How To Write a Nonfiction Book that Sells: A Comprehensive Guide
Millions of people want to write a nonfiction book.
So, how can your nonfiction book stand out in a way that brings in sales?
This comprehensive guide will help you answer that question.
I wrote my first nonfiction book in 2014 because I felt the urge to write a book that could help people live better lives.
Looking back at that book now, I see how much I’ve grown and improved.
Strategies I used to write and promote that book in 2014 aren’t the same strategies I used for my latest nonfiction book.
The change helped me sell more books. Sure, my first book has more reviews but my latest book has more sales.
I’ve also worked with clients over the years who needed help with ghostwriting projects. There’s been some good and bad in the mix.
All these experiences taught me valuable lessons about writing a nonfiction book.
I wrote this guide so that you can understand what it takes to write a nonfiction book that sells.
The tips I’ve presented are based on my experiences and observations of what’s likely to create the best results.
Use the Table of Contents below to navigate through this guide.
Table of Contents
What Does “Nonfiction Book” Mean?
What Are the Benefits of Writing a Nonfiction Book?
What Makes a Nonfiction Book Good?
What Are the Parts of a Nonfiction Book?
How Can You Create a Nonfiction Book Outline?
How Long Is a Nonfiction Book?
How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 3 Months
3 Tips for Publishing a Nonfiction Book
5 Tips for Promoting a Nonfiction Book
How Much Does It Cost to Create a Nonfiction Book?
How Much Does the Average Nonfiction Book Make?
Tips for Converting a Nonfiction Book Into an Audiobook
3 Examples of Good Nonfiction Books
What Does Nonfiction Book Mean?
Nonfiction is basically what the name implies - not fiction. So, those crime thrillers you love won’t be in the nonfiction section on Amazon.
Real-life events form the base of nonfiction books. Fiction books can have realistic elements but those books are primarily based on imagination.
Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crimeis an excellent example of a nonfiction book.
But, a memoir isn’t the only type of nonfiction book. There are some nonfiction books that’ll make you laugh, some that’ll make you cry, some that’ll take you through a range of emotions, some that’ll teach you, and others that’ll just present you with raw facts.
Masterclass describes nine broad categories for non-fiction books:
History
Biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs
Travel guides
Academic textbooks
Philosophy
Journalism
Self-help
Guides and how-to manuals
Humour and commentary
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash
What Are The Benefits of Writing a Nonfiction Book?
Nonfiction books do a lot for both personal brands and organizations. There are six benefits of nonfiction books:
Thought leadership
Reaching a wider audience
Catapulting a speaking/consulting/coaching career
Passive income
Enhancing existing content
Exposure and opportunities
Thought Leadership
A nonfiction book allows you to share fresh and interesting solutions to your readers’ burning problems. What truly makes these solutions fresh and interesting is the fact that they’re based on your experiences and proven strategies.
That’s why it’s important to maintain authenticity in a nonfiction book, especially if you’re creating a self-help book or how-to guide. You don’t want your book to be heavily based on the ideas and perspectives of others. That approach doesn’t make you a thought leader.
Being a true thought leader means that you’re “a trusted source who moves and inspires people with innovative ideas, turn ideas into reality, and can show people how to replicate your success.”
James Clear is a great example of thought leadership. He isn’t the only habit coach in the world. Yet, his book Atomic Habits has sold over one million copies.
He achieved this feat because his book shares a fresh perspective on habit formation that he tried himself and was able to teach others so that they could live better lives.
Reaching a Wider Audience
Books can be published in four formats:
Ebook
Paperback
Hard copy
Audio
Using multiple formats allows you to reach more readers. Audiobooks are particularly appealing to a younger audience since 48% of audiobook listeners were under the age of 35 in 2018.
A well-written book that specifically meets readers’ needs also benefits from word-of-mouth advertising and positive reviews. Those lead to more people purchasing and reading the book thus creating a domino effect.
