Choosing a topic among so many topics to write on is a challenge in itself. You want something you can describe in detail without rambling, or overwhelming readers. While researching, you would find a plethora of topics to choose from and it becomes quite a bother to wrap your head around them all and finally choose one.
Estimate the word count
You need to find a topic that you can easily cover in the number of words that you have decided. Once you have set the limit, you will find it easier to narrow down on a specific topic.
The rule of thumb is that the word count of your book must lie somewhere between 20,000 and 60,000. You can create an outline and allocate the word count to each chapter or heading, too. This will make it easier for you when you have started writing because then you will have an idea about managing your book according to that outline.
You need to create a book that will be worth a read. We don’t need it to be really flimsy and we don’t want it to be full of padding and fluff. That’s another reason why you want to check the length of the book. If it’s going over 60,000 words, there’s a chance you’re digressing.
Allocating a word count is an underrated yet vital part of writing a book, so make sure that you don’t skip it.
Understand what you are writing about before writing
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’ll be surprised to know that there are a lot of people who simply write along without having any thought about checking the facts for accuracy. With the advent of the internet, there are many facts that are misquoted and must always be checked for verification.
Since you are writing a nonfiction book, understanding the concept and checking the validity of facts becomes even more necessary for you. You cannot ramble on and hope that the reader will forgive you for it.
I should mention here that it is important that you choose a topic that you are actually interested in. David Ogilvy, the father of copywriting, said:
“I never assign a product to a writer unless I know that he is personally interested in it.”
Although this quote is mentioned about copywriting, this applies to
Choose a style
Basically, there are three styles of nonfiction writing that you can choose from:
- the how-to book: Give a step-by-step solution to a problem with your expertise in the field
- the tips book: You can collate a selection of useful tips or include some of your own to create a valuable tips book.
- the personal journey: This book would have a more narrative style to it, and it describes your solution to a problem that you faced and overcame.
Choose the one that best suits your subject matter.
