While most non-fiction authors don’t need to study plotting and character development, knowing how to craft a sentence, use correct grammar, and outline a book are all still important. Finding books to help non-fiction writers with their craft is much more difficult than finding books for fiction authors.
I was recently at my local Books-A-Million looking for books on writing and they had everything from writing fantasy to plotting for dummies, but books for non-fiction were one-in-a-million (pun intended). With some help from the sales associate and an hour of time to do a detailed search, I did find a couple of gems though. I’ve also been keeping my eye out to see what other authors have read and recommend. Below you’ll find 6 books that I recommend for every non-fiction author (and even most fiction authors).
#1 Writing Non-Fiction Books by Gordon Wells
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Many authors think writing non-fiction is like taking the easy way out — that anyone can do it. But the truth is, good non-fiction is hard to come by. It has to be organized, well developed, supported, and written, etc. Which is why the first book I recommend for non-fiction authors is “Writing Non-Fiction Books” by Gordon Wells.
What’s it cover?
- Non-fiction basics
- Collecting and organising material
- Developing and selling your idea
- Organising
- Presentation and Delivery
- And so much more!
Why do you need this book?
Wells wrote a book worth reading, it’s that simple. His book will help you do the same. The simple tips he shares in this book are invaluable and if you want your non-fiction book to succeed, this book will help you get there.
#2 How to Write for Kindle by Nancy Hendrickson
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This book by Nancy Hendrickson is great for developing your books content. It takes you through outlining, researching and writing in an easy to follow and inspiring way. If you’ve been procrastinating your book, Nancy’s book will help you get organized and motivated!
What’s it cover?
- Outlining Your Book
- Preforming Research
- Writing Your Book
- Revising and Polishing
- Book Marketing
Why do you need this book?
This book has everything you need to know to write a non-fiction book from scratch or to help you finish a project you’ve been working on for a while. Books on writing a non-fiction book in 3 days or less are a dime a dozen, but this one is well worth the time and money. Some of the content in this book is a repeat from Gordon Wells book, but I really think both are a must for non-fiction authors.
#3 Write Your Book by David J. Sluka
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This book was recommended to me by another author–and I wasn’t disappointed. Sluka included everything you could possibly need to know about writing a non-fiction book.
What’s it cover?
- Preparing to write your book
- Writing a book
- Publishing a non-fiction book
Why do you need this book?
Do you really need three books about writing non-fiction? In a word, no. But, each of the three books I’ve listed here are unique and will help you produce a higher quality non-fiction book. Thus, while you don’t NEED all three, I still recommend all three. After all, the more you know, the better off you’ll be.
- Write Your Book (PRINT)
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#4 You Can’t Make This Stuff Up
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This is a great book on creative non-fiction. If you’ve ever struggled telling someone what it is you write–if it’s non-fiction, but not a memoir or how-to book–this book can help you in multiple ways. First, it helps you understand what it is you write, then it helps you polish your writing.
From Amazon:
From rags-to-riches-to-rags tell-alls to personal health sagas to literary journalism everyone seems to want to try their hand at creative nonfiction. Now, Lee Gutkind, the go-to expert for all things creative nonfiction, taps into one of the fastest-growing genres with this new writing guide. Frank and to-the-point, with depth and clarity, Gutkind describes and illustrates each and every aspect of the genre, from defining a concept and establishing a writing process to the final product. Offering new ways of understanding genre and invaluable tools for writers to learn and experiment with, You Can’t Make This Stuff Up allows writers of all skill levels to thoroughly expand and stylize their work.
Why do you need this book?
“You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” will help you really learn the genre of creative non-fiction and then master it. It’s a gem and I highly recommend it.
#5 On Writing Well by William Zinsser
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I have to admit that I’m hesitant to list this book here (and I might change this recommendation later on). This book was highly recommended to me by multiple non-fiction authors as a must have — but I personally didn’t care for it. Instead of being a well flowing book, it is actually a compilation of essays on the topic of writing non-fiction. It has close to 300 reviews and holds a 4.5 star rating, so I’m going to go ahead and share it, just note that I personally didn’t enjoy it.
What’s it cover?
- Writing Principles
- Writing Methods
- Different Forms of Non-Fiction
- Your Attitude Makes a Difference
Why do you need this book?
This book does have a lot of good information for authors. One of the reviewers on Amazon said it best when he wrote, “If you’re a professional writer, this probably won’t do much for you. If you like writing and want to clean up your craft a little with this collection of tips, then it’ll be great for you.” You can read that full review here.
#6 The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale
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My husband hates this book. I use it ALL the time. I won’t lie, I even used it to name my kittens. But what I really love about it is having multiple words I can use to craft a sentence, and this book is gigantic.
What’s Inside?
More than 1,000,000 synonyms arranged in alphabetical order, separated by meaning and different parts of speech.
Includes slang, informal words, and emotions as well as scientific, archaic, and rare words.
Why do you need this book?
Often times authors have words that they favor. If you find yourself using the same word repeatedly in your writing, this book can help you mix it up. This book is great for finding alternate words. It’s also good for when you are trying to think of a word and can’t quite pull it out of your brain. If you know another word that it’s similar to, you can look that one up and see if it’s listed.
Google is great for finding synonyms, but this book has it beat hands down. Having it on your desk should be a must for every author, but especially for non-fiction ones.
What Books for Non-Fiction Authors Do You Recommend?
Share them in the comments below!
Are you a fiction author? You can find Shelley’s list of 6 Essential Books for Fiction Authors here.
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