.
– Use of the copyrighted material will diminish the market for the copyrighted work.
– Use of the copyrighted material will significantly increase exposure of the copyrighted work.
– Permission to use the copyrighted work is readily available.

All the elements in your book flow from the subject you are writing about.  Whether you are writing a traditional print book or a digital eBook there are standard elements you will want to incorporate into the structure of your manuscript.  Prior to creating a detailed outline, you can start preparing to write your book by selecting which elements you will include in your book and organizing those elements into a binder.

Most books are divided into three main parts: front matter, text, and back matter

FRONT MATTER
The front matter is all of the material that is placed at the beginning of the book, before the first chapter.

TESTIMONIALS
Endorsements or excerpts from positive reviews are placed first as they have been shown to significantly increase sales.

TITLE PAGE
Lists the complete title of the book and the name of the author

COPYRIGHT PAGE
Probably the most important page in the book – and not optional!  This is where you print the copyright notice, the printing history (the number of printings and revisions), the Library of Congress Catalog number, the ISBN, name and address of the publisher, and the printing location (for example, printed in the United States of America).

DEDICATION PAGE
A place to list the person to whom you are dedicating the book (for my loyal companion, Fluffy).

EPIGRAPH PAGE
Includes a quotation that sets the tone of the book.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lists each chapter number and title and the page number where each chapter begins.  Your table of contents is a powerful selling tool.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Most books do not include a list of illustrations unless the book contains many images or charts.

FOREWORD
The foreword contains comments about the book and the author written by a recognized authority or celebrity.

PREFACE
The preface is written by the author and explains why and how he or she wrote the book.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A place to thank everyone who contributed or supported the writing of your book.

INTRODUCTION
The introduction is written by the author and defines and outlines the organization and scope of the work.

PERMISSIONS
Lists permissions received for reprinting any copyrighted material (such as song lyrics).

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
Usually only included in dense technical books.

TEXT
The text section is the main body of the book.

CHAPTERS AND DIVISIONS
The book’s chapters and divisions should be carefully arranged in a way that best presents the information to the reader.  Chapters may contain additional elements, such as: subheadings, lists, sidebars, case histories or anecdotal stories, quizzes, checklists, exercises, charts, tables, footnotes, or photographs.  Narrative nonfiction will also include scenes and dialogue.

BACK MATTER
The back matter is reference material placed at – you guessed it – the back of the book.

AFTERWORD / EPILOGUE
The section usually contains a personal message from the author to the reader wishing them luck in using the information presented in the book.

APPENDIX
May contain samples, templates, resources, checklists and a recommended reading list related to your subject.

GLOSSARY
An alphabetical listing of terms used in the book along with their definitions.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lists reference material or sources used to write the book

INDEX
The index provides an alphabetical list of the topic covered in the book and the page where the subject is mentioned.  Creating an index for your book is important.  It helps readers locate specific information in the text.  Most libraries will not purchase a book that does not contain an index.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A short paragraph listing biography information about the author.

STAY-TUNED: In my next post I will discuss Fair Use in Creative Works.

The right title can make your book a success. Especially for the self-help and how-to genre, you need a title that readers can’t resist. The book’s title is the hook that grabs a reader’s attention. Nonfiction titles are usually five words or less. Some books use subtitles to be more descriptive. Here are six tips to create an intriguing title:

1. USE A PLAY-ON-WORDS
The Greatest War Stories Never Told (military history)
The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived The Great American Dust Bowl (American history)

2. USE A POPULAR PHRASE OR SLANG
All Over But the Shoutin’ (memoir)

3. USE THE SUBJECT’S NAME IN THE TITLE
John Adams (historical biography)
Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride (historical, biography)

4. EVOKE AN EMOTION
In Cold Blood (true crime)

5. HIGHLIGHT A UNIQUE SUBJECT
The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America (historical, true crime)

6. PROVOKE INTEREST
An Inconvenient Truth (current affairs, environmental commentary)
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale (autobiography)
Angela’s Ashes (memoir)
All The President’s Men (political history, investigative reporting)
The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea (true life story, current event)
To The Ends of the Earth (travel)

FOR SELF-HELP AND HOW-TO BOOKS, your title needs to do five things:

1. IDENTIFY THE READER’S PROBLEM
Entice a reader to look at your book by addressing their specific problem.
How To Repair Your Credit Score Now; How To Make Money in Stocks; Great Deals In Las Vegas.

2. SOLVE THE READER’S PROBLEM
Successful self-help and how-to titles let the reader know how they will benefit from reading the book. Sometimes the benefit is implied. What to Expect When You’re Expecting; Think and Grow Rich.

3. GIVE THE READER HOPE
The title should be positive and upbeat and convey a sense of hope. Stay away from prevention titles like “Don’t Be a Loser”, a better title is How to Win Friends and Influence People.

4. BE SPECIFIC
Readers buy the specific over the general, so keep your title focused and targeted – “How to Run A Home Business” vs. “How To Make $100,000 Your First Year by Running a Home-Based Business”.