Catapulting a Speaking/Consulting/Coaching Career
Being seen as a thought leader, while reaching a wider audience, gives merit to the growth of a speaking, consulting, or coaching career.
People want to know more about what you have to say. They’re interested in your brand and will pay to get the personalized support necessary to succeed.
Passive Income
Effectively promote a well-written, thought-provoking book and those book sales will start rolling in.
You can even reach bestseller status and earn thousands of dollars monthly exclusively from book sales. The trick is knowing how to write a bestselling nonfiction book.
Enhancing Existing Content
You may already have a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel. A nonfiction book provides a good opportunity to expand on topics you’ve covered.
Followers who are interested in learning more about what you’ve shared will want to purchase that detailed book. Just ensure that you have multiple book formats to reach all possible readers.
Exposure and Opportunities
I’ve self-published four books. My most recent book has been my most successful. But, this success isn’t completely related to book sales.
This book has helped me meet new people, build relationships, and be invited to speak at events. In fact, I met one of my blog content strategy clients at an online event at which I was invited to present!
Photo by Bethany Laird on Unsplash
Photo by Bethany Laird on Unsplash
What Makes a Nonfiction Book Good?
Pinpointing what makes a nonfiction book good largely depends on understanding the category in which the nonfiction book falls.
A memoir certainly can’t be compared to a textbook or historical book. There are three things that you should pay attention to though as a general rule of thumb for all nonfiction books.
The Facts
Remember that a nonfiction book isn’t based on imagination. Readers are expecting factual information supported by evidence.
Appropriate referencing is necessary for most nonfiction books. But, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, self-help books, guides, and how-to manuals can depend more on the author supporting claims with practical examples from real-life experiences.
I call this non-fiction storytelling.
How the Content is Written
Nothing turns a reader off more than a book filled with grammatical errors, typographical errors, and boring content. Too many of us are guilty of self-publishing what really is the first draft of our nonfiction book because we’re rushing to make a quick buck. That approach can’t work if you want readers to build trust in you as an author.
The Structure
A nonfiction book should have a good flow. Readers should be able to clearly follow transitions within a chapter, from one chapter to the next, and from section to section. I’ve read a few books where this was done really well and I’ve highlighted these books at the end of this article.
3 Common Mistakes that Make a Nonfiction Book Bad
Some potential clients have asked me to write nonfiction books that don’t align with what a high quality nonfiction book should look like. I discuss two of their mistakes in this article.
But, I’ve further expanded on the effects of these mistakes and provided solutions below. I’ve also included another mistake.
The author rewrites existing content just to make a quick buck. This leads to unauthentic content that gives the reader an “I’ve read this before” feeling.
There’s no depth or truly relatable content. Readers are looking for books that offer fresh perspectives to the daily problems they face.
The book is rushed so readers don’t feel like their problems have been addressed by the time they finish reading it.
There are two solutions to these problems. The first is storytelling because effective storytelling is a key part of what makes a nonfiction book good.
Check out the infographic below for the six reasons storytelling is important in a nonfiction book.
Nonfiction book writing tips
The second solution relates to understanding your target audience. Marketers emphasize the importance of developing buyer personas for any marketing initiative. The same is true for a nonfiction book - you need a reader persona or a reader avatar.
A reader persona helps you identify critical features of your target reader such as:
Demographics - location, age range, gender, income, ethnicity, marital status, and so on
What the reader is looking for
Existing knowledge about the topic
Common questions asked about the topic
How the reader engage with content
The writing style your reader prefers
Several hours of research are required to create a strong reader persona. You can check out this article to learn how to effectively create a reader persona.
What Are the Parts of a Nonfiction Book?
Each nonfiction book is unique. But, there are nine general parts of a nonfiction book that you should consider:
Cover
Dedication
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Body
Epilogue
References
Additional Tidbits
Cover
Three things catch the initial attention of your target reader:
An attention-grabbing book title
A riveting subtitle
A stunning book cover
Those ugly, makeshift book cover templates won’t cut it! Sure, they’re cost-effective but your target reader will scroll right past your book if you use them.
