Just as what you put in the front of your non-fiction book matters, so does what you put at the back of the book. Whereas the front matter introduces your reader and gives them a reason to go on to Chapter One, the back matter lends support and credibility. Credibility? I thought I already established my credibility, I hear you moan. I know, I know – you’ve worked hard to create an authoritative persona, you’ve done research, you’ve got the expertise in your subject matter [...]

Unlike a novel, where you can just get on with it already, non-fiction books require some introductory matter, in varying degrees and lengths. Today, we’ll take a look at common pieces of ‘front matter’ and some tips for making sure they work. At their best, front matter elements help your reader. They provide roadmaps, previews, and in some cases, credibility assurances. At their worst, they’re random pages to flip through before getting to the meat. You should always consider, as you are adding front matter [...]

A picture is worth a thousand words. A bad picture takes a thousand words to explain. Images in non-fiction are a tricky business, and there are a handful of tips to making sure your images work. But first, apologies! I had this edition of T4 ready to go before I left for vacation but found out that my vacation spot had no internet access! It was great from a relaxation point of view, but it was frustrating nonetheless. And now, back to our diary, already [...]

While substance is vital in non-fiction writing, style is important too. How you write is as important as what you write. The style of your piece can mean the difference between being taken seriously and considered a joke, being dismissed as academic claptrap, and most of all, being understood. Let’s look at some key style points to help you focus your writing: Know your Audience If you know your audience, the rest of the points almost resolve themselves. If you are writing for experienced cooks, [...]

If you are a teacher or trainer, then you have a lot of material. You have hours of lectures and piles of handouts. You know your stuff inside and out. Even better, you have learned a lot about presentations. You know the “Tell, tell, tell” rule. Your PowerPoint slides are supportive without being too text-filled or too distracting. You have mastered the transition so that your students/audience know what you’re talking about and can draw the connections by listening to you. Very little of this [...]