nonfiction - The Writer's Ally™

How to Write and Publish Nonfiction Books with “Writers & Authors On Fire” — June 2016

I “grew up” in the adult trade paperback division of Simon & Schuster where we worked on all manner of books, but my true love as far as projects go is nonfiction. So when podcaster John Vonhof invited me to talk about how to write and publish nonfiction books, and what makes nonfiction effective and successful, I got really excited.

I’m so pleased that I got to reach so many more writers as a guest on the Writers & Authors On Fire show, which is designed to ignite writers and authors with inspirational interviews on a variety of genres, tips on writing and getting published, tips on attending writers conferences, and reviews of books, blogs, and other resources to make their writing better. My interview was split into two parts. The first was 30-35 minutes’ worth of in-depth questions about my writing. The second part was 10-15 minutes, including questions about how I write. John also asked about my books, ghostwriting, book collaboration and coaching, my writing process, and more.

We talked about sorting through book ideas, the importance of knowing your audience, how to write and publish nonfiction successfully, editing your work, selling your book, moving from writer to author, and more. We talked about the muse and how we can help it work for us. And finally, I shared some candid thoughts on investing in your writing, why it’s important, and how you can help yourself to achieve your publishing goals and dreams. And, because I’m me, I delivered a healthy dose of encouragement with a side of tough love advice, of course. 😉

Visit their website to listen to the full interview. “Writers & Authors On Fire” is also available via iTunes.

Have an Epic Launch for your Nonfiction Book–Austin Netzley Hosts Ally As Guest on Podcast

Are you dreaming of an epic launch for your nonfiction book? So are millions of authors and experts just like you–which is why I jumped at the chance when Austin Netzley asked me to join him as a guest for the Epic Launch podcast! We talked about what it takes to create a successful nonfiction book, how to market it, what publishers look for and what corners self-publishers can’t cut without sacrificing their chances of success.

There’s a reason “author” is the root word of “authority.” There’s also a reason why we have the expression, “He wrote the book on it.” Studies by the Reputation Institute and other marketing consultancies reveal that publishing a book is the top “credible” marketing method for today’s service providers, suggesting that becoming a published author can increase your credibility factor by 300%!

If you want to establish yourself as an expert in your field, there’s no better method than to publish a book.

The podcast was recorded last October (2015), but the advice is still timely. You can listen to the podcast here. You’ll hear us discuss the “Key Elements of Book Success,” such as:

What are the common elements of a great nonfiction book?
How should one approach structuring or writing a book?
What’s the best way to choose an idea for your book?
What are some tips for hiring great freelance talent (and what are some red flags to avoid)?

Austin Netzley is the founder of Epic Launch, a company which helps writers launch their books the right way.

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Ally Returns to the Communication Central Conference – October 2016

I am very happy to announce that I will return to speak for the 11th annual Communication Central Conference in October. This year’s theme is “Be a Better Freelancer® – Profiting in Publishing.”

Topics at this key editorial professionals’ event range from new approaches to social media to using Word to freelancing book editors in the crafts world to editing fiction, and much more! I will be speaking about “How to Write (or Edit) a Winning Book Proposal” and am looking forward to connecting with my wordsmith peeps. If you’re going, be sure to let me know!

Registration is now open for this great annual event to be held October 28–29 at new Hilton Garden Inn in the College Town complex, Rochester, NY, with an additional workshop on October 30. For program and registration details, click here.

For additional details, you may email host and coordinator Ruth E. Thaler-Carter at conference@communication-central.com.

Writing a Book: 3 Amazing Tips to Get Started—an Interview with Ally Machate

Writing a book to share your message, experiences, and knowledge with the world can be an amazing journey and a great asset for your business! Some studies claim it’s the best way for an expert to prove her authority in a niche. But how do you find the right idea to write about? How do you turn that idea into a book people will resonate with and want to buy?

Thanks to Carrie Green of the Female Entrepreneur Association, I was able to answer this question and more. Carrie invited me as her guest expert for a 10 Minute Masterclass interview, during which I shared “3 Amazing Tips to Get Started Writing A Book.” During the brief but super detailed conversation we covered:

choosing the right idea for your book (instead of trying to cover every topic)
how to take your business to the next step and grow your audience
the benefits of checking out your competition
and a lot more!

As per her routine, Carrie and I also issued a challenge to listeners to help them jumpstart their book projects: I encouraged the audience members to go out and investigate what other books are competing against theirs and analyze them for strengths, weaknesses, audience insights, and ideas that can help them improve upon their own book concepts.

Dozens of people chimed in with comments and more advice and thoughts, which was awesome because I love a good ongoing conversation. It was also great to hear what kind of book projects people are working on and what struggles they’ve overcome. It’s so important to share your experiences with your fellow authors and entrepreneurs so we can all learn from one another.

Do check out the full interview, which is very short and chock-full of insights and advice. You can view the complete video in their archives and join in the conversation via Facebook!

EFA Webinar- How to Write a Winning Book Proposal – Sept 2015

If you joined me and the Editorial Freelancers Association on September 30, 2015, then you now know “How to Write a Winning Book Proposal.”

It has long been the case that nonfiction writers, instead of penning a complete manuscript, could sell their ideas based solely on well-developed book proposals. An extended marketing pitch, the book proposal is a unique document that any writer of nonfiction must master. During my presentation I shared how editors and agents evaluate potential acquisitions and what your proposal must contain to get the coveted attention of these publishing professionals. I explained what goes into a contract-winning book proposal, where to find important information, and how to evaluate your own material to ensure you’re presenting your project—and yourself—in the best possible light.

I would like to thank Education Coordinator Jennifer Maybin for the invite. I’ll be running this webinar for the EFA again on December 3 at 7pm. You can register online or contact Jennifer at Education@the-efa.org.

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