Writing a nonfiction book is like joining a pirate crew in search of buried treasure. You're motivated by a thirst for challenge and adventure, rumors of secret caves full of riches, and the liberating freedom of life on your own terms.
Only one problem: although you think you've got a clear idea on the general direction, the actual step-by-step process is elusive, everything feels much harder than it should be, and the temptation to give up and turn back towards easier, familiar shores creates constant doubt and insecurity.
If you Google "how to write nonfiction" you'll get a bunch of useless listicles and very few hard and fast rules to writing a great book. That's often because great books are stylistic and personal: they have a strong narrative voice and compelling stories. But if you don't already have a big platform, shooting for a smash hit can be perplexing and demotivating... as you wade through the mire of what you want to say and wrestle with ideas.
Many brilliant leaders or visionaries struggle to finish their nonfiction book, memoir or even a simple "how-to" or "self-help" project because they have too much they want to communicate, and not enough firm boundaries or guidelines that help them limit their content, or organize it in a way that engages readers.
After working with dozens of high profile book launches, I decided to organize some nonfiction writing tips that I wish I'd learned a whole lot sooner. In addition to sharing some innovative ways to outline and organize your content, I'll also give you structured tips on how to write a winning preface, introduction and first chapter. We'll cover common writing mistakes to avoid and secrets to mastering writing techniques like "show don't tell" or "kill your darlings."
After finishing Navigate Your Nonfiction, you'll finally have the clarity you need to actually finish and publish your book, without spending any more time spinning your wheels. While I can't promise fame and fortune, it will be a much faster, smoother journey.
Get the course to learn the basics, and upgrade for a personal review of your first chapter, blurb, title & tagline, and outline. If you need long-term coaching to keep you motivated and productive, there are limited spots available in my private 1-on-1 program.
TREASURE MAP
WEEK 1: Discover your purpose
WEEK 2: Find your value
WEEK 3: Claim your story
WEEK 4: Clarify your your process
WEEK 5: Choose your vision
WEEK 6: Research your market
WEEK 7: Collect your content
WEEK 8: Map the journey
WEEK 9: Engage the senses
WEEK 10: Credibility Boosters
WEEK 11: Pave the road
WEEK 12: Editing Strategies
A Nautical Adventure
A hefty section of my PhD thesis was on Moby Dick, so I've decided to stick with a nautical theme, depending on how much work you are ready to commit to.
Ishmael (Landlubber). This is your first big sea journey, and you're eager but inexperienced. The basic course will give you everything you need for a successful voyage, but you'll be down in the galley, learning the ropes and doing the grunt work yourself, with very little support. You'll have doubts and may not understand everything that's happening, but you'll gain knowledge and experience through the struggle.
This is perfect if you're just getting your feet wet, or are interested in writing a book but aren't sure where to start. Course + Guide
Starbuck (First Mate). Starbuck is the voice of reason, who takes measured risks and safe bets, but sticks to safe routes and shallow water. The goal will be to finish a good book, without too much effort. It's the safe, easy way to make sure your voyage is fruitful. At this level, I'll review your outline, discover the ideal title and subtitle for your book, edit your blurb and even critique your first 5000 words.
This strong foundation will help you finish a successful book so much faster, without all the paralyzing self-doubt. Title + Outline + First Chapter
Ahab (Captain). Some call him mad, because of his indomitable will, but failure is not an option. He'll persevere into dangerous waters in a ruthless pursuit towards his goal. The bigger your vision, the more likely you'll get stuck along the way or face unexpected challenges. In order to explore the less-common corners of the map, you'll need a strong ship and a hull full of supplies.
Ensure your voyage by recruiting an expert navigator, so you never feel lost or overwhelmed. 10 Months Support + Coaching
Use your book to build your brand!
While this course material is suited for all kinds of nonfiction, it may be particularly useful for service providers, course creators, or thought leaders who want to establish a platform, or funnel readers towards digital products or services to generate passive income. To that end, this course will include a light introduction to repurposing your nonfiction book materials to generate more visibility and earnings; as well as a guide to successful book marketing and a bestselling launch campaign.
For memoir, how-to, self-help and business books
You have too much to say. Here's how to find the book in it.
Navigate Your Nonfiction is my video course for planning a nonfiction book before you write it. Eight steps take you from why you're writing it to a map of the whole book: what it's worth to a reader, why you're the one to write it, what's already out there, and what goes where.
- 8 video steps plus 3 starter videos, about 6.5 hours in all
- My guide book, Book Craft: How to Write Nonfiction & Memoir (PDF)
- Self-paced, with lifetime access
The guide book that comes with the course, a 129-page PDF
Why nonfiction books stall
You know your subject. Shaping it into a book is the hard part.