5. BE EASY TO REMEMBER
Keep it short-and-snappy and easy for potential buyers to remember.

An effective exercise is to come up with 10 to 20 titles for your book and ask friends, family, and associates to vote on which one they like best.

STAY-TUNED: In my next post I will outline the elements of a nonfiction book.

“I want to write a non-fiction book, but I’m not an expert and I don’t have a degree in writing.” I often hear this statement from new writers.

You’re passionate about your subject and may even have extensive knowledge about your topic, but you’re not a noted-expert and you’ve only taken one writing class at your local community college. So how do you get readers to trust your material? The key is to establish your writing as authoritative.

1. CONDUCT RESEARCH
All you need is your local library, a copy of Directories In Print, and access to an Internet search-engine and you can conduct enough research to cite studies, statistics, laws, and historical information to ensure your credibility on any subject.

2. INTERVIEW EXPERTS
Publishers and readers rarely embrace “personal theory” books (“How To Be Happy During a Recession”), unless the author has unique credentials or achieved a remarkable feat. You’ll need to interview and quote experts on your subject.

3. COLLABORATE WITH AN EXPERT
You create instant credibility when you collaborate with an expert. Often, in that scenario, the authority is lending their expertise while you will do all the planning and writing.

4. WORK IN THE FIELD TO GAIN PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE
A great way to establish credibility is to have personal knowledge on the subject you’re writing about. Readers love anecdotes. If you’re planning to write a “Guide to Training Rescue-Dogs” you might consider volunteering at your local rescue-dog training center.

5. HAVE A FAMOUS PERSON OR KNOWN-EXPERT WRITE YOUR BOOK’S FOREWORD
Readers assume that if an expert has written a foreword for a book than the book must have value. Usually the author will pay the expert for this service.

6. HIRE A GOOD EDITOR
One of the benefits of being a writer is anyone can do it. Yes, you need to understand how to craft a sentence and effectively convey an idea, but you don’t need a degree in writing. The more you write, the better you become as a writer. All successful writers use professional editors. There are several levels of editing available from line-editing to developmental editing, with fees averaging $25 to $65 per hour. Visit www.the-efa.org for a list of professional freelance editors.

STAY-TUNED: In my next post I’ll discuss the importance of your book’s title and sub-title.

Why do so many promising nonfiction books fail to connect with an audience, even with a large publishing house behind them and an extensive marketing effort? Often, the answer is the writer didn’t understand what the audience wanted and failed to deliver.

Not understanding potential readers’ needs and expectations frequently leads to disaster. By knowing your demographic and what you have to offer as the author, you will formulate and write a manuscript that will be well-received by readers.

As you begin to organize and plan your book, visualize your potential reader. Who will read your book? Why will they read the book? Answering the following questions will help you focus on writing for your readers.

WHAT IS YOUR AUDIENCE’S LANGUAGE-SKILL & EDUCATIONAL LEVEL?
If you use “big” words or mathematical algorithms in your writing, then your reader needs to be someone who is educated, preferably with a college-degree who reads literature and/or scientific journals. This is not the ‘general public’. Usually, it’s best to write in easy-to-understand layman’s terms.

WHAT IS YOUR AUDIENCE’S TECHNICAL-SKILL LEVEL?
If you are writing for the ‘general public’, you should assume some of your readers will need definitions of technical terms. You may wish to include a glossary to explain complex terminology.

WHAT ARE YOUR READER’S EXPECTATIONS?
Is your reader expecting to be entertained or informed? Do they expect to learn a new skill by reading your how-to manual or are they expecting to enjoy an afternoon on the beach reading your celebrity exposé? When someone purchases a humor book, they expect it to be funny and when they purchase “Auto Repair for Dummies”, they expect to learn how to fix their car. The writer needs to deliver on the reader’s expectations.

WHAT DOES YOUR READER WANT TO ACHIEVE?
Is she a first-time mother desiring information about pregnancy or a college-student needing a historical perspective of Civil War battles? It is imperative that you understand what your reader wants or needs in order to effectively provide it.

WHAT DO THEY NEED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE IT?
How will you solve your reader’s needs? What is the information, steps, recipes, tools, etc. that must be presented in order for the reader to achieve his need or desire? Outline all the necessary details, gather the information, and make sure it’s covered in the book.

WHAT DOES YOUR AUDIENCE ALREADY KNOW?
By understanding what your audience already knows about your subject, you can focus your content on what they don’t know – creating valuable material and a worthwhile reading experience.

HOW WILL THE MATERIAL BE RECEIVED?
Are you preaching to the choir or trying to persuade skeptics of your philosophy? Do you need to overcome reader’s objections or simply convey information to loyal supporters? Understanding how your material will be received will help you determine the tone and the expanse of the content. Perhaps you will write in a causal, friendly, one-to-one chat style or perhaps you will find that you need a more formal, expert-advisor tone supported by documented research.

STAY-TUNED: In my next post I will provide the Six Secrets to Establish Credibility.

Do you have a great idea for a book? Before you spend the next 6 to 12 months writing your nonfiction masterpiece, here are five questions to answer to determine the marketability of your idea to a publisher or agent.

