Editor, Ghostwriter, or Writing Coach: Which Kind of Writing Help Do You Need?
The term “nonfiction” covers a lot of literary ground. It encompasses a spectrum of topics from the highly technical and objective to the highly emotional and subjective. From guidebooks and reference books to thought leadership, personal and family history, and more. Regardless of nonfiction type and author experience level, writing a book is never a one-person job...
September 10, 2024 READ MORE
10 Common Ghostwriting Myths Debunked
Behind many beloved bestsellers and inspirational speeches, there were ghostwriters. Yet, the practice of ghostwriting often gets a bad rap. In reality, using a ghostwriter is a collaborative and creative process between an author with a good idea and a writer with the technical skills to bring it to life. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a curious reader, or are...
August 30, 2024 READ MORE
Our collaborative, results-oriented process can help you position yourself or your company as an authority.
We’ll ensure that your subject-driven manuscript:
Because we have multiple writers with thought leadership experience, we can handle large, complex assignments and meet even the most challenging deadlines. You can depend on us at every step, from brainstorming through final review:
You’ll work with a great team of writers, with real-world experience. No newbies here, just check out our resumes. Equally important, you’ll work with writers who understand — really understand — what it means to take care of our customers, make projects our own, and deliver on our promises.
Our nonfiction ghostwriting clients have a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, knowledge, and reasons for writing a book — but they all share a few basic concerns and goals:
Of course, at The Writers For Hire, Inc., our clients find all of this and more. Our team adds specialty in a wide range of genres (see below), and the creativity to write outside the box if your genre isn’t listed.
A thought leadership book is an excellent way to build your company’s reputation and impress your clients, shareholders, industry peers, and employees.
No matter where you are in the process, we can immediately fall into step with your team to research, write, and edit an engaging thought leadership book that meets your goals — and maybe even changes minds.
Our writers are skilled at pinning down the great ideas your thought leaders have floating around then turning them into something that benefits, educates, or enlightens your audience.
Company and organization history books are unique beasts, and they require a unique skill set. You need rock-solid writing skills, of course. But you also need excellent interviewers and top-notch researchers — people who can turn up needle-in-a-haystack facts about your company’s past.
We’ll help you take your company history book from inspiration to finished, including helping you locate the perfect publisher.
We’ve spent decades working with subject matter experts across a number of sectors, everything from industry to non-profits. Our collaborative, results-oriented process can help you position yourself or your company as an authority.
You can depend on us every step, from brainstorming through final review.
An eBook is an excellent way to communicate with your target audience, establish or strengthen your reputation, and link to your other digital content.
Our teams are eBook-savvy with deep knowledge about what it takes to plan, create, and polish a great digital read.
Guidebooks and reference books require more than just great writing skills. They also often involve an extensive information-gathering phase that includes background reading and research.
At The Writers For Hire, you will work with meticulous researchers, sharp-eyed editors, and Type-A project managers who keep things moving, whether you need us to write your book from scratch or edit an existing draft.
At The Writers For Hire, we have carefully assembled our team of skilled, award-winning writers, editors, and project managers over the past 20 years. Because we have a deep understanding of business, journalism, and content marketing principles — and a ton of experience — we can take on just about any ghostwriting project imaginable.
Whether you need blogs, white papers, trade articles, or case studies, you name it, we can do it.
The Future of Ghostwriting in the Digital Age
Ghostwriting once seemed like a mysterious, behind-the-scenes business with nameless writers inventing copy that other people would get credit for. Who were those writers? Nobody knew and nobody seemed to want to know, even though ghostwriting has produced everything from celebrity memoirs to political speeches. Now, however, ghostwriters seem to be fast disappearin...
August 23, 2024 READ MORE
The 10 Best Autobiographies and Memoirs of All Time
Memoirs and autobiographies hold a unique place in nonfiction writing as they offer profound insights into the lives and experiences of real individuals. When done well, memoirs and autobiographies have the power to bridge gaps between generations, fostering a sense of continuity and shared experiences. Their ability to transcend time and impact readers across diverse...
August 16, 2024 READ MORE
Unlocking the Brain: The Cognitive Power of Handwriting
When was the last time you actually sat down and wrote a letter by hand? If you're like many digitally savvy Americans, it has likely been a while. The laborious process of tracing out our thoughts, letter by letter, on the page is becoming a relic of the past in our screen-dominated world, where text messages and thumb-typed grocery lists have replaced handwritten l...
August 13, 2024 READ MORE
Personal History Book—a Family Keepsake To Treasure
It’s hard to overstate the value of capturing and preserving a loved one’s own description of their journey through life. You can accomplish this by creating a personal history book, otherwise known as a keepsake book. It’s a doable project for most families. An illustrated book that records your loved one’s memories in question-and-answer format mak...
