All non-fiction writers pride themselves in publishing books that give their readers excellent insights on specific topics of interest. Being an award-winning writer is a journey of hits and misses; only some can fulfill their dreams. Many potential writers often give up at the realization of how much work needs to be done.
This article aims to help you make your book a success by highlighting the significant don’ts that will cost your book. So, read up till the end!
Writing Different Projects at Once
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Newbie writers, especially, grapple with this problem. The truth is, starting a project is always fun. As a writer, you want to maximize on inspiration you get for different projects that you take on, and this can be overwhelming.
However, the nasty side is that finishing these projects is less likely to happen and more so on time. Most writers that do take on multiple projects are usually backed by a team of authors and editors that make their tasks easier to manage.
The downside is that many writers cannot afford to hire extra help and are therefore encouraged to stick to one project and shoulder it till the end. It allows you to consolidate all your energy and time into the book to make it successful.
Lack of Effort in Writing
Many writers feel that they are pretty good storytellers. That is why they chose writing as a career, right? Although some may be true, writing a good non-fiction book requires hard work. You must be ready to become an excellent teacher. It could be grammar, the structure of your sentences, or the depth of information you convey.
In grammar, for instance, writers make mistakes such as incorrect tone, repetition of certain words, hard-to-read sentences, poor paragraphing, use of passive voice instead of active, and so much more.
These mistakes make your work look like an amateur and put off readers. Catching these mistakes in time is a sure guide to self-publishing. You must be keen to make such mistakes as hard-to-find to find as possible.
Why?
Why are you writing the book? A question so simple yet so hard for many non-fiction writers to answer is why? Being a writer doesn’t mean that you also don’t read; you can read a book on creating a writing plot.
The thing that drives you to write the book is what will get you to finish finally and publish it and get people to appreciate what you do. It is not always about being rich and famous and winning awards; there needs to be a more profound aspect that controls your writing career.
Books written from an emotional, personal standpoint are often great hits with readers. These books are a clear picture of your mind and are carried by the words you use, the examples you give, and the structure. All these make your book come to life.
A Non-Specific Reader
It is often said an arrow without an aim is a lost one. That is true, especially with non-fiction writing. Most writers will hop from one niche to another, trying to onboard as many readers as possible. Although this idea seems great in theory, it frequently needs to be clarified for your readers about what exactly you do and does not add credibility to your book.
What age do you look to attract to your book? What topics are mainly affecting that age group? Do you have something different to offer? These are excellent questions.
Writing Only What You Want to Say
Being a writer involves raising your voice in a silent environment. It should be noted that writers have an audience whose duty of educating and inspiring should be greater than their agenda. It is, therefore, excellent to research what your readers need to hear and choose the best way to convey the information.
It does not mean you should set aside your opinions; as a writer, you should be creative enough to integrate your ideas into your readers’ minds without making direct statements that may cost you your readers.
Poor Structure of Your Story
Like fiction authors, non-fiction authors should be highly attentive to the story’s structure. It includes their sentences, paragraphs, and conveyance of ideas. A typical structure should involve three parts; introduction, body, and conclusion. it should also smoothly convey the past, the present, and the future.
You must also remember that even though it is a non-fiction book, it should still tell a story and follow the structure of a story. Five elements must be present; the plot, which is how an event led to another; the setting of every event; the characters, conflict, and the theme.
Writing and Editing Simultaneously
Although these two may seem logical, they are an excellent waste of time. Writers who write and edit at the same time get exhausted quickly and are drained of ideas. Writing coaches will often advise writers to endeavor to write an initial draft and then edit it until it is satisfactory. To ensure the work is top-notch, hire an editor or a second or third eye to help capture mistakes you did not notice.
Too Much Information
Giving too much information may seem like the way to go when writing a non-fiction book. However, it is a grave mistake that bores many readers.
Readers are probably reading your book to garner more information on specific topics. They are your casual barber, shop attendant, and student. They are not experts in that field and could therefore use less information and more explanation.
Final Thoughts
To excel as a non-fiction writer, you must understand the common mistakes that other writers make and use them to perfect your writing. Game-changing ideas such as less information giving will surely get you ahead of other writers in the field.
Your readers are your prime priority, and private sentiments should be suggestional inputs to allow readers to make their conclusions. The mistakes mentioned above are a few common ones non-fiction writers make.
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