1. DOES A NEARLY IDENTICAL BOOK ALREADY EXIST?
If your book idea is a good one, you’ll most likely find several other similar books already on bookstore shelves. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room for another book on the same topic if you have a unique slant, opinion, or solution. But, if a book already exists that is almost identical to your idea you’ll have trouble selling yours to an agent or publisher. Check out www.amazon.com and enter a search for your book idea. Their search-engine will produce a list of current books on your topic that you can research further and compare with your idea. If there are a few near-matches to your idea, you will need to ensure (and show a publisher or agent how) your book will be better than the ones already on the market.

2. HOW LARGE IS THE POTENTIAL AUDIENCE FOR YOUR BOOK?
Who will buy your book? If only you and your parents are interested in your book’s subject, a publisher or agent won’t be begging for your manuscript. If you can identify a large, specific group of potential readers who want or need what you plan to write about (adventurous males over 40 who own dogs and like to go backpacking), you’ve increased your chances for snagging a book deal. A great resource for determining how many potential readers there are for your subject matter is to browse the sales figures of similar titles and review the “Encyclopedia of Associations”, where you can find membership information on just about any type of organization.

3. IS THERE ENOUGH MATERIAL TO WRITE A 175-250 PAGE BOOK?
Creating a detailed outline and calculating an estimated page count will help you determine if you will have enough content for a full-length book. If you have only 80 pages of valuable material, consider producing a digital eBook or a print-on-demand book, instead of traditional publishing.

4. DOES YOUR BOOK IDEA HAVE SERIES OR SPIN-OFF POTENTIAL?
Spin-off or series potential is not mandatory to sell your book idea, but an agent or publisher is more interested in projects that begat more product. Books with spin-off or series potential are considered more valuable.

5. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THE BOOK?
In general, a nonfiction book takes an average of 6 months to one year to complete. A publisher may not feel it’s worthwhile to invest in a book that takes you five years to research and complete and only has a potential of 20,000 readers. Alternately, if you’re writing an extensive history that requires five years of your time but has the potential to attract 500,000 readers – a publisher will reconsider the timeframe.

Regardless of your book idea’s potential to garner a traditional publisher or agent, if you are passionate about your subject, if you are committed to the time and effort necessary to produce it, and if you don’t care how many copies it sells – then I encourage you to write it. Put your passion on paper. Express your convictions and thoughts. Provide your experiences and knowledge for others to learn. A book is a powerful gift.

STAY-TUNED: In my next post I’ll discuss Writing For Your Readers.

Is your topic relevant?  Does it solve a reader’s problem or make their life better? Non-fiction books (and eBooks) stand or fall on the delivery of the promise to help the reader.  Regardless of your genre, you are either helping the reader fix a problem (most self-help, how-to, reference, inspirational, travel guides, and cookbooks serve this purpose – “The Insider’s Guide To Surviving the Recession”, “Web Marketing for Dummies”, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting”, “The Alzheimer’s Answer Book”, “How To Train Your Golden Retriever”, “Think and Grow Rich”, “Frommer’s Guide to Las Vegas”), or providing information to expand a reader’s knowledge and world view (most memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, historical accounts, and current events books fall into this category – “John Adams”, “Bailout Nation”, “Easy Riders, Raging Bulls”).

Here are three tips to help you find relevant topics that sell:

BE AWARE OF LIFESTYLE SHIFTS AND READER’S NEEDS
The economic downturn, concern for the environment and depletion of natural resources, and an aging generation of baby-boomers are just three major elements affecting reader’s lifestyles.  As baby boomers age, they are planning for their parent’s medical and care-taker needs and focusing on staying healthy and in-shape.  The financial crises has lead to many people looking for unique ways to find jobs, repair their credit and create debt strategies, avoid foreclosure, and create new streams of revenue (which leads to an increase in entrepreneurship and a need for books on running and marketing small businesses). Many readers are looking for ways to save money by vacationing close to home (leading to an increase in sales of regional and local travel books) and do their own repairs and home improvements (DIY book sales are on the rise). Environmental concern has created an enormous opportunity for  ’green’ books: “It’s Easy Being Green”, “Living Green”, “365 Ways to Live Green”, “Gorgeously Green”, “Go Green and Live Rich”.

REVIEW THE CALENDAR
Everything from the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square uprising to the 30th anniversary of the release of the film “Star Wars” can create reader interest in a specific subject.  The bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth this past February saw the release of a plethora of historical books.  That other little holiday in the month of February produces an increase in sales of romantic self-help guides.

LOOK FOR TRENDS
Whenever a book becomes a bestseller, publishers and readers look for more of the same.   The popularity of “Marley and Me” lead to similar books about owners and their dogs.

You must be invested in your subject, so write what you love, but also look for topics that are timely and relevant.  See if you can find a way to tie your idea into the calendar, current trends, or reader’s immediate lifestyle needs.

YOU TELL ME: How do you find relevant topics that sell?

Stay-Tuned: In the next post I will provide a Book Idea Checklist.