Having just finished ghostwriting my hubbies new book, Thrive in Overdrive, I started thinking about what makes for good non-fiction. My husband’s first book, which was awarded best how-to book of the year by the North American Bookdealers Exchange, sold over 100,000 copies and his second sold 50,000. What was the secret to his success?

I think he made himself into a complete package. He’s an authority on his subject, creative, articulate, a natural entrepreneur, and a great marketer. He also understood his limitations, and turned over all his great material to a ghostwriter (me) to make it into a book people love to read.

Non-fiction writers must be able to create informative, entertaining and well-written books. You should be equipped with a wide range of imaginative ideas and the specialized skills to turn those ideas into a sequence of flowing narratives. If you don’t have excellent spelling and grammatical skills, find someone who does to edit the book for you. Nothing turns off a publisher faster than a manuscript riddled with careless mistakes.

Tips on book writing

Book writing can be a very complex task. The trick is to break it down to simple parts and then fill in the details. Here are a few tips for writing a great non-fiction book.

1.Find your inspiration. The first step in writing a book of your own is to find your inspiration. If you aren’t inspired, write about something else.

2.Organize your thoughts. Before writing away, make a chapter outline about your book, then list at least ten questions you would ask yourself about each chapter topic. This will help you to create a good flow of ideas for your book. You can then fill in the chapter by answering your own questions. Settle on a theme and build around it.

3.Create interesting chapter titles. In non-fiction writing, chapter titles set the mood. They spark curiosity in the readers. Make sure that you make your chapter titles catchy but related to the section of the story.

4.Write reader-friendly paragraphs. Your paragraphs should be short and sweet. Make your sentences and paragraphs easy to read by cutting them down and making them understandable. Remember to use simple words that your readers will understand. If complex words are necessary, I recommend italicizing the word on its first appearance and then explaining the technical terms in laymen’s language.

5.Use graphics, quotes, etc. You can also use other means to make your book more entertaining and understandable. Making use of graphics and quotes (among others) will do just that. Be careful that they emphasize your point and are not just filler material.

6.Proofread. A good book is always well-written. This includes correct spelling and grammar. Failing to do proofreading will decrease the value of your book and reflect poorly on you as an author.

If you are uncertain about your grammar and syntax, the Chicago Manual of Style is your answer. It is the industry standard and should be on your desk at all times.

I wish you joyous writing!

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