Editing Non-Fiction - The Big 5 (Self-Edit Like A Pro: Part 4)

on

Before You Start Editing (Self-Edit Like a Pro: Part 1)
4 Secret Tools For An Awesome First Edit (Self-Edit Like a Pro: Part 2)
6 Main Categories For Editing Fiction (Self-Edit Like a Pro: Part 3)


If you read my post discussing the editing categories for a fiction manuscript, some of these categories will be familiar. But how do you apply them to a Non-Fiction manuscript?

These are the categories I follow when I perform a full Editorial Review (scroll down for more info on the awesome 20% discount you can claim!)

Ready for the categories? Take a deep breath and GO...

Content Development

This varies massively depending on your topic, but your job when assessing this category is to make sure you have covered your topic properly and throughly.

A way to figure this out is to narrow in on your aim - what do you want your readers to know once they've finished the last page? Then read your book and ask yourself if your book truthfully achieves that aim. 

Look at this like a learning objective at the beginning of a class. Most teachers are aware of what information their students need by the end of their lesson. They also have a pretty specific idea of how their students should apply that new knowledge. You're a teacher, your reader is your student; how can you help them?

You also need to asses what makes your content unique. Say you have written a book all about developing self-confidence. Awesome. But how does it differ from the thousands of others out there? 

Finally, do you have ENOUGH content? We've all seen those books that hash out their main ideas in the introduction and most of the book is just repeating those ideas over and over again. Give your readers valuable information. 

Pace

The pace of your book has to be smooth and easy for the reader to follow. 

Do the order of your chapters make sense and follow easily from each other? Have you included the basic chapters first? Sometimes you find that a certain chapter placed at the beginning might have more of an impact on your reader when placed at the end. 

Make sure you don't rush your content, but at the same time don't take too long to get to the point. Pace is like walking a tightrope. You have to keep your reader engaged without giving away all your content right away. But if you draw it out too much, readers can get frustrated and bored, eventually giving up and closing your book.

If you have an introduction, entice your reader without giving the content of your book away. Don't see the introduction as a CliffNotes version of your whole content, see it as the sales pitch to your reader by providing the backdrop and context for your book, giving them just enough information to entice them to know more. Convince them your book is important and useful.

Consistency

This category is vital. If you can't contradict yourself in a fictional book, you certainly can't do it in a non-fiction book! All your information needs to come together in a holistic way. Your points need to add up and contribute that one overall lesson you specified in the Content Development category.

Your content needs to live up to any claims you make in the beginning of your book or on the cover. Give the reader what you promised them and what they paid for. 

A lot of books can advertise and entice really well, but they don't deliver. It's the book version of click bait. The danger of making the mistake of inconsistency is readers no longer trust you and won't buy future books. 

Readers need to learn from you and trust you in your field. That way, when you publish another book, they won't debate over their purchase - they already know you're awesome!

A perfect example of a book delivering on its promise and gaining a loyal following of readers is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Even if you haven't read it, you know what it's about, and you're aware of all the hype. The Secret was followed by a number of different books, workbooks, and merchandise. 

Readers bought them and followed the new releases because the writer made a promise, delivered on it, and gained loyalty from her readers. 

Language Use and Audience Suitability

Your book must match your audience. Now, I'm not saying you can't write a book about Quantum Physics for ages 5-7, but I am saying your delivery of that information needs to be structured in a way that can be easily received by small children. 

It is best to narrow down your audience before you start writing, but you can narrow it down before you edit and slowly add, change, and remove passages as you go along in your editing process. Make sure your language fits the reader and their ability and interests. 

Write down a demographic of your audience and place it somewhere you will see when you are writing and editing. Always remember WHO you are writing for.

Here are some examples of books and the ideal audience for them:

Written for (possibly first-time) parents of children old enough to require discipline. NOT written for a teen audience or parents of babies.

Written for a predominantly female audience from Pre-Teen to Young Adult, with an interest in modest fashion and probably already fans of hers with some knowledge of her background.

Both males and females from different races but with an interest in the sociological aspect of racism. Not necessarily a Teen Read, but will attract audiences from the Young Adult range and above.

Pregnant women from Young Adult and above. Some with a medical interest in childbirth and obstetrics may also be interested.

Presentation

Finally, look at how you have divided up your book - Have you used sub-sections within your chapters? Have you used bullet points?

Any formatting choices you make (and they really are your choice) make sure you are consistent throughout your manuscript. For example, don't use square bullet points in one chapter and circles in another. 

If you have interactive sections in your book, such as activities and exercises for your reader to try, maybe format them differently from the rest of your text.

At this point, you can start putting your contents page together, as well. Decide on your formatting and decide what will be included (will you include all sub-sections in the contents page, for example.)

Got everything?

Now you know the 5 main editing categories for a deep and thorough edit of your non-fiction manuscript! Just work through them one at a time, don't rush, and as always - get in touch if you have ANY questions or need some extra help!

@: k.stottandrew@gmail.com
Insta: @khadijahwrites
FB: Facebook.com/khadijahhayley

20% OFF EDITORIAL REVIEWS

After your self-edit, an editorial review is the perfect way to get your work checked by a professional.

If you book before Feb 29th, 2020, you’ll receive 20% off an Editorial Review service! Get in touch and book your slot now! 

@: k.stottandrew@gmail.com
Insta: @khadijahwrites
FB: Facebook.com/khadijahhayley





Comments

Post a Comment