You have to wow your reader with a nonfiction book cover that:
Has a clean, clear design. A busy design could potentially create confusion.
Highlights the main title and subtitle in the best way possible
Uses interesting typography reminiscent of the book’s main message
Figurative imagery that taps into the reader’s imagination of what the book is about
Has information that builds a case for why the reader should buy this nonfiction book
Here are three examples of good nonfiction book covers. These examples focus on each book’s front cover only.
The front cover is all you need to think about if you’re only publishing an eBook. But, you’ll also need a spine and back cover design if you’re publishing paperback and/or hardcover copies.
Example #1 - The Great Reset by Richard Florida
The out-of-place Rubix cube fits with the book’s title, The Great Reset.
The right typography is used to grab the reader’s attention.
The design accommodates for the lengthy subtitle without making the cover seem crowded or cluttered.
There’s a review from a reputable source enhancing the book’s validity.
The author’s accolades are clearly listed. Being a bestselling author makes it easier for readers to trust that they’ll get a well-written book.
The colors used complement each other.
Example #2 - Creative Business Startup
Great use of contrasting colors.
A mixture of interesting typography (see how the word “creative” is in cursive and the other text is in a more traditional font?)
The mixture of shapes and curves makes the cover look interesting.
The illustration of two people working on their laptops at a desk embodies the book’s title.
The book’s subtitle doesn’t overpower the cover or make it seem too crowded.
Example # 3 - Living Purposefully Beyond the Walls of the Ghetto
The image makes it clear that this book is about Andre. The reader doesn’t need to guess that it’s a memoir.
There’s a good use of color and typography.
Andre looks like he’s walking out of a place resembling a ghetto. That fits with the book’s subtitle.
How to Write a Book Blurb for Your Nonfiction Book’s Back Cover
You’ll need a book blurb if you’re publishing a paperback and/or hardcopy book. A book blurb is the perfect opportunity for you to prove why your book matters in 100 to 200 words. That’s a bit longer than a Twitter post but follows the same type of thinking - the blurb has to be concise.
Your book blurb answers one critical question - why should someone read this book? Use simple language that a third-grader would be able to understand, especially if you’re targeting people who know little about the subject matter.
Additionally, focus on the problem the book addresses and how the book provides solutions to the problem. If you’re writing a memoir, highlight elements of your story that will resonate with your target reader.
Here’s a book blurb template that you could follow.
[Thought provoking question] [Three reasons your book answers the question] [An anecdote/story to drive the message home]
Let’s say I’m writing a book about budgeting based on my experience. Here’s what my book blurb could look like.
Are you tired of creating budgets that never seem to work? A Simple Budgeting Guide takes you through a tested and proven process for creating an effective budget and sticking to it. It isn’t a budget planner that makes budgeting seem like a chore. Instead, it’s a how-to-guide that provides a holistic perspective on how to budget for wealth.
I was struggling with budgeting. My twenties were spent creating “mental budgets” and I thought that type of budget was great for me. Then I would look at my bank account at the end of the month and wonder why my money seemed to have disappeared. I think I had somewhat of a mid-life crisis on my thirtieth birthday. Things had to change!
Budget planners never worked for me because I was so inconsistent. I love looking at them but they just didn’t provide what I needed. So, I came up with my own strategy that I’m sharing with you in this book. This strategy helped me:
Create a Rainy Day Fund that was six times my income within six months.
Purchase health insurance as a self-employed individual.
Adequately save towards my taxes.
Save towards sound investments.
Read this book if you’re ready to change your budgeting strategy.
What do you think about this book blurb? Does it make the nonfiction book, A Simple Budgeting Guide, seem interesting?