July 5, 2024 READ MORE
5 Key Tips on How to Research Your Nonfiction Book Without Getting Overwhelmed
“Research is to see what everybody else has seen and to think what nobody else has thought.” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Writing a killer nonfiction book is more than merely putting pen to paper. While you may have amazing prose in mind, a nonfiction book requires accuracy and attention to detail. That is why research is the backbone of all great nonfiction works. But w...
June 28, 2024 READ MORE
8 Free Options for Self-Publishing Your Book
The dream of publishing a book can sometimes get caught up in the intricate web of the publishing world. Aspiring authors may feel discouraged by the complexities involved in taking a book from a draft to a published work. Consequently, authors may feel compelled to go the self-publishing route. Nevertheless, going down this road entails much more than meets the eye. Se...
May 15, 2024 READ MORE
10 Years with the Talented and Humble Flori Meeks
Today, we stand on the brink of celebrating a remarkable milestone: a decade of unwavering dedication and unparalleled expertise from one of our esteemed writers, Flori Meeks. With over 25 years of writing experience under her belt, Flori's writing journey began amidst the suburban streets of Detroit as a community newspaper reporter. [block_imgwrap_dir dir="right" ...
April 30, 2024 READ MORE
“Must Read” Nonfiction Books for 2024
A great nonfiction book stands out for its ability to captivate readers with engaging prose and meticulous research. Its writing style is clear, concise, and compelling, effectively communicating complex ideas in an accessible manner. The book offers a unique perspective, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of a subject or presenting fresh insights into familiar top...
January 23, 2024 READ MORE
10 Formats for Sharing Your Family History
Sharing your family history with others can inspire future generations and answer questions about your identity, traditions, and culture. Your link to the past becomes more focused, and you uncover secret talents and triumphs that no one in your family ever dreamed could be possible. Still, sharing your family history comes with challenges. Even if you research an...
December 8, 2023 READ MORE
Publishing Options for Nonfiction Authors
Up-and-coming nonfiction authors often encounter limited traditional publishing avenues when seeking to publish works like memoirs, autobiographies, or family history projects. Established publishers tend to prioritize renowned authors or commercial genres, leaving lesser-known writers with constrained opportunities. However, there is a silver lining. Various alte...
November 14, 2023 READ MORE
10 Things To Do When Preparing To Work with a Ghostwriter for the First Time
Collaborating with a ghostwriter can be a transformative choice for authors, offering multifaceted support throughout the creative process. From shaping ideas into cohesive narratives to refining writing styles, ghostwriters bring expertise that can elevate an author's work to new heights. Their ability to adapt to various genres and voices makes them invaluable assets in ...
October 27, 2023 READ MORE
Why Every Book Needs an Outline and How to Write One
A good outline is your secret weapon to create a successful nonfiction book. But for some writers, the thought of writing an outline is less than appealing. Mention the word “outline” and they’re reminded of the outlines we had to write in school with Roman numerals. [block_imgwrap_dir dir="right" image_url="https://dev.thewritersforhire.com/w...
October 20, 2023 READ MORE
A Yes Attitude – 10 Unique Projects Tackled by TWFH
Sometimes, finding vendors and business partners to take on unique projects for your company is challenging. This problem can be especially true if you're looking for a writing agency. It's always nice to be told yes, but unfortunately, that word is hard to come by these days—even with contractors wanting your business. However, at The Writers For Hire, we're just ...
June 27, 2023 READ MORE
Everything You Need to Know About Getting Help for Your Nonfiction Book
Writing a nonfiction book can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a person's life. It offers a unique opportunity to share knowledge, expertise, and insights with a wide audience, leaving a lasting impact on readers. Through the process of researching, organizing ideas, and crafting compelling narratives, authors gain a deeper understanding of their subject mat...
May 30, 2023 READ MORE
How to Market Your Nonfiction Book
It used to be that only self-published authors had to promote their books. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. Even if you are savvy enough to land a publisher, you will still be expected to do your part to market your book aggressively. While none of that seems like much fun, we will attempt to take the mystery out of getting those copies flying off the shelves. ...
May 26, 2023 READ MORE
How to Find the Right Publisher for Your Nonfiction Book
Every aspiring author’s dream is to have their works published. Having a reputable publisher accept a manuscript for publication provides authors with the ultimate validation. However, the process of going from a finished manuscript to getting a full-length nonfiction book published is not an easy one. That is why understanding how nonfiction book publishers work is e...
May 23, 2023 READ MORE
Your book is complete! You’ve researched, outlined, interviewed sources, written, and fully self-edited your manuscript. What a feat! Now you’re ready to publish it! Well, not so fast… While it might seem like the next logical step, there is still one critical phase before the publishing process that shouldn’t be overlooked; a phase that is invaluable to ...
