Here is an interesting exercise for you. Visit your nearest bookstore (physical or online) and pay close attention to the non-fiction section. Observe the titles that sit pretty on the store’s bookshelves. You will notice that most titles (and I mean 8 out of 10 when I say most) are about one universal theme: becoming or being better. You will find titles that help you be a better/romantic partner, lead a better/healthier lifestyle, have a better/successful career, and the list goes on.
Being better is big business and something you should tap into when you are thinking of your next (or first) non-fiction eBook.
Advantage of Non-fiction
Non-fiction is like an ocean with a multitude of topics, ranging from self-help to arts and culture to management/marketing/finance to niche subjects. Having more options than you can imagine can be a headache; however, if you know how to navigate these waters, you will find a treasure trove of topics to write about, and better still, topics that will be published.
The Selection
If you are searching for non-fiction topics to write about, the following guidelines should come in handy:
1. Review Your Interests
Take a stock of where your interests and expertise lie. This could provide the perfect launching pad for your eBook. It could be something as specific as making perfumed wax candles or as generic as wealth creation. If you feel you can present your topic with a fresh spin, go for it.
2. DIY
Do it yourself topics lend themselves to eBooks with their short formats. If you have a particular skill you want to share with the world, then that’s a topic to write about. A writer could also pick up something they are good at and convert it to an eBook if they feel it would help readers.
3. Tangible Benefits
Topics that provide a tangible benefit to the reader (weight loss) are popular with readers and, more importantly, with publishers as well. I would like to point out to the introduction of this article to make my point. A topic that allows readers to better themselves is a topic worth pursuing. Who knows, it may very well become a bestseller.
4. Quick, Easy Solutions
Patience is a luxury most of us cannot afford today. People are always on the lookout for someone to solve their problems, or, at least, guide them in the right direction. If you have a quick fire way to find love, get rich, or cook delicious food, people want to read about it. Topics about spirituality and finding inner peace are great attractions as well.
Make It About The Reader
While selecting a topic for a non-fiction eBook, keep in mind that it should be focused on the reader and be about them. Everyone wants to be happy, healthy, and wise (not to mention rich as well). And therein lies the potential for you, the writer, to write about a subject that people can connect to and will react to enthusiastically.
Image credit: The Booklight on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/img-109061105-0001.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Anand Changali is a compulsive writer whose first love is cinema. He has written scripts for animation shows, animation films, and also articles for blogs and the digital domain. His book, The Princess in Black – An Unheard Story of the Mughals, has been picked up by Srishti Publishers. [/author_info] [/author]