You can write a nonfiction book off the top of your head or by the seat of your pants, but you’ll be a more effective writer and turn out a better book if you plan out the book and then stick to that plan as you write.
Now that you’ve created your business plan and I’ve given a tool and information on how to create a writing guide based on that business plan, you should find today’s nonfiction writing prompt fairly simple.
Nonfiction Writing Prompt #21: Create a Writing Guide for Your Book
To complete this prompt, apply the following steps to create a writing guide for your book. Find more information about the steps in this post.
If you aren’t writing a book, adapt these steps for an article or essay. First, create a business plan for your project by studying the market and any competition, previous articles written on the topic, etc. Then craft an Overview (summary of your project including a pitch and list of benefits), a list of subheadings (List of Chapters) and a subhead-by-subhead synopsis (Chapter Summaries). Then proceed with the rest of this prompt by considering each subhead as a chapter.
- Create a folder on your computer called “[Your Book Title] Writing Guide.” Place within it these sections of your business plan:
- Create individual chapter documents for all the chapters in your book, and place them in the “[Your Book Title] Writing Guide” folder.
- Open a document for each chapter.
- Copy and paste that chapter’s summary into the document twice. Leave the first summary intact.
- Break the second duplicate summary into bullet points or subheadings with spaces in between.
Now you have your writing guide for your book (or article or essay), and you are ready to start writing a marketable product!
What did you learn by creating a writing guide?
The Author Training Manual: Develop Marketable Ideas, Craft Books That Sell, Become the Author Publishers Want, and Self-Publish Effectively, Nina Amir’s new book, provides all the information you need to create a business plan for your book and to train you to become a successful author. However, you also can get author training from Nina during the next Author Training 101:Craft Books that Sell LIVE course. Starting May 6, you will receive audio and video lessons that correspond with the chapters. And, while you use take the course and complete the training exercises in the book, you get support during 8 weeks of group coaching. You’ll also get a bonus proposal/business plan template and more! Only 20 spots! Get more information and claim your spot by clicking here.
For more information on how to create nonfiction book ideas that are marketable and that support your writing goals, join the NFWU. When you do, you’ll receive this month’s Nonfiction Writers’ University (NFWU) homework assignment, which contains more exercises and information on this topic. Plus, you’ll have access to the growing archive of past homework assignments and NFWU teleseminars as well as some introductory gifts worth more than the membership! Join here at the low introductory rate!
Next month NFWU teleseminar takes place on May 8 at 5 p.m. PT and will feature New York Times Best Selling Collaborator Toni Robino, who will teach members “Train Your Writer’s Monkey Mind.” Learn more about the event here. (Members get recordings of the events, access to the forum, bonus products, and more…) Learn about the benefits of membership when you click here.
Photo courtesy of Phasinphoto | freedigitalphotos.net
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