May 19, 2023 READ MORE
Using Photographs to Add Meaning to Your Family History Book
So, you’ve written your narrative. Your story is on paper, and all you have to do now is add the finishing touches. But something is missing. You have the opportunity to really show readers your life. What better way to accent your family history book than with pictures? Adding photos and other memorabilia to your book lends more insight into what exactly has made yo...
May 12, 2023 READ MORE
9 Legalities You Must Consider Before Writing a Nonfiction Book
Publishing a nonfiction book offers many advantages, including increased credibility and authority, more clients or customers, and potentially higher income. It can also help you build a platform to promote your work and grow your business. Writing a nonfiction book allows you to share your knowledge and expertise with a larger audience than you could reach through othe...
May 9, 2023 READ MORE
Working With Family Members on Your Family History Book
When it comes to writing a family history book, there are few projects that can be as rewarding, and as complicated, as collaborating with your family members. Writing a family history book is completely different to, let’s say, writing business books, corporate histories, or perhaps a nonfiction book. Not everyone knows how to write a family history book, but there a...
May 2, 2023 READ MORE
How to Use Your Book to Build Your Personal Brand
Do you have a brilliant idea to share with the world? Are you an expert with a unique take on your industry? An innovator with a breakthrough concept? If you want to impact the widest possible audience with your ideas or expertise, there’s no better way to do it than writing a book. In fact, for anyone who wants to build a following, it’s virtually impossible ...
April 25, 2023 READ MORE
What Kinds of Books Should Companies Write?
As a business owner, have you ever considered writing a book for your company? It may sound daunting, but a well-written book can offer endless possibilities for your organization. Not only does it serve as a great marketing tool, but it can also establish you or others in your business as thought leaders in your industry. A book can showcase your company's expertise, s...
April 21, 2023 READ MORE
How to Define and Write for Your Book’s Target Audience
You have a great idea for a book, and you’re ready to begin writing. But before you do, consider this great piece of advice from Stephen Covey’s classic book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:” Begin with the end in mind. It’s a sound strategy, and it’s especially true in the highly competitive publishing market. To publish and market your book...
April 18, 2023 READ MORE
How to Schedule for Writing a Book
Everyone dreams about writing their life story someday. Some even start writing but by the end of the first chapter, it quickly becomes apparent that finishing the book requires a great deal of commitment and a robust schedule to keep on track. Becoming an author can be very rewarding, not only if your book does well, but also because of the new skills you will learn du...
April 14, 2023 READ MORE
“Nonfiction” is a blanket term used to describe literature that is based on factual people, events, and things. While “nonfiction” may not strike you as being a very broad term, it actually encompasses a huge percentage of literature that is written. In fact, you may be surprised to find out that there are actually many more genres in nonfiction than fiction....
April 11, 2023 READ MORE
Should I Write a Nonfiction Book?
Nonfiction books can be an excellent tool for establishing thought leadership in your industry. Of course, taking a book from a blank manuscript to a published product is much easier said than done. One of the most common yet seldom considered challenges to writing a nonfiction book is whether it's the right time to do so. After all, just because you can do something...
April 7, 2023 READ MORE
Research Tips and Strategies for a Nonfiction Book
Knowing how to get started with a nonfiction book may seem like a daunting task. In particular, tackling the research side of writing a nonfiction book can seem tough to handle. The good news is that research for a nonfiction project is much easier than meets the eye. You just have to take the right approach and get yourself organized. In this article, we will focus ...
April 4, 2023 READ MORE
The 10 Best Nonfiction Books for this Holiday Season
“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” — Garrison Keillor The holiday season is right around the corner. That magical time filled with joy and excitement lights up the air. It’s also the time to find thoughtful gifts for the most special people in our lives. What could be a better gift than a book? But it’s not just any book. We’re talking abou...
November 25, 2022 READ MORE
5 Ways Writing a Nonfiction Book Can Help You Grow Your Business
“Your business and results are a reflection of you. Your business and results will grow in direct proportion to your own growth.”— James Arthur Ray Growing your business is no easy task. It takes time and dedication to build a business from the ground up. Of course, thanks to your full commitment to your brand, you are up to the task. But there are times when y...
October 28, 2022 READ MORE
Many new authors find that once they have their book written and published, they rarely see a return on their investment simply by book sales alone. While frustrating, it’s certainly not uncommon. In fact, hardcopy book sales have been on the decline since digital publishing was introduced and has grown in popularity. For authors publishing with traditional publishers...
