Thriller writer, archaeologist and traveller
#17 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction If you are self-publishing or are with a small press who will play ball, you can employ a number of sophisticated strategies, particularly if promoting e-books outside your local region. You will need to study the various techniques on offer and apply them rigorously. These are in... Continue Reading →
#16 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction As marketing is such a big subject, I've spread it across three blogs. Here we have a quick look at the mechanics of your book marketing plan in the twenty-first century. Identify market channels before you even begin to write. If your primary audience will be inhabitants... Continue Reading →
#15 in an occasional series on writing non fiction The cover image is a bit of fun - it's not the way to market a book! Marketing is the really tough challenge and can take as much time as writing the book itself. I’m not a marketing expert and it’s something I have personally struggled... Continue Reading →
#14 in an Occasional Series on writing non-fiction If you are an aspiring novelist, this is where your dreams can die. A minority of people who start writing a novel succeed in completing a readable book, and only a fraction of those will find a traditional publisher. Sadly, unless well written and edited to high... Continue Reading →
#12 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction (with a little fiction thrown in) Eagle-eyed followers of this blog will notice that #13 came out last week and #12 follows it. The simple reason is that I didn't have a cover image to hand. Does it show? So, book titles. You probably set out writing... Continue Reading →
#13 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction It is tempting to write your book straight out, beginning to end. At which point you realise you have uncovered a great deal more information than you can fit into the main text without breaking up the flow. This is the purpose of Notes and Appendices. Footnotes... Continue Reading →
No.11 in an occasional series on writing non fiction In fiction it is true to say that you cannot edit your own work. At very least it needs a capable beta reader if not a professional editor to work through the manuscript you thought was finished. Editing non-fiction can be complicated by the subject matter,... Continue Reading →
#10 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction This week's blog looks at creating a Style Sheet, which is something authors of both fiction and non-fiction books should consider. It is worth creating a Style Sheet as you begin drafting your book. Some publishers will have their own which they will supply, but you should... Continue Reading →
#9 in an occasional series on writing non-fiction Your book may have no illustrations beyond cover art, but much non-fiction relies on illustration to support the text. In cases of say a book on fine art or photography, the text can be there largely to support the illustrations. The book may require photographs, maps, diagrams,... Continue Reading →
No.8 in an occasional series on writing non fiction You are going to carry out the sharpest, most comprehensive research you can. You are going to write to the best of your ability and follow all the stylistic rules to make the book entertaining as well as informative. So, here’s a question; have you done... Continue Reading →