Writing a nonfiction book is like joining a pirate crew in search of buried treasure. You're motivated by a thirst for challenge and adventure, rumors of secret caves full of riches, and the liberating freedom of life on your own terms.
Only one problem: although you think you've got a clear idea on the general direction, the actual step-by-step process is elusive, everything feels much harder than it should be, and the temptation to give up and turn back towards easier, familiar shores creates constant doubt and insecurity.
In my experience, authors only need motivation and inspiration because there is a dire lack of direction, purpose and know-how; which breeds insecurity and doubt.
A reader sent me this, quoting a line of mine:
Just want to say thanks. The words “Many brilliant leaders or visionaries struggle to finish their nonfiction book, memoir or even a simple 'how-to' or 'self-help' project because they have too much they want to communicate, and not enough firm boundaries or guidelines that help them limit their content” resonated. And your book has certainly given me hope.
So this course starts before chapter one. You work out what the book is for, who it's for and what belongs in it, then you map it out. After that, the writing has somewhere to go.
What's inside
Eight steps, from why you're writing to a map of the whole book
Each step is a video lesson. Take them in order, at whatever pace suits your book. The titles below are the lesson names from the course.
Start here: three starter videos, Get Inspired (10:22), Make a Plan (27:38) and What You'll Learn (15:36).
- Discover Your PurposeVideo · 40:36Why you're writing this book in the first place, and what you want it to do.
- Find Your ValueVideo · 26:55Who should read it, and what they get out of it.
- Claim Your StoryVideo · 26:00Why this book, and why you're the one to write it.
- Clarify Your ProcessVideo · 21:15How you'll actually get it written, with goals you can keep.
- Choose Your VisionVideo · 12:30What kind of book it is, and a title that's clear before it's clever.
- Research Your MarketVideo · 71:13Find books like yours and read their reviews, so you know what readers loved and what they wished was there.
- Collect Your ContentVideo · 59:48Gather the stories, data and quotes the book will draw on.
- X marks the spotMap Your JourneyVideo · 80:05Turn your main point, your major steps and the questions each one answers into a plan for the whole book.
Over five and a half hours across the eight steps, and about 6.5 hours with the starter videos.
Try one exercise now. This is from step 2. Fill in the blanks for your book:
My book is about ____ and helps ____ to ____
My book is for ____ who want to ____ without _____
This is your short elevator pitch: it should already clearly state the subject, the intended audience and the main benefits. If you can't fill it in yet, that's what the first steps are for.
The guide book
All twelve steps, in writing
The course comes with my guide book, Book Craft: How to Write Nonfiction & Memoir. It has the eight planning steps from the videos, then four more on drafting and revising: Engage the Senses, Credibility Boosters, Pave the Road and Editing Strategies. A last chapter covers publishing and launch.
It grew out of Book Craft, my fiction guide. That book got too big, so I published the nonfiction material on its own.
The videos walk you through steps 1 to 8, the planning. Steps 9 to 12 are in the book.
I offer solutions, not false flattery.
The welcome lesson is free to read, so you can see how I teach before you buy. Read the welcome lesson.
Inside the guide book
- 1. Discover Your PurposeVideo + book
- 2. Find Your ValueVideo + book
- 3. Claim Your StoryVideo + book
- 4. Clarify Your ProcessVideo + book
- 5. Choose Your VisionVideo + book
- 6. Research Your MarketVideo + book
- 7. Collect Your ContentVideo + book
- 8. Map the JourneyVideo + book
- 9. Engage the SensesBook
- 10. Credibility BoostersBook
- 11. Pave the RoadBook
- 12. Editing StrategiesBook
- 13. Publish & LaunchBook
Is this for you?
Good fit
- You know your subject, but you have more material than one book can hold.
- You're writing a memoir, a how-to or self-help book, or a book about your business or your work.
- You'd rather plan the book once than keep reorganizing chapters later.
- You want to work at your own pace, with videos you can come back to.
Not a fit
- You're writing a novel. This course is for nonfiction; for fiction, Bookcraft Academy is the one.
- You want someone to write the book for you. The course teaches the planning, and you do the work.
- You want a promise of bestseller sales. I can't promise fame and fortune.
- You want live classes on a fixed schedule. It's a self-paced video course.
What writers say about my teaching and feedback
These aren't reviews of this particular course. Annie's is about Bookcraft Academy, my writing course that includes this one. Jacky's and Panagiotis's are about feedback I gave them on their writing.
I have started a book several times over the past few years but the main problem has been just how do I do this and achieve a professional outcome? I have looked at several options but none have seemed right for me and many were over complicated to grasp. Your course and way of explaining is absolutely brilliant and within a couple of days I have learnt more than I have in years. I have been a frustrated author for a few decades and the main problem was how to get started and you have 100% solved this for me. Anyway, mega thanks again, really appreciated.