October 25, 2022 READ MORE
6 Reasons Why You Should Write a Prescriptive Nonfiction Book
The term “prescriptive nonfiction” may not mean much to you, but there’s no doubt that you have come across this genre of books more than once. A prescriptive nonfiction book is a guide, written by an expert in a particular field, which provides people with the knowledge to solve their problems and challenges. It doesn't matter if you are trying to lose weight, sa...
September 6, 2022 READ MORE
8 TIPS FOR WORKING WITH YOUR GHOSTWRITER TO GET GREAT CONTENT
You have a terrific idea for a book, but maybe you don’t have the writing skills or the time to make it happen. Instead of letting that stop you, you’ve gone the extra mile and found a ghostwriter. Now that you’ve signed the contract, how can you make the most of your investment? Learn how to collaborate with your ghostwriter and produce great content from the exp...
August 30, 2022 READ MORE
8 Reasons for Writing a Nonfiction Book
Writing and publishing a nonfiction book can be one of the most rewarding endeavors you undertake in your lifetime. Not only does it provide you with more credibility as an expert in your field, it also gives you ample opportunities to grow your business, create additional income streams, and share your knowledge with others who want to learn from your life experiences....
August 19, 2022 READ MORE
11 Common Editing and Typo Mistakes to Watch for in Your Own Book and How to Fix Them
Have you ever read a piece of writing, be it a book, article, or even a blog or social media post, that just leaves you shaking your head, wondering what the author was trying to say? Don’t let this be you or your book! From fragmented sentences and misspelled words, to lack of punctuation — good ideas getting lost in bad writing is an all-too-common occurrence...
August 15, 2022 READ MORE
The Fascinating History of Ghostwriting
For nearly 5,000 years, there have been two kinds of humans: 1) People with expendable income who have something to say 2) People who write better than the first category Hence, a ghostwriting service is born. From ancient Egypt to the modern U.S., literate cultures have relied on ghostwriters to convey politics, business, science, entertainment, and more. As auth...
July 22, 2022 READ MORE
“EBooks have many advantages – publishers don’t have to make guesses about how many books to print, books need never go ‘out of print,’ and hard-to-find books can be easily available.” — Kate Grenville To the common observer, an eBook is merely an ordinary book in an electronic format. This misconception stems from regular print books becoming widely avail...
June 27, 2022 READ MORE
How Long Does It Take to Write a Book with a Ghostwriter?
Writing a book is a huge undertaking, and it's one that many people choose to do with the help of a ghostwriter. While working with a ghostwriter can be a great way to get a professionally written book, it's essential to factor in how long the process may take. Having a book ghostwritten is more involved than simply waiting for the writer to complete it. It's a proce...
June 22, 2022 READ MORE
Am I Qualified to Write a Self-Help Book?
Are you looking to write a self-help book but don’t know if you’re qualified enough? A self-help book is different from other types of nonfiction because it addresses issues that people struggle with every day. Hence, it can be very personal and often requires a lot of research. While that may sound very daunting, especially if you’re not an experienced writer,...
June 10, 2022 READ MORE
How to Choose a Nonfiction Book Format: 10 Types of Nonfiction Genres You Need to Consider
“I still believe nonfiction is the most important literature to come out of the second half of the 20th century.” — Tom Wolfe In 2021, 825.75 million print books were sold in the United States, according to Statista. This figure bodes well since it represents an 8.9% year-over-year growth for the book market. Moreover, data from NPD indicates that adult nonfict...
June 8, 2022 READ MORE
The Manuscript Writing Cafe: Headquarters For Writers on a Deadline
Have you ever had a strict writing deadline for a project, but found it difficult to just sit down and get it done? With so many constant distractions, finding the focus needed to meet deadlines can feel like a never-ending struggle. However, in Tokyo, Japan, they have found the perfect solution! Located in the Bohemian Koenji district, the Manuscript Writing Café serv...
June 6, 2022 READ MORE
12 Steps to Company History Book Success
Your company has reached a major milestone, a new CEO is being appointed, or maybe a significant anniversary is coming up. Press releases are fleeting, and your boss wants something more concrete, something to hand out to clients, stakeholders, investors, and employees. The execs have landed on the idea of a company history book -- one that can commemorate the compan...
May 13, 2022 READ MORE
What You Need to Know Before Writing Your Family Business History Book
Family-run businesses have been the backbone of the American economy for decades. A business is a source of pride for countless families, a great number of which go on to become well-established corporations. Some family companies even endure the test of time as they move from generation to generation. When businesses grow and thrive over the years and decades, they acc...
May 4, 2022 READ MORE
10 Best Formats for your Company History Book
Given all that goes into starting and successfully running a business, chances are that your company has a story to tell. Have you been tasked with sharing it? Maybe you have a milestone anniversary to celebrate, a legacy to preserve, or a great brand origin to share. Whatever the reasons, if you've thought about chronicling your company history, you may have discove...
