7 Tips for Outsourcing Nonfiction Book Writing
I set out on a quest in 2020 to read at least one nonfiction book each month. My aim was to focus only on nonfiction books that would help me in areas where I struggled.
Here’s what I ended up reading - seven nonfiction books and two fiction books. There were some books that I loved, others not so much.
But, taking on the reading challenge taught me two things. Outsourcing nonfiction book writing to the right writer helps authors create memorable books. Also, there’s a huge nonfiction book market with solutions for every problem imaginable.
Therefore, it’s not surprising that nonfiction book sales increased by 22.8% between 2014 and 2019. Additionally, print book sales “rose 6.4% for the nine months ended Oct. 3, 2020 over the comparable span in 2019.” People are buying nonfiction books.
Many people have unique experiences that equip them with the knowledge necessary to write a good nonfiction book. The struggle is with writing this book in an error-free way that inspires, motivates, and compels the reader to act.
That’s why I’ve created this short guide. I want to help you understand what you should do to find the right ghostwriter for your nonfiction book.
You already know that you have unique perspectives to share, and you need a writer who can convey them in a way that leads to stellar reviews. Those reviews then lead to more book sales and, before you know it, you’re a bestselling author!
Here are seven tips to help you outsource nonfiction book writing.
Understand Your Target Reader
The number one goal when writing a nonfiction book is to engage the reader. You want your readers to both enjoy reading the book because of how well-written it is and get value from the message you’re conveying. Achieving this feat is what ultimately increases book sales through word-of-mouth advertising.
You must understand your target reader. This goes beyond knowing the reader’s demographics (age, location, ethnicity, and so on). You also have to dive deep into how your reader thinks and the questions the reader is attempting to answer through reading your book.
That’s why a reader persona is so important. I discuss how to create a reader persona in this comprehensive guide about writing a nonfiction book.
A reader persona is the first thing you should write before fleshing out your book outline for two reasons:
It helps you understand (in great detail) who you’re writing for and this knowledge provides the framework you need to create a book that specifically meets the reader’s needs.
It helps the ghostwriter understand who you’re writing for, the writing style appropriate for your target reader, and how best to structure the book for the best impact.
This was something I did when writing The Business Playbook: A Guide for Jamaican Startups. I had first-hand experience with the woes of starting a business in Jamaica, and I also spoke with a few entrepreneurs who had similar experiences. So, I knew there was a problem.
I created my reader persona based on what I knew about Jamaicans and the process of starting a business in Jamaica. Here’s what it looked like.
Reader Persona for The Business Playbook.png
Some key points from my reader persona include:
My book had to be as simple as possible so that Jamaicans at all levels could understand it.
The language used in the book could be a mixture of Jamaican creole and Standard English to make it more relatable to the Jamaican reader.
There needed to be anecdotes from other Jamaican business owners to support the book’s message.
The book had to address the target questions.
Your reader persona should also bring the same (or even greater) clarity. Feel free to be as detailed as you desire.
Be Clear About the Book’s Purpose
You aren’t writing a nonfiction book just for the sake of writing it. There must be a purpose. Otherwise, you’ll be like me when I’m driving. I don’t do well with word-of-mouth directions when I’m going somewhere unfamiliar. If I travel without Google Maps, I’m likely to get lost. You’ll start getting lost in the writing process if you aren’t clear about your nonfiction book’s purpose.
5 Purposes of a Nonfiction Book
I’m looking at more than the income you’re trying to earn from your nonfiction book. Sure, I know that ultimately you want money. But, the core purpose of the book has to be more than that if you want to reach your target reader.
A nonfiction book typically has one of these purposes:
Inspire and motivate
Educate
Generate leads
Share your story
Launch a coaching or motivational speaking career
Your book can have one or more of these purposes. Having a clear purpose helps your ghostwriter understand how the book should be written so that the goal is achieved.
Be Prepared
I’ve worked with clients who’re very clear about what they want in their nonfiction books. Others are completely clueless. Guess which client has a head start with an efficient book writing process? The client who has a well-developed reader persona and a good sense of what should be conveyed in the book.
Now, I’m not saying that you should be prepared to the point of being unwilling to listen to your ghostwriter’s input. After all, your ghostwriter has spent several years honing her craft so she can add value to your project. What I am saying is that you should approach a ghostwriter after you’ve clearly understood your reader persona, the book’s purpose, and the main thoughts that should be presented in the book.
