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Writing non-fiction books is a natural progression for many article writers. The subjects covered by both are closely related; many would say identical, with the only obvious difference being the actual length of the work.
A great many non-fiction books come within the 'How to Do It' category. 'How To Sell Your House Without an Estate Agent', and 'How to Trace Your Ancestors', are recent examples. Other types are those dealing with local history, biographical accounts of famous people, studies of parts of the world or its peoples, and a host of topics which do not fall within the realms of the more fantasy-based world of fiction writing.
Obviously, in starting out in this area of writing, it is preferable to begin with a topic in which you have specialised knowledge, perhaps one forming the basis of many of your articles, or a pet hobby or subject you might not necessarily have written much about, but with which you have kept constantly up-to-date.
Consider first whether you do in fact have sufficient material to fill a book, by writing an overall synopsis and a brief description for each individual chapter. If you feel confident that what you have is worthy of a book, now is the time to look for a publisher. Look through 'Writers' and Artists' Yearbook', and study the requirements of individual publishers.
Then make a list of those that seem suitable for your proposed venture and send details to one of them, outlining your proposals in letter form, with a brief synopsis of the book, details of the chapters you propose including, and a few sample chapters you have already written. Enclosing sample chapters is particularly important for writers new to this field, and is necessary to convince the publisher of your writing ability.
Send a stamped addressed envelope for the return of your documents in the event the publisher isn't interested, and then continue to approach other publishers in the same way, until you find one who does like your work. Remember, a refusal does not mean your work is inadequate. It may be the publisher already has something similar planned, or else has completed his quota of books in the category to which yours belongs. Don't be disheartened, for once you have one non-fiction book behind you the road ahead is infinitely easier to travel, and many article writers become almost exclusively writers of non-fiction books and manuals.
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How to Write Non-Fiction Books by Avril Harper |
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