Does anyone know how to write a book?

[politicat]

13. I do not know how to write A book, I only know how to write this one.

A paraphrase from a conversation between Gene Wolfe and Neil Gaiman, about writing. It always holds true.

For Non-fic, start with a series of outlines. The first one should be a 1 pager, extremely high level: Incitement, arc, denouement. Locations, characters. 300 words, max. The second should take that one and break it down into chapters, so 3-5 pages. Third is breakdown to scenes - usually about 10 pages or 1 page of outline per 1000-2000 words. When/if you start writing dialogue, you're done outlining and moving into writing. Then it's all BICHOKFTSB - Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard, Furiously Typing, Sweating Blood. Nothing substitutes for doing the work. Set a daily goal -- 1000 to 5000 words, 1 scene to 1 chapter. Never stop at the end of a chapter or scene; write the next few sentences so you can get back in the groove faster the next day.

Finish a first draft. Just finish something. Editing happens after you type THE END. You cannot edit if it's not finished. Expect the first draft to appall you about six weeks after you finish, and to delight you. But in those six weeks, don't touch it. Unless you're on deadline, then you maximize the number of days you can walk away from it, and go DO SOMETHING where you've got zero chance of messing with it while it's composting. Manuscripts must compost between 1st draft and 2nd, because your brain needs to reset.

If you're really lost, allow me to recommend a few seasons of two different podcasts as tutorials. They're both aimed at fiction, but you're talking creative non-fiction, so there are similarities. Writing Excuses, http://www.writingexcuses.com seasons 9 through current (though season 8 is also very useful, and the whole run has been excellent). Each one is 15-20 minutes long, and they break down all aspects of world building, characters, formatting, conflict, narrative arcs, you name it. (And, yes, non-fic needs narrative arcs, otherwise it's just a series of things that happened.) Do their homework. If you spend the next six weeks doing one podcast and exercise per day, you'll be a better writer at the end.

The Journeyman Writer is now an archived podcast, no longer in production (though the host has moved on to other things). Each episode is about 5 minutes long, and each episode is intensely focused on one aspect. It's about handling the details of writing and keeping with it. https://storywonk.com/category/podcasts/the-journeyman-writer/