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Writing a non-fiction series: Editor's Notes #254 February 07, 2018 |
| Hello, I wouldn't say I have a talent that's special. It strikes me that I have an unusual kind of stamina. —John Irving In this issue: 1. Writing a non-fiction series 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 5. Letters to the editor 1. Writing a non-fiction series If you missed it, read the previous issue on the general pros and cons of writing a series. https://www.writershelper.com/Editors_Notes-252.html This issue gets to the specifics of writing a non-fiction series. One type of non-fiction series is an overarching topic with a range of specifics, for example, biographies of children who were born with physical handicaps and how they dealt with them. Another is a range of topics with a specific readership in mind. The Dummies series published by Wylie with twenty categories, each containing a multitude of specific topics that target those who need to know how something works or how to do something, is a great example. Text book publishing catalogues are full of series. Think of Math texts with one book for each grade. What makes a non-fiction series is a set of similarities shared by the books: length, layout, features (explained in the Interesting Web site below). In many cases, once the form is decided, writing these series is almost a fill-in-the blanks exercise. Besides general competency with language, the writer of a non-fiction series needs either expertise or excellent research skills. Both would be fantastic. Although you may have a non-fiction series inside you just bursting to come out, do consider writing for publishers that already have series and need writers to produce specific books. If you have expertise and good research skills, you can be successful as long as you are willing to be confined by the guidelines. =========== 2.Tickled my funnybone Mugging: stealing someone's coffee =========== 3. Interesting Web site For a list of some non-fiction features to consider when planning a series, see this page. https://www.writershelper.com/non-fiction-features.html =========== 4. Writing prompt Here is a site that will give you enough prompts for the rest of your life. I offer this page as a starter. Click the buttons to get a title. Then go to work. http://writingexercises.co.uk/story-title-generator.php =========== 5. Letters to the editor Following up on the conversation about synonyms, Albert Hall sent this. I found this Reader’s Digest article interesting and thought you might too. https://www.rd.com/culture/words-that-arent-synonyms/ =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html |
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