May 2, 2022 READ MORE
Five Things to Know about Using Descriptive Narrative Writing in a Nonfiction Book
Conventional wisdom suggests that descriptive narrative belongs in the domain of fiction writing. Undoubtedly, fiction writers do need to exploit descriptive narrative as much as possible. However, for nonfiction writers, utilizing descriptive narrative can provide an effective tool to draw in and engage readers. Conventional wisdom also suggests that nonfiction writ...
April 22, 2022 READ MORE
10 Reasons to Hire a Professional Nonfiction Editor
“The life of an editor is not a glamorous one. You’re a fixer; you make things better.”—Courtney B. Vance The work of an editor often goes seemingly unnoticed. When readers work their way through a book, they fail to realize an editor’s vital role in making that book outstanding. While writers get most of the accolades, editors sit in the background, doling ou...
April 15, 2022 READ MORE
5 Reasons to Hire a Ghostwriting Agency to Produce Your Non-Fiction Book
Producing a non-fiction book is a great way to jumpstart a professional career, boost brand positioning, or raise awareness on a specific topic. A well-crafted book provides a clear image of professionalism and expertise in any given domain. It’s no secret that writing a quality book takes time and effort. It also requires dedication to completing the task. However, t...
March 11, 2022 READ MORE
How to Choose the Perfect Topic for Your Memoir
You have a story to tell, and you want to write a book. Not just any book, though. You want to write a book about your life. You love a good memoir, and you know that they are popular. You've lived an interesting life and you think it would translate into a remarkable memoir. But how do you write it? Do you simply tell the story of your life, or does it need to be mo...
February 22, 2022 READ MORE
10 Great Books to Inspire You to Write Your Business Book
Articulating book ideas is not a straightforward proposition. There are times when books stall because it is not easy to transform an idea into a tangible manifestation. Thus, finding inspiration in other sources can help frame one’s ideas into a clearer picture. To help a business leader find inspiration, books by other influential business professionals can provi...
January 25, 2022 READ MORE
TWFH’s Top Nonfiction Reads of 2021
It’s hard to believe that 2021 is already coming to an end! As we look forward to the new year, we at TWFH wanted to share our favorite nonfiction books we’ve read this year. From the true story of a spy who played a pivotal role in the Cold War to a guidebook for changing old habits, we hope these delightful suggestions inspire you to read more in the coming yea...
December 31, 2021 READ MORE
Who NOT to Hire as Your Nonfiction Ghostwriter
A great memoir, biography, or history burns at your insides, just waiting to be born and put your name out there. Unfortunately, you can’t or don’t want to write it. The search for a ghostwriter has tentatively begun, but you don’t know where or how to begin. On the bright side, ghostwriters are as common as dirt. On the downside, many ghostwriters aren’t much c...
December 14, 2021 READ MORE
2021 Holiday Gift Guide: The 15 Best Nonfiction Books to Gift This Holiday Season
With the holidays front and center, finding the perfect gift for avid readers can be tricky. After all, there are many great titles out there. However, there are some other not-so-good ones, too. So, how can one separate the wheat from the chaff? Unlike fiction, nonfiction books combine wonder and enlightenment within a real-world context. Great nonfiction titles tak...
December 10, 2021 READ MORE
5 Great Ways to Turn Your Blog Posts into a Book
“This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard, and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy and that hard.” — Neil Gaiman Writing a book is a dream for many folks. Some try very hard to write a book from scratch but never get very far. Others take baby steps. Little by little, they manage to put something meaningful together. Never...
November 30, 2021 READ MORE
Digital vs. Print Books: How a Ghostwriter Can Boost Both Digital and Print Publishing
“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” — Cicero Books have always been a powerful means of communicating knowledge. Humankind has used books to preserve and further develop civilization for centuries. And in the information age, books have become more powerful than ever. However, the changing technological landscape has started to morph books int...
November 23, 2021 READ MORE
4 Surefire Ways to Keep Your Nonfiction Book Project on Track
It is an inevitable reality that all nonfiction manuscripts hold the potential for work-stoppage and long-term shutdowns along the way to completion. It doesn’t matter if you are a commissioned writer working on an assigned topic. It doesn’t matter if you are an independent researcher, intrigued with the subject matter, thirsty for further discovery, and eager to...
November 16, 2021 READ MORE
How can a ghostwriter help get my book to the finish line?
Your book is your passion project. It was going great for a while, but then life got in the way. Work got busier. Kids are kids. Accidents happen. Or sometimes you just hit a wall. Unfortunately, sometimes passion projects end up on the back burner. Now, what you really want is for your book to be done, but you’re not sure how to get back on track. It may not seem ...
