Non-Fiction #1

Non-Fiction #1
Well hello Non-Fiction writers. You will be creating any number of different things here. But from what I can tell, it seems we’re off to create how-to guides, and cook books. That doesn’t sound too bad. In fact, I imagine there could be some very interesting creations that come out of this. Each text will be no less than 20 pages (counting images.)

You will be marked on the quality of your content, as well as the completed form – how the book looks, how it is bound, and how engaging it is. For that last point, pretty pictures can really work to your benefit.

Tell me more, tell me more…
Well indeed I will. The more that you need to focus on is, how do you want to focus your text? It’s very well to say it’s a how-to guide, but what does that mean? There are so many types. There’s the “For Dummies” series, there’s the “Survival” guides, and then there’s just some very plain – very basic – “this is how you do this” type things.

All of them have their advantages, and all of them have their disadvantages.

Really, when you get down to it, even cookbooks are how-to guides. Now, for the most part cook-books have simply been a collection of recipes, complete with how to steps. But that all has started changing. Most cookbooks now have far more in them, such as back stories about the recipes. They contain information, and personal text. The cookbook has become something of a nonfiction narrative as well.

What will ye be learnin’?
1. Looking at Similar Forms
2. Adding Visuals
3. Assessing the helpfulness of your work
4. Cutting to the Quick
5. Binding the Text

Today’s Focus
So here’s what I need you to have finished by the end of today:
1. What will the focus of your guide be?

2. What will the title of your guide be?

3. How many pages will your completed text be, and what will the ratio of images to text be?

4. What will make your book better than others of a similar vien?

5. A brief introduction.