Nonfiction Ink

LuAnn Schindler has a great post over at the WOW Women on Writing blog about using the National Archives to conduct research.  Check it out here: Searching the National Archives.

Research is an essential component of creating a nonfiction manuscript.  Some writers embrace the process, while others would rather dine on broken glass than wade through the overwhelming resources needed to complete the task. But research doesn’t need to be that bleak of a scenario if you design an effective, organized system.  The first step in conducting research is to review your project and create a plan of approach:

1. Write a mission statement
A mission statement or thesis statement about your book helps focus your project and keep your research on track.  Write a single sentence that asserts the main idea and expresses your point of view.  In other words, write a statement that declares what you and your research have to say about the subject.  For instance, for his book Billy The Kid: The Endless Ride, author Michael Wallis’ statement might read, “A revisionist approach to untangling the myth and legend of Billy the Kid to reveal the real man behind the outlaw.”

2. Determine what research is needed
Review your book outline and note the research required for each topic.  For instance, for his chapter on the Lincoln County War, Michael Wallis might need to research: what lead up to the war, what was the inciting incident that launched the war, who were the parties involved and what side were they on, what was Billy’s involvement in the war, why was he part of the war, how did the war affect Billy, what was the outcome of the war – and much more.  It’s a good idea to estimate how much material you will need (hint: it’s always more than you think.)

3. Decide what type of research you will conduct
Most writers use more than one method.  The basic types of research are:

• Reviewing source material: such as books, private documents, photos
• Interviewing: this may include in-person or email interviews, questionnaires and surveys conducted on Twitter or Facebook.
• Observation: first hand experiences such as surviving the Sago Mine Disaster or going undercover as a Playboy hostess.
• Deductive reasoning: consists of using the above methods of research and ‘connecting the dots’ to formulate a conclusion.  An example of this is Sebastian Junger’s research for his book The Perfect Storm – to create the sinking of the Andrea Gail and the death of her crew, Junger researched the experiences of people who had nearly drowned and the technical elements of a sinking ship.

4. List the resources you will use for your research
Published books, unpublished manuscripts, letters, photographs, artwork, diaries, private documents, corporate memos, public records, court transcripts, surveys, questionnaires, interviews, films, documentaries, statistics, press releases, business leaders, association newsletters, magazines, newspapers, maps, charts, investigators, experts, scholars, associates, stories from ‘ordinary’ people, personal experience, etc…..

5. Create a research timeline
I like to use my iCal program to plan my research, schedule interviews, note deadlines, etc. (May 12th review chapters in published book, May 14th read private letters, May 16th interview subject’s widow). When you set deadlines you’re more likely to finish a project.  Use whatever calendar system works for you to stay on track and complete your research.

6. Create your bibliography as you go
Why wait until completing your manuscript to type up your bibliography when you can create it during the research process?  Save yourself time and future headaches by noting each citation now.  You’ll never have to go back and search for a source, a copyright date or publisher’s name for any of your research.

YOUR TURN: What research planning system works for you?

Experts can lend credibility to your project, supply notable quotes and anecdotes for your manuscript, provide insight into your subject and help you round out your research.  Here is a list of resources for finding experts in any field:

Book authors. Anyone who has authored a book in the same field as your topic is an expert.  Check out complimentary books at Amazon.  Most authors have a website with their contact information or may be contacted via their literary agent (often listed in the book’s acknowledgements page.)

Experts quoted in magazine articles.  Google the experts name or company to locate contact information.  Some experts also author magazine and journal articles and include a byline with contact details.

The Encyclopedia of Associations.  Available at most public libraries, this book is the source for thousands of associations on almost any topic.  Contact the association director for an interview or referrals to other members.

ProfNet.  An extensive resource for contacting leading experts and public relations professionals.  If you can’t find exactly what you are looking for, send a query and the staff will help connect you with an expert.

Who Represents.  For a fee, you can find agents and managers who can connect you with celebrities.

Findlaw.  This site provides connections to legal experts.  You can also ask a question in their FindLaw Answers section and a lawyer will provide the information you request.

Experts Click and All Experts.  Two more helpful sites for finding experts.

Help a Reporter.  This site allows you to submit a query (with your contact information and details about your project) that is emailed to experts who can then choose to connect with you directly.

Switchboard.  Provides telephone numbers and website addresses for millions of businesses and organizations.  Just type in your keyword (such as ‘solar energy’) and you’ll get a list of resource links.

“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.

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.