Your suggestions have been wonderful! There was a lot of input you provided that I had not even considered, and will definitely help overall! Looking forward to going through the remainder of your suggestions tomorrow! Thank you again for your time!
First of all, I would like to say that your editing on the intro, epilogue and first chapter is impressive! Finally, I was thinking that I am lucky to have found you. You are the best coach I could have!
Who's teaching this
Hi, I'm Derek Murphy.
I have a PhD in Literature, and a hefty section of my thesis was on Moby Dick, which is why this course has a nautical theme. I've spent over a decade in publishing as a developmental editor, book designer and writing coach, and I've worked with over a thousand writers.
I've written nonfiction of my own, including the guide book that comes with this course, and I've built email lists for both fiction and nonfiction. CNN once featured me for renting castles for writing retreats.
Other people can affirm your greatness and scream "you can do it!" whenever you stumble. I'll simply point out the misstep and how to rectify it by adjusting your form.
The offer
Plan the book once, then write it
Every chapter you draft before you know what the book is for is a chapter you may end up cutting or moving. The eight steps get those decisions made first, while they're still cheap to change.
30-day money-back guarantee
Work through the first steps with your own book. If the course isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
Navigate Your Nonfiction
- 8 video steps, from Discover Your Purpose to Map Your Journey
- 3 starter videos: Get Inspired, Make a Plan and What You'll Learn
- The guide book: all 12 steps, plus publishing and launch (129-page PDF)
- Self-paced, with lifetime access on any device you own
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Price
$197One payment. In the enrollment box below, it's the Ishmael option.
Get the courseYour final price, including any discount code you arrived with, shows in the enrollment box.
Already own Bookcraft Academy? It includes this course, so log in and check your courses before you buy it again.
Want my eyes on your pages?
The enrollment box has two more options. Like Ishmael, they're named after characters from Moby Dick, one of my favorite books. Both include the course.
- Starbuck ($497): I help you find the title and tagline, review your working outline and give your first 5,000 words a deep editorial critique.
- Ahab (10 monthly payments of $497): a developmental edit spread over ten months. Each month you send me a 5,000-word section for feedback.
Each option lists everything it includes in the enrollment box.
Questions
When does it start, and how long do I have access?
Whenever you're ready. It's self-paced, and you have lifetime access to the videos and the guide book on any device you own.
Is it 12 steps or 8?
The guide book has all twelve steps, plus a chapter on publishing and launch. The video lessons cover the first eight, which are the planning steps. Steps 9 to 12 (Engage the Senses, Credibility Boosters, Pave the Road and Editing Strategies) are in the book only.
What kind of nonfiction is it for?
Memoir, how-to, self-help, and books about your business or your work. It's also a good fit if you're a service provider, course creator or thought leader who wants a book that represents what you do.
Do I need a draft already?
No. It works best before you start drafting chapters. If you already have a messy draft, you can use the same steps to decide what the book is for and what belongs in it.
Does it cover publishing and marketing?
Only lightly. The guide book ends with a chapter on publishing and launch. The videos are about planning the book.
Is personal feedback included?
Not with the course on its own. The Starbuck and Ahab options in the enrollment box add feedback from me on your title, outline and pages.
What if I'm on Ahab and need to stop?
Email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund. After that: I get it, life might get in the way and if something is keeping you from writing, you may not have anything to turn in. But if this course is causing you stress and you decide not to continue, I'll stop all future payments - you just have to ask. *Unless, you've opted to have me edit the full book and design a cover already, but even then I'm pretty flexible. I won't let you suffer for taking a big chance on your writing.
I already own Bookcraft Academy. Do I need this?
No. Bookcraft Academy includes Navigate Your Nonfiction. Log in and check your courses before you buy it again.
What if it isn't what I needed?
You're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
You already have the material. Give it a map.
Start with the starter videos and step 1. Step 8 turns everything into a plan for the whole book, so you can draft each chapter knowing where it goes.
Get the courseCourse + guide book · 30-day money-back guaranteeThe enrollment box is right below.
Your Instructor
I've spent decades roaming the globe, studying philosophy, art history and literature. Now I help authors write and publish books while working on my own fiction and nonfiction projects. I have a deep, cutting insight into all things publishing-related and can give you specific, practical feedback and book marketing strategies you won't get anywhere else.
PhD in Literature, USA Today Bestselling Author, Featured in CNN for renting castles.
Course Curriculum
Got Questions?
"Just want to say thanks. The words “Many brilliant leaders or visionaries struggle to finish their nonfiction book, memoir or even a simple 'how-to' or 'self-help' project because they have too much they want to communicate, and not enough firm boundaries or guidelines that help them limit their content” resonated. And your book has certainly given me hope."
- Andrew