10 Rules for Nonfiction Writers
In 2001, author Elmore Leonard published a column in the New York Times in their “Writers on Writing” series that contained 10 rules for writing fiction. Now the subject of a book, the column was equal parts entertainment and sincere advice for those who write fiction and do it poorly. Reading Elmore’s column has motivated me to write Trade Secrets’ “10 Rules for Writing Nonfiction.”
1.Know what’s important. What is informative, controversial, unique, entertaining or other exceptional about the story? Write about that.
2.Tell the real story, not your story. Too many writers of non-fiction try to inject their own points of view, preconceptions or prejudices into a story. Approach every topic with an open mind, and let
the facts guide the writing.
3.Quote (mostly) accurately and in context. You don’t have to quote someone verbatim as long as you’re close and convey the same meaning, unless it’s a famous quote. And don’t use quotes out of context.
4.Spell names correctly. The first question every journalist should ask someone they’re interviewing: “Please spell your name for me.” Even if it’s Glen Smith, it might be Glenn Smythe.
5.Don’t use clichés. This is so often advised, that “avoid clichés” is now a cliché.
6.Use short sentences. Most nonfiction is written at an eighth grade reading level. While long, complex sentences are fine for creative writing class, they don’t work when you’re trying to convey information quickly and accurately. Likewise…
7.Use short paragraphs. Nothing turns off a reader more than an imposing block of text staring them in the face. Three to four sentences, max. Then hit enter.
8.Be careful with your punctuation. There isn’t much room for the exclamation point in nonfiction (or in fiction, for that matter). Unless you’re being purposely glib to set a tone or be interesting, then stick with periods.
9.And speaking of being interesting, be interesting. No one says nonfiction has to be dull or boring just because it’s factual and not fanciful.
10.The last two rules are the same as Leonard’s: Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip. You need to figure out what that is, and get rid of it. It may be pointless exhibition, or it may be a statement of fact that we all know (e.g., “The current recession has been tough for small businesses.”).
And Leonard’s One Rule to Rule Them All: If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.
Write a book? Get a website
One of the best ways to promote a book is to create a website for it. A website can expose your book to millions of potential buyers who may not ever come across your work by other, more traditional means of promotion.
An important step in creating a website for your book is to pick the domain 
name. Unless you’re a famous author like James Patterson (www.jamespatterson.com) or Nicholas Sparks (www.nicholassparks.com), you probably don’t want to use your own name for the domain name. Rather, use descriptive keywords for your domain name. For example, author Thomas Lawson recently wrote a book titled Carl Jung: Darwin of the Mind. Rather than using his own website to publicize the book (the rather mundane www.ttlawson.com), he chose www.jungdarwinbook.com. This name is ideal because not only is it unique, but it will show up well in many search engines, and automatically lets the viewer know what the site is all about.
What should your website include? Here is a list of features that will interest potential book buyers and encourage them to click “add to cart”:
- Pictures of the front and back covers
- Excerpts from the book
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Blog
- Information about the author
- Reviews and press coverage
- Information on other books you may have written
- Links to order the book, either from your site directly, or from an online bookstore
- Podcasts or videos of you talking about or reading from the book
Your website tells your fans what you’re up to, where you’ll be signing books next, or answers questions from fans and followers. You can discuss the details of your manuscript, your career, new projects and other interesting ideas.
A Facebook presence is a must too and can tie in neatly to your website. It’s just one more way to interest more people in your book.
Remember, the goal is to sell your book! Tell your potential readers why your book is different, new, newsworthy, unique, fun, entertaining and/or informative. Use a theme that sets the mood: if your book is about 18th-century colonial America, think sepia-tone, parchment, calligraphy and quill pens. If it’s a cutting-edge business self-help book, think the colors of business (whites, blacks, blues, greens), bold lines, thick, solid text and successful-looking, smiling faces. A murder mystery? Dark! Blacks, blood reds, icey blues and bone whites.
While no website can sell very many copies of a so-so book, a great website paired with an engaging read can make the difference between ho-hum sales and a chart topper. Want to learn more? Call or e-mail Trade Press Services today.