Your Qualifications for Writing This Book

And why are you the right person for the job?

Whether you're planning to write an article, a report or author a book, it's important to look at your qualifications for doing so. 

Why did you pick that topic? What makes you uniquely qualified to write about some aspect of the topic? 

Consider one or more of the following or add your own reasons:

Professional experience

A lifelong passion for the topic

Scholastic studies

Varied research

A compelling curiosity

A current news story or trend

Eventually you'll need to include such information in your author's bio or article credit. But for now, focus on it as your personal validation. You don't have to have a doctorate or presidential award. Although it's OK if you do ~

Think about the what drew you to your subject to begin with, and your audience will happily follow your lead.

Lin

The Nonfiction Books I've Written, Part 2

The Nonfiction Books I've Written: Turn of the Century Tidbits

Outside Book Research

Research is no stranger to nonfiction writers. Whether you're on a quest for fresh information, want to double check old notes or find yourself following a trail of irresistible hot links, Google is at your fingertips. But 25 years ago it was the library or live experts.

The Health section of the book produced more questions than insights! Luckily, the pharmacist at the local Glaser drug store not only answered all my questions, but also mixed 8 ounces of Rose Water for me to try in the cookie recipe.

When I questioned the use of mustard plasters, he explained the principle of counter-irritants. If you put one of those on the angry bruise, the nerve endings will be too busy feeling fried to notice the pain from the wound.

That good man also translated for me: by "sweet oil" the author meant olive oil. "Limewater" is a solution of calcium hydroxide & water. Paregoric and laudanum, both opium derivatives, were freely recommended. (The Food & Drug Administration wasn't created until 1938.)

About that time, the neighborhood Book House owner received the collections from a couple of old estates, and I bought more books from that era. The research then was into the what's and how-to's of social entertaining, from an elegant, 12-course dinner to a children's Halloween party. One had directions for clever ways to fold the napkins. (They were fun!)

The research needed for each of my books has been different, sometimes involving more interviews than books or computers. But, honestly, it may be my very favorite part of the process!

I'll never outgrow being the little kid who's full of questions ~

The Nonfiction Books I've Written, Part 1

The Nonfiction Books that I've Written: Turn of the Century Tidbits

Because I enjoy learning from other authors' experiences, I'm going to share the writing of my first 4 books. Since that was the late '80s, I'll just cover (remember!) the high spots.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

When I began writing Turn of the Century Tidbits, I was a stay-at-home mom of 2 with 7 years corporate work behind me. I'd enjoyed and aced teacher-assigned research papers, so it was natural that I'd turn to nonfiction.  

My grandmother's Twentieth Century Cookbook and Practical House-keeping (published in 1900) fascinated me from the first page. I devoured it! First the recipes, which were written for use with a wood burning stove. Then it went on to provide "timely information" on Health remedies, Household cleaning, and other wifely skills.

That peek into a bygone era was exciting, and I had a powerful urge to share it with somebody -- or lots of somebodies. Since I'd already begun selling articles, I started making notes. Maybe I could build an article or two out of it.

I also began translating a few of the recipes into modern terms with my cooking times and temps. One or more turn-of-the-century delights appeared at dinner almost every night, and I was thankful my husband and offspring were so patient with mom's experiments.

The fun facts kept building from one page to the next, and I kept learning

more! My typed pages began piling up. 

Each paragraph was labeled with the topic, like "soup." I converted my dining room table to an editing room, and with my good sewing shears, I cut off each paragraph of marked text, then arranged those in reader-pleasing order. Very carefully, I taped them together, and -- walla! -- I held the first chapter of my first book in my hand!

(continued next week)

______________________________________

* Hi, Friends ~ In the next few weeks and months, I'll share my author's journey. I'd enjoy hearing your comments and questions! Writing is very personal. 

Write Your Book with Passion

What happens when you don't write your book with passion?

YOU PRODUCE A BORING BOOK!

Absolutely, let your passion energize your writing! 

Whether the topic is counseling or carborators, you want to bring life to the pages. You feel passionate about sharing your fascinating information with the reader!

After you make the "which book" decision, make notes from research, observations and experience, and have at least a working Table of Contents (primary chapters), you'll feel a powerful itch to start writing.

But wait. where should I begin?

At the beginning? No. That would either read like a term paper or
wander off topic. Why should you write the pages in order anyway?

Start with the chapter that stirs your enthusiasm!

You picked this topics because you truly want to share it -- that gives you the passion to write. There! That's the energy you want to bring! Let that excitement spark your first sentences, and it'll energize your whole book.

