Writing Nonfiction

This course focuses on commercial nonfiction genres, and concentrates on helping authors turn their ideas into a solid book proposal

Tutors will provide resource materials for authors to absorb and guidelines to implement in their own time.
Aimed at those with a book idea, first draft, or an outline and are ready to take their writing to the next level, the six weeks are designed to help writers package a sellable idea.  The last two weeks will feature round tables with HarperCollins authors, sharing their writing experience in a live online environment.  

At the end of the course students should be able to go away and produce a concrete nonfiction proposal.

The Principles of Nonfiction: (2 hours)

Who is your reader? And what does your book ‘promise’ them?
The different types of non-fiction and why we read them. Does genre matter?.
The business of publishing. A quick look at how the industry works.

Writing Creative Nonfiction (2 hours)

Narrative Nonfiction and expository nonfiction, and the different styles involved
Writing techniques – characters, pace and description
How to keep your reader interested, engaged and wanting to know what happens next…

Structure, Organization, and Research (2 hours)

How to structure your book
Making a plan
Research: knowing your market and your competition. as well as your topic
The editorial process: what to expect

Preparing your Nonfiction Proposal
(2 hours)

Editors and agents
Writing a selling proposal: how to get people excited about publishing your book

Genre Breakout Sessions: 1 (1 hour each but times will vary from normal class times depending on guest speaker availability)

A HarperCollins author talks Business Writing
A HarperCollins author talks Science, Nature, and Technology
A HarperCollins author talks Sports Writing.
A HarperCollins author talks History Writing.

Genre Breakout Sessions: 2 (1 hour each but times will vary from normal class times depending on guest speaker availability)

A HarperCollins author talks Biography and Memoir
A HarperCollins author talks Religion and Spirituality
A HarperCollins author talks Self-Help.
Wrap-up.
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