Recommendations for nonfiction authors
From books, podcasts, writing tech, and more, here are my recommendations for the resources and tools that can help you successfully write, edit, and release nonfiction books.
If you have a question or comment about any recommendation, please reach out.
This page uses affiliate links. For some of the links below, I may earn affiliate income.
People
Rose Conway Friel with Foreword Lit Consulting: If you don’t know if self-publishing, hybrid publishing, or traditional publishing is the right path for you, book a meeting with Rose, an insightful publishing consultant.
Anne Janzer: Considering creating a workbook for your nonfiction book? Get Anne to help you early on and you’ll chart a course for a workbook that truly helps others.
Janis Ozolins: If you need compelling, custom illustrations for your nonfiction book, message Janis.
Books
On Writing Well by William Zinsser is a classic for good reason. Read it yearly.
Hungry Authors by Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry is a 2024 release that’s accessible, helpful, insightful, and encouraging.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is soul-stirring. When you feel down, pick this up.
The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr: A master memoirist reveals her secrets.
Atomic Habits by James Clear: Read it once to form better habits. Read it again to understand why the book has sold millions. (Watch this too.)
Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty is a practical guide to lie/lay and all the other chaos of the English language.
Bookstores
Fabled Bookshop & Cafe (Waco, TX): Hands-down my favorite independent bookstore. I’m biased because a longtime friend of mine co-owns Fabled. If I still lived in that area, I’d likely be there every day. I support them from afar by choosing them when I shop on Bookshop.org. They also offer book subscriptions for all kinds of readers.
Nooks (Lancaster, PA): Shawn and Maile Smucker, both excellent writers, bought a bookstore (and launched a podcast about it.) I met them years ago at a writers retreat and have always appreciated their generous spirits. I’m sure I’d visit their bookstore often if I were in the area. You can also support them by choosing Nooks at Bookshop.org.
Podcasts
Hungry Authors: An excellent podcast from Liz Morrow and Ariel Curry covering relevant, practical topics for nonfiction authors. (Disclaimer: I’ve been a guest, but I was a listener before being interviewed.)
Open Book with David Steinberger: As chairman of the National Book Foundation, Steinberger has connections with experienced publishing professionals. Thankfully, he’s sharing their insights through these succinct interviews.
Courses and classes
Writing Workshops: They offer 70+ online workshops, classes, and seminars led by experienced, insightful, helpful teachers. I’ve linked to just their nonfiction offerings, but be sure to browse their entire course listing to find exactly what you need.
Newsletters
The Bottom Line: Highly recommended. Jane Friedman’s lengthy, well-researched newsletter keeps me up-to-date on the ever-shifting landscape of writing and publishing.
Before and After the Book Deal: With the same title as her excellent book, Courtney Maum’s Substack newsletter provides practical advice and insight for writing, revising, and navigating the world of publishing.
Technology
Todoist: I’d achieve nothing if my tasks and goals were never set down in the first place. Todoist keeps me on track. I’ve tried other task management apps. I always return to Todoist. Get 2 months of a Pro account for free through this affiliate link.
Scrivener: My go-to writing, developmental editing, and even business-running environment. I’ve always called it Photoshop for Writers. It can be overwhelming at first, and you may only use a tenth of its capabilities, but the more effort you put into learning how it works, the more your work will benefit in the future.
Learn Scrivener Fast: I took this class ages ago, and it was instrumental in severely lessening my Scrivener learning curve. (In fact, my testimonial is still on their main sales page—a rare opportunity to see me when I had hair.)