Tips For Writers

The following notes were taken during at the Spring Missouri SCBWI Workshop on May 5, 2006 presented by nonfiction author Suzanne Morgan Williams in Kirkwood, MO.

Ideas for NF: Your favorite hobbies;
What you’re good at;
Subjects you’d like to know more about;
Subjects you’d never like to write about (so you know what you want to avoid for topics);
People you’d admire (living and dead);
Events/places you’d like to visit;
People you’ve met who were most interesting;
Your philosophy/message

NF Voice

• NF needs to have a voice like fiction does. It needs a beg/middle/end.
  
• Be specific. Have a new slant on a topic
  
• Have a target audience and know how the content of the material should be presented—length, vocabulary, presentation, etc. (What parts need to be visual or text or both???)
  
• You can NOT use dialogue in NF unless it is found in a PRIMARY SOURCE (diary, journal, autobiography, etc.)
  
• NF needs to have a setting, details of the era, and appeal to all 5 senses. It should be written better than fiction since it is often overlooked.
  

NF Picture Book Design
As with a fiction picture book, an author normally has little input into the illustrations. But depending on the particular type of NF book you are pitching, you may need to include some ideas for the format/design of the book along with your ms.

Photo Permission
In some instances, an author may also need to find photos/illus and get the permission to use them.
Search the net for images. Also helpful are books, old books oftentimes—look for contact info for these images in the photo credits at the back of the book (fine print)

NF Book Proposal

Cover letter (include a paragraph on marketing research, any applicable numbers, and brief bio—especially helpful to point out any expertise on subject)
1st chapter
Detailed Outline (2-3 pages)