Write from the joy of sharing~

Lin

The Key to Nonfiction Writing

Do you yearn to really connect with your audience?
 

*  Write directly to the person reading your book or article.  *

Your book is a conversation between you and the person reading your words. Picture sitting across the table from him, each of you holding a cup of coffee, as you tell him the information that you're writing. It's between you and him (or her) -- a personal conversation.

You want to sound like a well informed, helpful friend. Not too casual, not too stiff.

Try it for a day or two, and see if that one key doesn't open the door to a rich connection with your readers.

Happy writing ~

Lin

The Changing Definition of a Book?

What's the Definition of a "Book"?

The rules and definitions in the book world continue to change at the virtual speed of light. As eBooks become more popular, the very definitions have changed.

On one of the huge LinkedIn author/writer groups, the perennial question - What's the difference between a writer and an author? - was asked.

Not long ago, an author was one who wrote a book that was published, printed and bound. A writer wrote anything shorter, and a professional writer got paid real money for those words. Simple enough.

But it made me wonder just what qualified as a book these days. So instead of smugly typing in the  old definition, I went to the Bowker* website for a what I was certain would be a quick, crisp answer.

           *Bowker is the company that sells and tracks all of the ISBN numbers used
            in the United States and would theoretically be THE authority on books.

There I clicked the Contact Us link and asked for the current definition of a book, thinking the reply would be 49 pages or more for a book. Oh, but I wasn't considering eBooks.

After carefully checking their database, the Bowker person couldn't find a definition by either pages or work count. Now, an 8 page, half-size booklet a "book" may look like a Hallmark Greeting, but the writer could call it a "book" if he or she chose to.

But wait! That doesn't seem fair. Doesn't "book" imply substance and depth of content? Only Rumi could produce a short paragraph that carries that kind of substance. A booklet or brochure doesn't.

So, my friends, I'm afraid we'll have to be very cautious about how we toss around the term "book." Even the rules makers don't know anymore!

Happy reading ~

Lin

Write Life Experience Pieces with Feeling

Whether you plan to market your nonfiction writing or write for the joy of it, you'll want the reader to really feel your experience. Were you anxious, blissed out, energized, confused, devastated? Relive it in your mind and use the words and cadence (or pace) that will put the reader into the experience.

1. WORD CHOICE. Ordinary nouns and verbs provide your readers with bland, foggy impressions. Where's the "life" in those experiences? It's in specific words! The action part of the experience will primarily show in your verb choices. The mood of the experience shows in the detail.

These examples come from my  September 4, 2014 post "Jury Duty Write Up":

• I got popped in the bumper. She jumped out of her SUV
• and we surged forward as a friendly mob
• were beginning to get a little sassy and laughing

2. SENSORY WORDS. These introduce your reader to the sight, sounds, smells, feel, and taste. Such words can go a long way towards bringing your readers with into the scene with you.

If you enjoy travel writing, the sensory details become key aspects of your reader's "view." This example comes from The Many Faces of Journaling (2nd edition), pg. 160:

"Conner Prairie   Connor Prairie (Indiana). What a fantastic experience! This 'living history museum' is a reconstructed 1820's village on an immense plot of land just north of Indianapolis, and there life goes on the way it did in 1823. We could hear the clang of the anvil as we walked down the dusty road to the blacksmith's shop... The weaver was in the middle of making a beautiful, patterned red and cream wool blanket on his loom... He had bunches of aromatic dried herbs handing from a rough, smoke-blacked beam near the fireplace... the pungent smell of drying sage and thyme scented the air in the cozy cottage."

3. SENTENCE LENGTH. A writer can pack a lot of punch into a page or article by varying the sentence lengths. A medium-length sentence states the facts. A longer sentence becomes more lyrical. A short sentence is an exclamation, regardless of what punctuation you use. One, two or three word carry far more emotion and/or power than a longer one.  

Also from The Many Faces of Journaling(2nd edition), pg. 104:

"The Bombing of Baghdad   Wed., March 19th, '03 - all day watching CNN & MSNBC. This evening the countdown on the latter. Right now it's 5 minutes and counting. Counting towards what? Armageddon? I'm starting to cry. This countdown isn't exactly like the New Year's Eve ball. But the reverse timing sounds and looks the same. Even that's obscene. Too much like a happy, hopeful, traditional annual event..."

We can often bring more of our living experiences into a piece if we write it as though we were telling a friend or acquaintance about it. When you really want them to "be there" with you - write it that way.

Happy writing ~

Lin