Dedication
A Dedication isn’t mandatory for nonfiction books. They’re just a good way to show some love and appreciation to the people who helped make the book possible. Nothing long...just a simple phrase will do.
Table of Contents
There are three reasons for a Table of Contents being very important in a nonfiction book:
Readers get a general sense of what’s going to be covered in the book before even reading your Introduction.
A hyperlinked Table of Contents is important for navigation in an ebook.
It’s easier to find chapters within the book based on page numbers if you’re publishing a paperback or hard copy book.
Here’s an important tip for the Table of Contents - ensure that your chapter headings have interesting (but clear) titles. Witty chapter headings can grab a reader’s attention but they shouldn’t obscure the meaning of the chapter.
Foreword
Notice that the spelling is Foreword and not Forward. It literally means “before the word”. A Foreword is a good way to boost the credibility of your nonfiction book.
The book’s author doesn’t write the Foreword. Instead, it’s written by a reputable person within the author’s circle of influence.
For instance, I asked Miss Valerie Veira, Head of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), to write the Foreword for my book The Business Playbook: A Guide for Jamaican Startups. Her commendation added credibility to the book.
Introduction
The Introduction sets the tone for the book. It’s the part of a nonfiction book that shoulders some of the biggest responsibilities. A well-written introduction is like the bait on a fisherman’s hook; it’s what reels the reader in.
A good tip for writing the Introduction is to save it for last. You’ll get a better sense of what to include in the Introduction if you write the body of content first. That way you’ll better understand the direction the book is taking and what the reader needs to know about that direction.
The Body
The meat of your book is in the body. This is where the book’s structure is put to the test. You shouldn’t enter the writing process for this critical section of your book before writing a book outline.
A book outline will help you determine:
How to section the chapters so that there’s a seamless transition
The main point of each chapter
An appropriate story that brings out each chapter’s theme
The lessons you want the reader to take away from the chapter
We’ll discuss the nonfiction book outline later in this article.
Epilogue/Conclusion
Some authors choose to use the final paragraphs in the final chapter of a book as the Conclusion. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But, it’s good to have a dedicated Conclusion to sum up what was covered throughout the book.
The Conclusion is called an Epilogue in a memoir, autobiography, or biography. It’s simply called the Conclusion in other nonfiction books.
References
Remember that facts are important for a nonfiction book’s credibility they need. Self-help books (as well as memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies) tend to rely more on the author’s experiences to give that factual element.
Other nonfiction books often need external sources, such as journal articles, to provide the facts needed to support arguments. These sources should be properly cited throughout the body. They should also be properly listed in the book’s References.
Additional Tidbits
Some authors include other tidbits at the end of the nonfiction books. I call them tidbits because they’re just additional bits of information that vary from one book to the next.
Malcolm Gladwell, for instance, includes questions and topics for discussion at the end of his book The Outliers. He also includes a snippet from his book Talking to Strangers.
The tidbits you choose to include depend on your ultimate objective for writing the book. Here are some ideas:
A discount coupon for an online course you created
A special invitation to an elite social media group for your readers
Additional information about your work
How Can You Create a Nonfiction Book Outline?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when writing a nonfiction book is to start writing without having a comprehensive book outline.
It’s like driving to a location for Thanksgiving dinner you’ve never been to before without getting directions or using a GPS. You’ll waste so much time getting lost that all the food will be done by the time you get there.
It can take several hours (or even several days) to complete a nonfiction book outline. Click here for a printable template that you can use.
Get a copy of the template and come back to this article so that you can follow along as I describe each section.
The Book’s Title
The title of your nonfiction book is one of many attention-grabbing elements. You want it to be witty and fun without losing the book’s meaning.
There are even book title generators that you can use if you’re struggling to find the right book title.
Your nonfiction book title should be M-A-D.
