Ah, the misfits. (No, not these Misfits. Or these misfits. Or even these.) There are a lot of non-fiction books that aren’t informational, critical, procedural, or bloggial (hey! I coined a word! Me, Shakespeare and Sarah Palin…sigh). Let’s look at some of these other types of non-fiction books. As always, be certain to look at other books in your genre; the ones that are selling are doing it right. However, there are a few pointers I can offer that will get you on your way. [...]

This is a new genre and a growing one. More and more excellent writing is being done in blogs, and there are many reasons to capture this writing in, as Markos of the Daily Kos says, “analog form.” Now we’ve talked before about your blog being the raw material for your procedural, analytical, or informational book. Decide early if you want to maintain the “blogginess” or just use your information; how you organize and write the book will be quite different. Blog-to-book compendiums seem to [...]

Contrary to what we see on the internet every day, “This sucks” and “so-and-so is an idiot” and “epic fail” do not suffice for analysis and criticism when it comes to books. (It shouldn’t suffice on the internet either, but that’s another rant for another day.) Today, we’ll take a look at some of the characteristics of good analysis and criticism and ways to separate yourself from the hacks. When I talk of analytical or critical books, I am talking mainly about books that take [...]

Many non-fiction books are meant simply to inform. Informational books tell you about people, places, things, and ideas. Histories, biographies, travelogues and more can be found in this huge slice of non-fiction. It is, perhaps, the most simple to write from a ‘rules to remember’ standpoint. But of course, there are some tricks to the trade. Before You Start Decide right off the bat whether you plan to be combative – if you are going to hack and slash at your competition, consider heading into [...]

“How to” books are among the most popular kinds of non-fiction books. People are always looking for books to tell them how to find a mate, fix a car, run a computer, direct a play, cook a meal. If you know how to do something, chances are you can teach someone else. However, it’s not always easy – when we’re experts on how to do something, we take much of the process for granted. When I taught writing and composition, I would use the following [...]