If you’re seeking traditional publication for a nonfiction book, you’re most likely going to need to write a nonfiction book proposal. The art of writing a nonfiction book proposal is sort of like cooking lasagna. There are a thousand ways of making it, everyone has their own recipe, but most every lasagna will have a […]
Nonfiction
Why an author’s platform matters
Let’s say you are thinking about writing a book of nonfiction and want to have it published by a major publisher. The first thing you need to do is assume that every single person in the entire world wants to write a book (which isn’t really an assumption, it’s basically true). The second thing you […]
Bestselling Nonfiction Books by Year
Last Wednesday I listed the Bestselling Novels by Year. Here are the bestselling nonfiction books by year (source source source source source source source), along with the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best nonfiction books of all time. What’s interesting to me about this list is the extent to which celebrity books and self-help were prevalent even in the […]
Blog Directory
In an effort to make the blog more navigable and to help newcomers discover old posts, I’ve categorized all the posts into categories (except for those that are hopelessly out of date). Just click on the category to move down to that section. I’ll keep updating this directory with new posts, so please bookmark it […]
Should you pay someone to edit your work?
Only if you need to. It’s essential for authors get some sort of editorial feedback on their manuscript and/or query letter from someone they trust before trying to find an agent. That could be a significant other, a critique partner, a friend, a mortal enemy… someone. The advice should be positive, useful, strike you with […]
How to Write a Book Proposal
A few readers have registered their complaints that the blog has lately been heavily focused on fiction queries and manuscripts and novels, and what about poor, neglected nonfiction? Doesn’t nonfiction have feelings too? When nonfiction is pricked does it not bleed??? Apparently so. The art of writing a nonfiction book proposal is sort of like […]
