In today's world of technology and news soundbites, we sometimes forget that book writing is an art and a craft. Many writers, when they start out on a nonfiction book, feel confident they know where the book is going. Many times these same writers are surprised somewhere in the process to discover the topic they love and dream about suddenly morphs into a different type of book altogether.
No worries. Here are the top nonfiction book categories that sell well today with a short explanation of what the top two entail.
For now though, think outside the box and see how many categories the book you are writing or dreaming of writing could actually fit into. Don't be surprised if your book idea grows into several different kinds of nonfiction books.
Nonfiction Narrative / True Adventure
An example that comes to mind is the book The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. Did you know that this New York Times best selling book featured an adventure that the author had no experience with? Nonfiction Narrative / True Adventure books need to be true of course. However, if you have good research and interview skills you can write in this category about the life experience of someone else.
How-To
This category is a huge seller year after year. Is it any wonder? There is so much to learn these days and more new things coming out each year. If you are wondering if How-To books still sell well, let me put your mind at ease. The book 101 Things to Do With a Cake Mix sold 80,000 copies. The book 101 Things to Do With a Slow Cooker topped it by selling 100,000 copies. Not impressed yet? Then remember that Julie Morgenstern's book Organizing from the Inside Out sold an impressive 150,000 copies.
How-To books can teach readers two things:
1. How to do something
2. How to do something better.
Take something you have learned and turn it into easy steps. Bingo, you have a How-To book.
Here are the other sixteen top nonfiction categories selling well today in no particular order.
Self-Help
Biography
Personal Memoirs
Cookbook
History
Humor
Travel Guides
Children's
True Crime
Sports
Reference
Religious/Spirituality
Science
Paranormal/Occult
Medicine
Business
Happy Writing!
Damn! Why Didn't I Write That?: How Ordinary People Are Raking in $100,000.00... or More Writing Nonfiction Books & How You Can Too!
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