November 9, 2021 READ MORE
What Kind of Editing Do I Need?
“Can you edit this?” It’s arguably one of the vaguest requests heard in the world of editing and publishing. That’s because there are multiple types of editing, and they often mean something very different to each party in the editing relationship – the writer and the editor. A basic Internet search of “types of editing” can send you into a flurry of...
October 29, 2021 READ MORE
You glance at the cover of the memoir you are reading and realize that the author of the book is not exactly clear. There is a name on the bottom, but below that, there is yet another name. So, what does it all mean? In the process of creating content for a book, there is frequently more than one person who contributes to the writing. The way these people are credited o...
October 19, 2021 READ MORE
How to Combine Historical Research with Family History to Create a Riveting Nonfiction Book
The history of your family is about much more than names, dates, and places. It can be difficult, however, to compile a family history that’s more than just a dry recounting of bare facts without access to the holy grail of the family historian: things like diaries, letters, memoirs, and oral histories. Luckily, there are other ways to fill in between the lines of ...
October 12, 2021 READ MORE
How a History Book Can Benefit Your Cultural Organization
Cultural organizations are an integral part of public life, allowing groups large and small to foster community bonds and celebrate their shared history, interests, and traditions. While most cultural organizations have established ways of keeping these traditions alive, there is one activity that your organization may not have considered: writing a book about your hist...
September 24, 2021 READ MORE
What’s in a Name? 8 Helpful Tips for Finding the Best Title for Your Memoir
“A good title is the title of a successful book.” — Raymond Chandler As the renowned American minister Frank Crane once said, “Next, in importance to books are their titles.” Indeed, while a book’s content is its most significant attribute, a bad title can do a book a huge disservice. After all, readers judge books by both cover and title. If an author...
September 21, 2021 READ MORE
8 Steps to Writing a Great Biography
People are naturally curious beings. And they love to read about the lives of others, and what makes them tick. It is for that very reason that biographies remain a very popular genre of nonfiction. But what is it that makes the difference between a mediocre biography and a truly good one? What is a biography? Photo by Pexels Before we dive too far into what m...
September 14, 2021 READ MORE
Six Ways a Historian Can Help You Write a Nonfiction Book
“Writing a nonfiction book should primarily be about establishing credibility and authority in a specific domain.” — Hassan Osman Nowadays, it seems that anyone who is anyone must write a book to establish themselves in their given field. However, many well-meaning folks erroneously underestimate just how much work goes into writing a quality nonfiction book. A...
September 7, 2021 READ MORE
Independent Publishers: A Closer Look at Various Nonfiction Publishing Models
In the world of publishing, there are two primary players: mainstream and independent publishers. With the prestige often attached to mainstream publishers, they tend to draw writers like bees to honey. Because of this, they are frequently misjudged as being profit-driven content machines. On the flip side, independent publishers generally cater to a niche audience. ...
September 1, 2021 READ MORE
Writer Tips: 7 “Must-Have” Elements in a Nonfiction Book
When you think of nonfiction, what comes to mind? Memoirs and autobiographies? Text books or guides? In reality, the genre of nonfiction encompasses a vast range. And basically, the only element that ties this classification together is that it presents fact. As Wikipedia defines it, “Nonfiction is any document or media content that intends, in good faith, to prese...
August 6, 2021 READ MORE
Book Sales 101: Navigating the World of Book Sales
An old Chinese proverb goes, “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.” Indeed, the world of book sales is quite the tough teacher. Novice writers quickly find that making money selling books is not as easy as it appears to be. Often, failure comes first and learning afterward. However, it does not have to be that way. ...
July 13, 2021 READ MORE
7 Great Tips for Working with a Ghostwriter on your Company History Book
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” —Woodrow Wilson Companies with vision achieve great things. They are capable of changing the world. Great ...
July 2, 2021 READ MORE
Outlining a Nonfiction Book: A Writer’s Tips and Strategies for Drafting an Effective Outline
Writing a book is an exciting journey. And, as with any journey, it contains both ups and downs. However, experienced writers simplify their journey by having an accurate roadmap. When writing nonfiction content, outlining becomes the roadmap that leads a writer from point A to point B as efficiently as possible. Often, inexperienced writers go about their projects w...
June 15, 2021 READ MORE
Everyone has a book in them. However, not everyone is a writer. And for those who aren’t, projects such as writing a family history, memoir, or autobiography can feel like a herculean task. This is where a little extra help comes in handy. When writing projects exceed their author’s capabilities, hiring a professional ghostwriter can help make the project a reali...
June 9, 2021 READ MORE
You hired a ghostwriter to help you write your life story. It’s gone through all of the editing phases, and now all that’s left is coming up with an amazing title. But do titles really matter when it comes to the sale of your book? According to this great article from Kindlepreneur, they do. In fact, names matter so much that marketing master, E. Haldeman-Julius,...
