How to Write Non-Fiction: Turn Your Knowledge into Words

By: Joanna Penn

Narrated by: Caroline Holroyd

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Do you want to write a non-fiction book but don't know where to start? Or perhaps you worry that you're not an expert or have enough authority in your niche to write a book on it? Are you ready to help other people and change your own life with your words? The first non-fiction book I wrote changed my life. Sure, it helped other people, but mostly it altered the course of my life - so much so that 10 years later, I make a living with my writing.

In this book, I'll share everything I've learned along the way and save you time, effort, and frustration on your author journey. This book includes the business models of writing non-fiction, mindset issues around writing, the details of how to research, write and edit your book, dictation and productivity tips, as well as publishing, product creation, and marketing.

©2018 Joanna Penn (P)2018 Joanna Penn

Fabulous resource for all writers of non-fiction

Insightful and inspiring are the words which best describe Joanna Penn’s latest book, How to Write Non-Fiction. It is rich with anecdotes, key learning, recommended tools and services suitable for new and experienced writers.
She has researched the topic widely and is generous in sharing failures, ‘Ah Ha’ moments and tips for being more effective.

Readers will benefit from Joanna’s writing journey. At the time of writing this review she has 27 books. She is herself an avid reader and reflector and we are the beneficiaries of this.

Joanna talks to our concerns from who am I to write this book and the importance of checking in on our mindset. She speaks in a very authentic manner - (even though we hear Carolyn Holoroyd's voice). I appreciated her sharing personal stories around what she wants to do with her life and ‘Why she writes.’.

Joanna has a strong sense of abundance giving generously of her time and experience not only in her books but in her blogs and podcasts and believes that there is room for all to be authors in a global marketplace.

I need to admit that I am one of Joanna’s super fans. I attended a workshop she ran with Orna Ross giving me the motivation to get my nearly finished book across the line. The workshop and speeches are part of her author eco-system and she makes useful observations in the book about what is needed to be a full-time writer and how a book could be a part of a broader product and service offering.

'How to Write Non Fiction' is giving me additional inspiration to get my latest non- fiction book finished. I downloaded Joanna’s book via Audible and was reminded of how valuable a channel this was for absorbing content fast. Joanne mentions this in her book along with many other suggestions for improving efficiency, such as using dictation, which I have hovered around for ages and have now made the decision to use.

Like many authors I read widely about the magic and challenge of getting your ideas down in a book. I was a tad nervous that there would be a lot of content that I already knew. I was wrong as I have identified at least 20 new actions I can take to improve my writing and marketing activities We don’t know what we don’t know.

It took me ages to write my first non-fiction book, 'Engagement Whisperer'. If I had read Joanna’s book first I am sure that I would have produced it in a third of the time. She makes excellent points about how long it should take you to write, setting aside dedicated increments of time if only for 15 minutes, to get the thing written and of our mindsets around how long it should take to write a book versus quality of the final product.

In summary, if you plan to write a non-fiction book (or another one), you will learn from this book.
Easy five stars from me.
Tracy Stanley

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

wow!

As a fellow author, she nailed it! I will likely read this book 5 to 10 times over time.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great book, pleasant narration

Listened this as my first audio book. Think I'm now hooked for Audible for life. The book itself was excellent. Very inspiring and covered the subject in great detail. Will be reading / listening other books from the same author next.

Life saver

This book helped motivate me. I’m truly inspired and feel like maybe I can do this. Thank you so much!!

Essential info for writing your non-fiction book

An excellent primer on all the major aspects of developing a non-fiction book idea into a complete, published work.

Joanna writes in an extremely clear manner that builds logically, precept upon precept. There is no fluff, and these are the principles Joanna herself has used to become a successful author.

As a regular listener of Joanna's excellent podcast The Creative Penn, I wasn't sure I'd connect with the narration being in an unfamiliar voice. But, Caroline Holroyd does a great job – and delivery is along similar lines to Joanna's quintessentially British tone.

Current, clear and concise. Well worth a listen.

An excellent resource for non-fiction writers

Joanna Penn has become the go-to mentor for writers aspiring to become professional authors, and this excellent guide reinforces that well-earned reputation.

Clearly narrated by Caroline Holroyd, who has superb diction and a discernible empathy for the subject matter, this book takes the listener through easily digestible stages of the process step-by-step. The subjects covered are wide ranging, covering everything from the initial inspiration to write a book, summoning the self-confidence to do so, the best way to research, organise and get the material onto the page, through to finding an agent or publisher or going the self-publishing route.

As a self-publishing star in her own right, Penn also has plenty of wisdom to pass on about the modern reality that faces ALL authors—marketing, whether you are traditionally published or not. The whole gamut is considered, from Amazon and Facebook ads, Bookbub promotions, email list building and blogging as an author, as well as social media, live events and a great deal more besides.

Easy to listen to, but with a plethora of information to digest and act upon, I’d suggest getting this as an accompaniment to the paperback or ebook version as well, to save you scribbling reams of notes!

For writers serious about publishing their work, this is highly recommended. Another worthwhile investment from the prolific Joanna Penn.