The market for non-fiction books can be volatile and hard for newcomers to crack. In this introductory class we’ll look at the first steps to take before pitching to a publisher: how to hone your ideas, sketch out a structure, and start thinking about an audience for your work.

 Writing a book, especially a good book, is a collaborative effort, and the most important collaborators will be publishers and editors. We’ll hear from a seasoned editor who’ll answer your questions, as well as describing the view from the other side of the slushpile.

A book proposal is more than a pitch or an audition. It’s also a test of your book’s concept, and a chance to display your writing and ability. In this class we’ll study some proven book proposal formats that can open the pathway to publication.

Should you have an agent? Our guest will be a literary agent who’ll explain what their work involves, how it can help an emerging author, and whether you should have an agent of your own (probably).

It’s usually best to propose a non-fiction manuscript before writing it – but that doesn’t mean you can’t start work on your book. This class will detail effective ways to plan, research and organize your work, so writing and completing becomes easier later. At least relatively.

 Writer’s block, procrastination, fear of failure, and losing sight of a project’s intention – every writer knows these bugbears well. This class will be a frank look at what self-inflicted hindrances to expect, how they can’t just be overcome just by “mindset”, and the material and cultural conditions in which lasting non-fiction writing is created.