M- Memorable
A- Attention-Grabbing
D- Delivering the Book’s Overall Message
Pro Tip: Come back to the book’s title after you’ve written the first draft of your manuscript. Also, ask for opinions about the title. Both approaches may result in you either tweaking or changing the title completely.
The Purpose
Why are you really writing this book? You need to be very clear about the book’s purpose so that you understand how to craft your message.
Understanding the nonfiction book’s purpose also helps you know specific call-to-action messages you may want to include either throughout or at the end.
The printable nonfiction book template has some of the most common purposes. Don’t worry if the purpose you have in mind isn’t listed. You can add that purpose to the list and tick it.
Target Audience
Your nonfiction book needs a reader persona which is something we discussed earlier in this guide.
An oversimplified reader persona is included in the printable nonfiction book template, but there’s enough space for you to add other bits of information relevant to your book. Know your audience before you write your book.
Section Headings
Sections help categorize your nonfiction book’s chapters. Let’s go back to the example used earlier for the book A Simple Budgeting Guide. I know there are four main areas that I want to cover in the book:
Financial Goal Setting
Budgeting Tools
Budgeting for Wealth
The Feedback Loop
These four main areas will be the book’s sections. Each section would then be broken down into relevant chapters.
Your nonfiction book can have as many sections as you want depending on the word count. But, I wouldn’t recommend more than five sections.
The Chapters
Knowing the nonfiction book’s sections will help you understand how to outline the chapters. Let’s use the first section of A Simple Budgeting Guide as an example.
Section 1 : Financial Goal Setting
Chapter 1 : Realistic vs. Challenging Goals
Chapter 2 : Breaking Down the Multiple Income Streams Barrier
Chapter 3 : Measure It!
Chapter 4 : Progress Check
Whew! That’s a relief! I can see where this book is going. Let me now take chapter one and zero in on what I really want to highlight in the chapter.
Chapter Thesis : There’s a thin line between realistic and challenging goals. (I can write more about this if I want so that I can get a full picture of what this main point will be.)
Summary of Relatable Story
I’ve dealt with anxiety most of my life. One of my anxiety triggers was the lofty goals I would often set. I wanted goals that would challenge me but wasn’t setting that challenge within the context of my reality.
It got so bad that I would sit on my bed at night in the darkness while tears streamed down my face as the anxiety consumed me. I had to find the right balance between realistic and challenging goals before I fell into an anxious pit of depression.
Hook Sentence
Realistic goals should challenge you without being overwhelming.
Action Steps for Reader
Think about the financial goals you set for yourself this year. Did they have the right level of challenge while being realistic? Were you able to accomplish them (or at least get close to accomplishing them)? If not, use the steps outlined in this chapter to reframe your financial goals.
This example explains how you can use the book outline template to develop an outline for each chapter. Remember that you’ll need a separate page for each chapter.
Photo by Kate Hliznitsova on Unsplash
Photo by Kate Hliznitsova on Unsplash
How Long Is a Nonfiction Book?
Word count is crucial when writing a nonfiction book. A target word count will help you know how much content to include in each chapter. It can also be the difference between your book being accepted or rejected by a publisher.
That leads me to another point. How you’re distributing the book and the book’s purpose are ultimately what determine the book’s length.
Marketers, for instance, sometimes write how-to guides as lead magnets. Those books can be as short as ten pages and that doesn’t really matter. Marketers just want to give the reader value while possibly getting some email addresses in the process. Those email addresses would then form a big part of an email marketing campaign.
Here’s my suggestion if you’re an author who wants to self-publish - your nonfiction book should have at least 30,000 words, especially if you want to create an audiobook. Ideally, you should aim for a minimum of 50,000 words. Higher word counts hint at greater depth and more value for the reader.
A minimum of 50,000 words is also what you should strive for if you want to use a publisher. That’s typically the word count that publishers want to see and it equates to roughly 165 pages.
How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 3 Months
Some people claim that you can write a good nonfiction book in 30 days. I beg to differ.
