Education Why Non Fiction

Why write non fiction, when every writer's secret dream is to have the hidden masterpiece acclaimed in banner headlines from the front windows of all the bookshops as the "Great Novel of The Year"? Unfortunately the answer is just too glaringly obvious - the competition for even minor success in the world of fiction is just too damn fierce. You would have to count yourself lucky if you could just get your soul's work placed on the lowest level of the very back stacks. The major publishers are swamped on a monthly basis by hundreds of excellent submissions from talented hopefuls (not to mention many thousand more that range from mediocre to drivel). You have better odds of winning the State lottery than making it up there with the front runners in the field of fiction. So why should success be easier to achieve in the realm of non fiction? Well the answer is summed up by the simple phrase "niche markets". Writing a moderately competent book about a specialised topic can almost always guarantee that you will find a publisher and get your books sold. Why is this, when a good work of fiction only brings a bundle of rejection slips? The point is that every niche topic has its own captive audience of enthusiasts who are often fanatic about their particular obsession - be it their profession, hobby, sport or craft. Think about it - if your particular mania is kite flying, the chance of you buying the latest book on constructing box kites lies somewhere between certain and probable. Similarly the latest book on origami will send a host of paper folders out looking for a reams of new paper. Runners buy running books by the dozen and dog breeders around the world will buy every book they can lay their hands on about Dalmatians, if that is their chosen breed. So the potential for finding a respectable number of buyers for any of these types of books is great, unless you go entirely overboard and choose a topic of the remotest obscurity. "How to" books always sell well. Publishers know this and as the business of publishing is the business of making money, they will be far more likely to open their doors to a writer bringing this kind of material to them, whilst slamming the same doors firmly in the face of the would be author, who has starved himself for years whilst pouring all his soul into his novel. So what do you write about? Well, most of us have something (beside writing) that has been a main focus of our attention, either currently or in the past, and although we may not be the top expert on the subject, we certainly know a lot about that particular field. In such case, a little research on the internet or library to bring your knowledge up to date and broaden your expertise would not only be an easy romp, but would be an absolute pleasure. The theme of your book will be easy to choose. If your hobby is model ships write about where you got your materials and designs and what were the tools that you used. If you are a salesman, write about the techniques and tactics that you have used to close a deal. Of course an added attraction for this type of writing is that, once published, you will suddenly find that you are now an acknowledged expert in a field that you already love. Wow! - Won't all the friends and acquaintances who share your passion be so impressed! dissertation