Another factor to consider is whether any of your existing content can be incorporated into your nonfiction book. In other words, do you have content that the ghostwriter can work with or will the ghostwriter have to start from scratch? Some authors use their online course videos, podcasts, or existing notes and research as the foundation for creating a nonfiction book.
Know the Target Length of the Book
Nonfiction books have various lengths. Oftentimes, the best way to measure length is by word count. Publishers typically prefer books that have at least 50,000 words because they give the reader the impression of greater depth and value. So, they’re easier to sell.
But, that doesn’t mean you should force writing a 50,000-word book if you don’t have enough content. Unnecessarily stretching out a book by being repetitive and using “filler” content will mar your reputation. The reader probably won’t buy another book you publish because the same irrelevant writing is expected.
You want a book that gets to the point in a way that adds value to the reader. If that means writing 15,000 words instead of 50,000 words then so be it. A seasoned ghostwriter can help you determine the best target word count for your book.
Test the Writer’s Skills
A test job is a good way to assess whether the ghostwriters you’re considering understand the writing style you’re looking for and the general premise of the book. You can find some great nonfiction book writers on LinkedIn. Feel free to check out my LinkedIn profile by clicking here.
There are two strategies you could use to test a pool of LinkedIn nonfiction book ghostwriters. The first is what I call the topic-based approach. Here's how it works:
Choose one of the book's main topics.
Ask the ghostwriters you’ve shortlisted to write a paid 1,000 word article about the topic based on who you’ve identified as the target reader.
The best article would be the one where the writer accurately captures the writing style and voice. It would also be the article where you can envision the content fitting well with what you want to convey in the book.
I’ve also seen clients ask shortlisted ghostwriters to write a paid introduction. I have mixed feelings about this strategy because it’s usually best to write the book’s introduction after the chapters have been written. However, you can use this approach to get a general sense of the ghostwriter’s writing style and understanding of what you want to convey. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the introduction will be used after the chapters have been written.
Notice I’ve described paid tasks. It’s unfair to ask a group of writers to use their time and energy to write content for free. Furthermore, you may use content written by a ghostwriter you didn’t hire because you both weren’t the right fit. People should be paid for their time and effort.
Build a Relationship
Some of the best content comes from a ghostwriter with whom you can form a meaningful relationship. You want a ghostwriter who’ll take the time to get to know you and your story. There’ll probably be a series of Zoom calls as you discuss the content needed to write the book. So, it’s important to find someone who makes you feel comfortable.
Most nonfiction book writing projects I’ve worked on required Zoom calls and a long-term relationship. I’ve also worked with a client who required a combination of Zoom calls and me listening to his existing online course videos. He had a positive experience with me because I took the time to get to know him and ensure he felt comfortable throughout our journey together.
Set a Realistic Timeline and Budget
Remember, your focus is on quality. So, writing a nonfiction book isn’t something that should be rushed. It’s hard to give a general timeline for the nonfiction book writing process because each book is different. The timeline depends on the:
Research required
Number of interviews (if required)
Feedback process
A well-written nonfiction book with 50,000 words can take five months to complete with all three factors considered. But, the timeline could also be less depending on the requirements of your project. The only way to get a realistic sense of a timeline is to discuss it with a ghostwriter.
The budget for nonfiction book writing can be a real stickler. Ghostwriters typically charge per hour or word. Hourly rates can range from $30 to $100, while per word rates for some of the best writers can start at $0.12 per word. Nonfiction book writing is a skill, and writers should be compensated appropriately for it.
You’ll probably get a lower price if you stick with a per word rate versus an hourly rate. So, the starting price for a 50,000-word book would be roughly $6,000 using the $0.12 per word rate. The price includes research, interviews, and whatever is required to get the high-quality nonfiction book you need.
But, you can make three times that if you promote the book well. You can find some tips for promoting a nonfiction book in this comprehensive guide.
Final Words
Outsourcing nonfiction book writing is often the best choice if you want a high-quality book that engages your readers in meaningful ways. These seven tips will help you successfully create a project with the right ghostwriter.
Sure, it’s a major investment. But, it’s an investment that will pay off in the long-term and your book sales increase.
Do you need a ghostwriter for your nonfiction book? Contact me and let’s discuss how I can write the book you need.