It takes at least three months to write a nonfiction book that’s likely to give you results. Why write a book if you aren’t interested in any of the benefits I previously mentioned?
Here’s how you can write a nonfiction book in at least three months.
Write a detailed book outline.
Figure out the additional research you need to do. Learn more about how to do research for a nonfiction book by reading this article.
Complete your research and set aside at least 12 hours a week to write the book chapter by chapter. Remember to write your book with your audience in mind.
Set a writing goal for each week. By the end of this week, I must write at least _______ words.
Keep track of your progress.
Ask at least five people to read the first draft of your manuscript. Make changes based on their feedback.
Hire an editor and proofreader to help you perfect the final draft of your manuscript.
Sounds like a lot right? A ghostwriter can help you get most of the work done and ease the burden.
3 Tips for Publishing a Nonfiction Book
You can either self-publish your nonfiction book or hire a publisher. Both options have their pros and cons as outlined below
Pros of Self-publishing
Greater control
Quicker publishing process
Higher royalties
Hire who you want to work on each aspect of the book
Set your own deadlines
Cons of Self-publishing
No marketing support (you do your own marketing)
No boost from a renowned publisher
It’s a DIY job; there’s no support from established publishing experts
Difficult to get into major bookstores
Pros of Using a Traditional Publisher
Costs less to create and promote the book
Help with marketing
Better chance of becoming a bestselling author
Increased visibility through being associated with an established publishing house
Cons of Using a Traditional Publisher
Lower royalties
Lengthy publishing process
No control over the publishing process
Complicated contracts
Difficult to get in
Here’re three publishing tips that apply to both traditional publishing and self-publishing.
Do Your Research
Don’t automatically rule out either self-publishing or traditional publishing until you’ve done your research. For instance, Amazon isn’t the only platform you can use to self publish your book. There are also hundreds of publishing houses that offer different compensation packages.
Create your own list of pros and cons based on your research. See what works best for you.
Be Clear About the Book’s Purpose
You should be clear about your book’s purpose. Otherwise, you’ll be like a leaf in the wind swaying back and forth with everyone else’s opinions. Knowing the book’s purpose will help you better understand how to market it. It’ll also help you better guide a ghostwriter if you’re considering hiring one.
Build an Audience
It always helps if you already have an interested audience. This is especially true if you have an actively engaged email subscriber list. Spend some time attracting an audience before launching your book. You’ll get better results in the long-term.
Photo by Alexandra Fuller on Unsplash
Photo by Alexandra Fuller on Unsplash
5 Tips for Promoting a Nonfiction Book
Promotion is the real deal-breaker in the nonfiction book arena. You can have an excellent book but a poor marketing plan means that you’ll only get some chump change for sales.
Here’re five tips for effectively promoting a nonfiction book if you’re self-publishing. Want even more? Check out this article or watch this video.
Create Content Surrounding the Book’s Theme
The beauty of the internet is that it provides multiple ways for you to reach your target reader. You can:
Write about topics related to your book for your blog
Interview guests on your podcast who add flair to your book’s topic
Post relevant how-to videos on your YouTube channel
Host Instagram Live features
...the list is endless. There’s one thing you shouldn’t forget though as you use these strategies - include a link to your book.
Make the connection between the content you create and the book then use a clickable link to your book’s landing page as a call-to-action.
Create a Vibrant Landing Page
Several landing page builders exist. Find one that works best for you and create a landing page that builds a case for why a reader should pay attention to your book.
Dr.Sidjae Price has a good nonfiction book landing page example for her book Chasing Rainbows.
Some tips:
Remember to use keywords relevant to your book strategically for SEO purposes.
Share the landing page with your audience.
Host a free virtual event where participants are directed to the landing page as a bonus.
Use a video on your landing page to make it seem more personal. People like to connect with the author.
Include links to other websites where your book has either been reviewed or featured.