June 1, 2021 READ MORE
Getting a Book to Print: Submitting to Multiple Publishers or Self-Publishing?
Publishing a book is a momentous occasion in one’s life. It is the acknowledgment of one’s skills and expertise. Whether your book was penned completely on your own, or with the help of a ghostwriter, getting a book deal is the type of validation so few people receive. However, taking an idea to print can be a long, winding road. Attaining that elusive book deal...
May 25, 2021 READ MORE
Does my autobiography/memoir need a narrative arc?
At its best, a memoir or autobiography is more than just a retelling of someone’s life. It pulls you in and makes you feel what they felt and compels you to cheer them on, hoping for a happy ending. It’s not a checklist of events, it’s a story. Perhaps it’s your story. It’s not always the actual events of one’s life that make for a great book, but the way...
May 21, 2021 READ MORE
The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Ghostwriter to Produce a Personal or Family History Book
“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.”—George Bernard Shaw Deciding to produce a book can be quite daunting, especially when it is about personal or family history. It can prove to be an even more daunting task when the book is about an important family event meshed within history's broader context. Naturally, there may b...
May 7, 2021 READ MORE
Reading What’s Real: 11 Types of Nonfiction
If you had to guess, which book category would you suppose is the largest in the United States, by both volume and sales revenue? Would you guess Romance? Mystery? It’s actually neither! In fact, it’s not any genre of novel. Believe it or not, according to NPD Booskscan, it’s actually nonfiction. Nonfiction, by definition, is prose writing that is about real fa...
April 23, 2021 READ MORE
Writing Nonfiction: The Ins and Outs of an Engaging Nonfiction Book
Mark Twain once said, “Write what you know.” Indeed, his words resonate with the power of universal truth. Writing compelling nonfiction books is about infusing passion into a topic that would surely seem mundane in the hands of a lesser writer. Unfortunately, for many writers, finding either a topic or a passion is difficult enough, never mind pairing them together...
April 2, 2021 READ MORE
Autobiography or Memoir? Choosing the Right Format for Writing Your Life Story
Do you have a story to tell about your life? Have you been considering writing an autobiography? Or is it a memoir you really want to write? What’s the difference? And how do you decide which is right for your story? While the terms “autobiography” and “memoir” are often used interchangeably, there are some important distinctions. And understanding those di...
March 12, 2021 READ MORE
Copywriter Q&A: Jessica Stautberg Discusses the Art of Writing an Unforgettable Memoir
With over a decade of writing experience, Jessica Stautberg has written content for everything from websites and blogs to books and press releases. At The Writers For Hire (TWFH), Jessica serves as our lead copywriter, and is also one of our experts on writing memoirs and autobiographies. In this installment of our Copywriter Q&A series, we talked to Jessica about w...
March 9, 2021 READ MORE
The Hero’s Journey: Storytelling in B2B
Humans are storytellers from way back in the caveman days. We crave stories, stories drive us, and we immerse ourselves in stories. Children’s book authors like Maurice Sendak and Roald Dahl created worlds that we embraced in our youth and never forgot. Writers like Stephen King and Toni Morrison built stories that shook us to our core. Even the greatest speeche...
March 5, 2021 READ MORE
What Does “Show, Don’t Tell” Mean in Writing?
You’ve written a piece you adore. The language flows, and it’s wonderfully descriptive. Your editor (or teacher) then comes back with, “Show me, don’t tell me!” Seriously? You’ve heard that same critique a thousand times. Don’t worry. All writers have found those dreaded words on their drafts. What are they looking for? Let’s get to the bottom ...
February 16, 2021 READ MORE
Can You Make Money Writing Nonfiction Children’s Books?
There's a section in the library you use a lot if you have kids, but you may never really think about as a writer. All of those books on sports, animals, trucks, helicopters, famous people, and every other topic under the sun are fascinating to kids. They love to learn, and as they read, they develop their passions. In 2020, the children's non-fiction market h...
January 26, 2021 READ MORE
Publishing Trends: 2021 and Beyond
After a 2020 that was unusual, to say the least, publishers of all sorts are now looking ahead to see what the future holds for the publishing industry. In this article, we're going to break out our crystal ball and focus on leading industry trends while analyzing some of the biggest news in the publishing industry. So, stay tuned. We have a lot coming your way. ...
January 8, 2021 READ MORE
Generating Buzz About Your Nonfiction Book
What’s on your list of dreams you want to fulfill and goals you want to achieve in your lifetime? Is writing a book on the top of your bucket list? Maybe you aspire to write about your life experiences, a topic that interests you, or something you’re knowledgeable about. While that's all fine and good, how are you going to distinguish your book from the mil...
