It's a truism by now that it's harder than ever to get books published. But if you're writing narrative nonfiction, self-help, or memoir, do you really have to be Bruce Springsteen or the Dalai Lama to beat the odds? No—truth is, agents and editors are eager for great nonfiction stories because they sell. In this session, we'll address seven key questions that will improve your likelihood of finding success. In so doing, we'll look at what understanding your readers (and how to reach them) really entails. We'll see why it's important to have one main conflict or theme, and what that means in terms of developing an entire book. We'll ask ourselves: "So what?," and discover what tricks to employ to make your story more compelling. There will be have plenty of time for Q&A and some on-the-spot exercises that will help you avoid common pitfalls.
*Please note that due to a scheduling constriction, this presenter will have to leave 15 minutes early. You will have the opportunity to complete exercises during this time.
Katrin Schumann is the co-author of The Secret Power of Middle Children (Hudson Street, 2011), Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too (McGraw-Hill, 2008), and has written and edited numerous other nonfiction titles, both commercially and independently. Her debut novel, The Forgotten Hours... Read More →