Schedule a Virtual Book Tour
A virtual book tour allows you to sit in the comfort of your home and promote your book by being:
Featured on various blogs
A podcast guest
A specially invited guest at a virtual event
Do your research to find the blogs, podcasts, and virtual events in your niche that align with your book’s overall message. Reach out to them to find out if you can be featured.
Get Reviews from Family Members and Friends
According to Kristen McCabe from The Learning Hub, “about 95% of customers read reviews before making a purchase.”
Your family and friends are a great place to start when building reviews for your nonfiction book. Encourage them to purchase copies and write authentic reviews.
Use the Power of Social Media
Social media provides a powerful way for you to reach people globally. Get creative with your social media posts, understand the nuances of the social media platforms you’re using, interact with people who comment, and make social media work as an organic way to reach your target reader.
You can also use paid advertising on social media. But, here’s how you can do it strategically. Instead of directly promoting your book, you can promote the content you’ve created surrounding the book’s theme.
That way people won’t feel like all you’re doing is selling to them. Build awareness by promoting content people will value then gradually guide them towards a book purchase.
How Much Does It Cost to Create a Nonfiction Book?
Several factors impact the cost to create a nonfiction book. Let’s say you’re self-publishing and need to outsource every aspect of the project. You’ll need to hire a:
Ghostwriter
Proofreader
Editor
Graphic designer
Formatter
You’ll also probably spend money on paid advertising if you don’t already have an established audience. Therefore, your total costs could start at $3,000 depending on the book’s length. You’ll definitely spend more if you want to invest in quality and reach bestseller status.
How Much Does the Average Nonfiction Book Make?
The earning potential of your nonfiction book is directly related to the quality of your book promotion efforts and your niche. Some authors earn less than $50 per month while others earn $500 or more.
You’re ultimately in control of how much you earn if you’re self-publishing. I keep emphasizing the marketing plan because it’s crucial. Invest in a strong marketing plan and you’re more likely to reap the benefits of strong passive income from your nonfiction book.
Focusing exclusively on book sales isn’t the best way to get the most value out of a nonfiction book though. The big question you need to answer is, “How can this book increases my chances of getting more opportunities?”
A well-written, thought-provoking book can help you be seen as a thought-leader worthy of becoming a consultant or motivational speaker. You have the potential of earning a minimum of $1,500 per client or speaking engagement depending on your experience level, the strength of your personal brand, and how good you are at conveying your unique perspectives in your book.
Tips for Converting a Nonfiction Book Into an Audiobook
Here’s an interesting statistic - “audiobook sales increased by 16% in 2019 in the United States and generated over $1.2 billion dollars.”
Audiobooks are becoming the preferred way to engage with nonfiction books because they’re more accessible. All you have to do is download the file, turn on your speakers, and hit the play button.
You can be driving your car, doing house chores, or working on your laptop while listening to an audiobook. Multi-tasking is probably the best benefit!
Audiobooks also make your content more accessible to people with disabilities, especially those with dyslexia and poor eyesight. The more inclusive you are with your content, the more likely it is that you’ll reach a wider audience.
The strength of your audiobook rests on three things:
The quality of your manuscript
The quality of your audio
The clarity of your voice
Several tips are provided in this guide for improving the quality of your manuscript. Get that foundation right and the rest will be a breeze.
Tips for Improving Sound Quality
Reduce echo in the room.
Echos are common in poor audio recordings. It may not be possible for you to rent a studio or find a small room in your house with minimal opportunities for echoes. But, what you can do is:
Use thick sheets or sponges to cover all windows, doors, and corners in the room.
Purchase an isolation shield such as this one from Monoprice. (Disclaimer : I earn a small commission if you purchase this isolation shield using this link.)
Add bookshelves and place objects on them. The objects will help absorb the sound.2. Invest in a high-quality microphone.
Sure, you can purchase a cheap microphone and get fairly good results. But, you want your listeners to get the best possible product.