December 8, 2020 READ MORE
What to Include in Your Family History Book
Writing a family history book can be a tremendous gift for your family, especially for future generations. But it can also be a daunting project. There could be seemingly unlimited amounts of research to dig into. Should you conduct interviews? If yes, then how many should you do? Just what should you plan on including in your family history book? First, Determin...
November 3, 2020 READ MORE
Many people aspire to write their own life stories. But let’s face it— not all memoirs are as engaging or moving as the author intended. In fact, it can be difficult to write a memoir that other people actually want to read or consider insightful. Your story must be interesting enough to hold their attention. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to wri...
October 27, 2020 READ MORE
How To Make Your Family History Come To Life
You’ve spent the last couple of years researching your family history. You even hired a professional genealogist to track down the information you couldn’t uncover on your own. Now you are ready to share your findings with the rest of your family. You could go with a basic family tree diagram, or a journaled scrapbook, but you really want to make the stories ...
October 13, 2020 READ MORE
Is Traditional Publishing Dead?
There was a time when writing a book and actually getting it published was a dream akin to saying “I’m going to make it in the NBA!” or “I’m going to be a rock star!” Then, self-publishing came along. And while it didn’t garner much respect early on, in recent years self-publishing has taken over a major share of the publishing industry. In other words...
October 6, 2020 READ MORE
Publishing Your Private Memoir or Family History Book
You have a story to tell, and you are confident that it’s worth telling. It has characters, drama, and is filled with emotion. The best part is, it’s all true! Now you want to preserve that story for those you love and generations to come. So, what do you do once you’ve finished putting words on the page? You want to publish your story in a tangible book ...
September 22, 2020 READ MORE
7 Steps to Researching Your Family History Online
I have this fantasy of taking an extended trip around the world to discover where my ancestors came from and to meet long-lost relatives. In this fantasy world, I have unlimited time and resources to explore every rabbit hole and track down clues about those who came before me. The reality is that I—along with most people—don’t have the time it would take for...
September 15, 2020 READ MORE
Your Book: 5 Things to Think About Before You Write a Word
If you are like most people, you’d like to write a book someday. But, as anyone who has actually followed through and written a book will tell you, it can be a long and arduous process. If you want to have any chance of succeeding, it is important to plan and prepare first. The more effort you put in up front, the better your chances are of actually getting a dra...
September 8, 2020 READ MORE
The Numbers Behind the Words: Can You Make Money Writing Non-Fiction Books?
We all know an awful lot about something. It’s just the way people are. Your area of expertise might be something useful, like knowing how to fix cars, or it might be something less tangible, say, an obscene amount of knowledge about cartoons from the late 1970s to the early 1980s (ruh roh, Raggy!). Whatever the case may be, chances are that people come to you from...
August 21, 2020 READ MORE
Is a Book Still an Autobiography if Written by a Ghostwriter?
Why do so many celebrities, politicians, and executives turn to ghostwriters to help them write their autobiographies and memoirs? It’s simple: writing a book is hard, time-consuming work. Plus, just because someone holds a position of authority or fame doesn’t mean they are skilled at writing. It makes sense to enlist the help of an expert to get a book written...
June 18, 2020 READ MORE
ISBNs: The Alphabet Soup of the Literary World
Your grocery store cashier picks up your can of chicken noodle and waves it over a little sensor before delivering it to the conveyor for bagging. You know what’s happening: The can is stamped with a barcode that indicates the item and price. Once scanned, this information tells the cashier how much you owe and updates the store on its inventory. But have you ever not...
June 10, 2020 READ MORE
Intellectual Property: Protecting Myself, My Book, and My Sources
Every interesting story has a hook. The challenge is finding what grabs your reader. One sure way to make your story stand out is by using quotes. Why is this effective? Possibly because our human nature makes us curious about others. Quoting experts helps you make a compelling argument. It’s satisfying to read of others who support our opinions, and it’s justif...
April 29, 2020 READ MORE
Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing: What’s the Best Way to Publish Your Book?
You’ve written a book—congratulations! But after the initial euphoria wears off, many authors are faced with this looming question: Now what? You want to get your book out into the world—but aren’t sure which is the best way to do so. Should you try to land a contract with a traditional publisher? Or is self-publishing the best way to go? Evaluating Publis...
March 26, 2020 READ MORE
Capturing words—Tools writers use for recording interviews
If there is one thing guaranteed to improve a piece of writing and make it more interesting, it’s the addition of insights from others. Adding firsthand experience, professional perspectives, and touching personal stories about a topic helps to elevate writing in a way that nothing, not even seriously in-depth research, can. For as long as writers have been interview...
January 27, 2020 READ MORE
