Are you looking for some help on how to write nonfiction? If the answer is yes, this post will guide you in just 8 simple steps.

1- Choose what type of nonfiction you will write

The very first step is to define exactly what you will be writing. Will you be writing about topics that are trending or will you be writing about topics that you already know? If you are writing about topics that are trending, doing a quick search on Amazon will help you identify some keywords that people are already looking for. This keyword search will help later when deciding what title to have for your book. If you decide to go with writing what you already know, then you already have an idea of what type of writing you will be doing based on your experience and expertise. You also need to identify your audience. Will this book be for adults, teenagers, business people, or will it be for any audience? Knowing your target audience will make the process of writing the book more effective. It will determine what language you will use (professional vs. casual) and how to present the information (brief vs. detailed).

2- Decide on the topic

Now that you have decided what type of nonfiction you will be writing, the next step is to decide on a specific topic. Define what kind of book you will be writing. Will it be a know-how-to book or will it be informational? This will help you define what topic or topics you want to cover. Do a niche search for nonfiction books on amazon by going to the best seller list and see what people are buying. Once you have chosen the topic that you will be writing about, do a quick search with that topic. Imagine that you are writing a book about vegetarian diet. Doing a quick search will provide you topics that people are already searching for such as “vegetarian diet for kidney disease” or “vegetarian diet for weight loss”. This will help you define your niche even further and make it more targeted. Keyword research will also help you decide on the title of your book. Make sure that your title includes those words people are already searching for.

Besides deciding on what topic you will be writing about, you also need to consider if you will need further research. If you already have experience on the topic, your research will be minimal to none. However, if you choose a topic that you are not familiar with, you will have to do research. Have a plan of action for your research. Decide what sources of information you will use (books, magazines, blogs, articles) and where to get them from (internet, library, your book collection). Do not get carried away with this task. Many people make the mistake of spending too much time researching that the writing of the book gets postponed for weeks.

3- Write down a simple outline

This is the part where you need to brainstorm about what the structure of your book will look like. Come up with an outline of what your chapters will be by choosing the topics you will be addressing throughout the book. Make sure that you have an introduction to the topic of your book; not every reader is familiar with the topic you are presenting. If you are going to write more advanced information and leave an introduction out, make sure that you let your reader know in advance that the book is not suitable for beginners.

If you are having a hard time coming up with an outline, read books that are in your niche. Analyze how their chapters are broken up to give you an idea on how to better organize your outline. Having a bulleted list of your main topics will make it easier for you to write each chapter in your book.

4- Set a writing schedule

It is important that you dedicate time to your writing and that you set up deadlines. If you do not set deadlines or goals for your project, it can take longer than what it should. Set deadlines will give you accountability so that you can finish tasks in a timely manner. Creating a to-do list will help with this task. Not only do you need to set up time for the writing process, but you should also set a time frame of when you want to finish your book by. This means that you need to come up with a time frame for your research, your first draft, your editing process, your cover creation and your launching date. Mapping this out will help you stick to your writing schedule.

Find a quiet and peaceful place for your writing, away from interruptions. Do not have electronics around you that can be of distraction like a TV or your cellphone . Create an atmosphere that is optimal for writing and try to set up a time out of each day to work on your project. Everybody is different. What may work for you may not work for others. Some people find that they can write better when they are listening to music; others must be in a completely quiet environment. Find what works better for your, develop an action plan of how much time you will spend and how often you will write, and stick to it.

5- Create the first draft

Now that you have gone through the first four steps, you are ready to start the biggest task… writing your first draft. Following the outline that you created on step four will make this step easier. At this point, do not be too concerned about grammatical errors or readability. This is not the time to be a perfectionist. Try to write down your ideas as they come to mind and do not break your writing flow by stopping to make corrections.

6- Edit your draft

After you have written your first draft, go back to read it in its entirety. This is the time to pay close attention to all the typos and you will have the opportunity to see how your thoughts flow throughout the book. It is important to look at your draft with a fresh set of eyes. This means that you shouldn’t jump into editing mode as soon as you are done writing your draft.

After you have edited your draft, have someone else read it and ask for feedback. This will give you a reader’s perspective. Make the necessary corrections and read it one more time. If you can, hire a professional editor. You can find one on websites like Fiverr or Upwork.

7- Create a cover page

Creating the cover page for your book will be one of the most important tasks to do. The reason being, your cover page is your first marketing tool. If your cover page is not attractive enough, readers will not even bother looking at it to learn more about your book. This is the reason why it is important to outsource this part of the process if you do not have previous experience designing cover pages. Cover page designers can also be find on Fiverr and Upwork.

8- Monetize

Once your book has been complete, I strongly suggest that you monetize it. At the end of the book, include a call to action such as subscribing to your list to receive quality content in the future. When you convert readers to subscribers, it gives you the opportunity to further promote your books or any other products that you sell. You can also include affiliate links for products that are related to your book.

Congratulations! Now you know how to write nonfiction. Keep in mind that not all nonfiction will be a success. There is a lot of research that needs to be done to identify what works and what doesn’t. With that in mind, be prepared to fail. You will have really good books and you will have those that do not perform. However, every book you write is a learning process. Learn from your mistakes and apply what works to your future writing. It is important to continue working and to never give up.

Happy writing!