Invest in a really good microphone that will give your voice a clean, crisp sound. I’ve listed some great options below. (Disclaimer: I earn a small commission if you purchase any of these microphones using these links.)
FIFINE Studio Condenser with Adjustable Scissor Arm3. Use good audio editing software.
A lot of the heavy lifting comes during the post-recording phase. You’ll need good audio editing software to eliminate background noise, enhance the sound of your voice, and give your listeners the best audio experience. Some of the best audio editing software include:
Adobe Audition
Audacity
Garage Band (only available on iOS Devices)
Tips for Improving the Clarity of Your Voice
Some of these tips may seem like no-brainers. But, I’m mentioning them so that you keep them at the front of your mind.
Don’t record when you’re tired.
Your listeners should be excited to hear what you’re reading. An exhausted voice makes it less likely that they’ll want to listen. Try to schedule recording time during the hours you perform best. This may mean setting aside time on weekends or waking up very early in the morning if you have a full-time job.
2. Speak clearly and use appropriate inflections.
Listeners will be spending several minutes (or even hours) listening to your audiobook. So, it can become frustrating when you’re either speaking too quickly or your speech is inaudible.
Speak as clearly as possible and include appropriate inflections that make your audio interesting. No one wants to listen to someone drone on for hours in the same tone!
3. Hire a voice-over talent.
Sometimes, it’s better to hire someone to do the recording for you. Voice-over talents know how to create recordings that keep people engaged. Their recordings won’t sound monotonous or forced. The trick is though that you should hire a voice-over talent who will resonate with your audience.
For instance, don’t hire a someone with a Jamaican accent if your audience is primarily American. Match the talent with your ideal audience. If you’re trying to attract a global audience, use a generally accepted accent like the American accent. You can find great voice-over talent at affordable prices on Fiverr and Upwork.
3 Examples of Good Nonfiction Books
I’ve read a lot of nonfiction books over the years. But, there are three that I’ve read in 2020 that I really think you should read.
Disclaimer : I earn a commission for sales made through the Amazon links included below.
Chasing Rainbows by Dr. Sidjae Price
I’ve never thought of myself as a faith-based entrepreneur. But, Dr. Price’s book completely changed my perspective.
It’s easy to listen to what “business gurus” say you should do to experience business success. God is the ultimate business guru though so why aren’t we listening to him? How can we commit our plans to the Lord and expect success as Proverbs 16:3 says without pursuing God first
This book is part memoir, part self-help, and part instructional guide. You’ll learn about Dr. Price’s battles with double lung pneumonia, depression, and anxiety and how all those experiences led to her discovering how God wanted her to run her business and her life.
Her practical stories make the book real, raw, and relatable. But, she doesn’t drone on and on about her story. Instead, she has another section of the book that provides practical ways for us to pursue the bag inside God’s will.
Trust me, this book is a must-read if you’re serious about building a business firmly grounded in God’s will.
Living Purposefully Beyond the Walls of The Ghetto by Andre Smith
Let me be completely honest before I start telling you about this book. Andre was my client. I helped him tell his story in a way that will capture your imagination and pull at your heartstrings.
Andre grew up in one of Jamaica’s most popular ghettos. He was a “barrel baby” being raised by his grandmother while his mother worked overseas. But, he was different from other boys in the community while he was growing up because he knew he wanted a better life.
Sexual abuse, death of loved ones, hunger, and turmoil didn’t stop him. His story is one that will truly inspire today’s youth to look beyond their present circumstances and step into a brighter future.
The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
This book isn’t new, but I encountered it for the first time this year when I was searching for a solution. I always have a lot going on in my head that I sometimes find it difficult to focus. Keller and Papasan clearly explain how focusing on your one thing greatly improves your focus and productivity.
It seems like a simple concept. But, it’s really profound. I won’t dive into all the details here. You can check out the book to learn more.
Check out this article for some more nonfiction books I’ve read in 2020.