Joy Smith's Blog

Writing a book, especially a non-fiction one, is a mammoth, sorely underrated undertaking. Heaps of ripped out magazine articles, web page printouts, books spewing neon sticky-note tabs, pads of scrawled out, illegible thoughts, and a file drawer’s worth of chapter starts and outlines can drive a writer into a such a frenzy that it’s tempting to gather the mess and haul it out to the trashcan. But hold it—you can turn those piles of data into the book you want them to be. All it takes is some productive thinking time, a good filing system, and periodic fits of organization.
Getting Started
A non-fiction book may not have a plot, but the information needs to be communicated in a logical order. If you have a book idea, you also have a feel for the topics that might be included. Begin by brainstorming. Write down everything you want to cover, and then rearrange your ideas into topics and subtopics to develop a working outline. Now, write a brief introduction that covers the book’s premise and how it will benefit the reader, and make up a working title.
On Your Computer
Create a computer folder and label it with your working title. For example, my working title for a book about cooking was “The Stomach Growls.” It’s folder on my computer is labeled “Growls.” This folder will hold all files relating to this particular book, including research files, a bibliography, and all created and discarded versions of the book.

Next, create a single file, also labeled with the working title. This file will ultimately become the entire book text. Some folks prefer to use a separate file for each chapter or section, but I find this makes moving data around cumbersome, as it requires opening and closing files. Having a single book file also facilitates document searches and permits one-time set up for fonts, heading, and general formatting (and is often preferred by publishers.)
In your File Cabinet
Make up a physical hanging folder for each main topic using your working outline as a base for file labels. Use manila file folders to separate subtopics. For example, a section on Cold Storage might include files for various types of cold storage, such as portable (coolers and ice chests) and non-portable or built-in (iceboxes and refrigerators.) Set up your system in a file drawer, in a portable file box, or in a cardboard carton. You will be adding sections as you go along.
Data Collection and Management
Collecting information is integral part of developing any topic. Reading about and diligently researching a subject breeds new ideas and broadens your perspective. Every magazine, every newspaper, every book, every person you speak with about your subject will have something to offer. Jot it down, rip it out, mark it, record it--but don’t lose the information. Pay attention to what others are writing about your topic; note the types of information they include and how they arrange it.
Tackle the Piles
Begin by sorting the clippings and notes you’ve amassed into piles by subject. Lay these out on a large table or on the floor. Now, store each file into its appropriate folder, those created from your working outline. Add folders for new topics or for those you want to sub divide, and then update your computer outline to include the changes. Books and magazines that you can’t destroy or that contain information on many different topics obviously can’t be filed. Leave these stacked in a corner somewhere. Mark the page holding the information with a Post It and either jot down the subject on each tab or color code by topic.
Control the IN Box
It would be wonderful if we had the time to file each item as we go, but this seldom happens. What I found works best is to toss everything into a designated IN box. When the stack gets so high it spills over, file everything away. Surprisingly, you will be done in no time and will have cleared your box for continued accumulations. By the way, you undoubtedly have more than one book in you, so you may be collecting articles for several books. Use the same IN box for all, but keep the file systems for each book separate.
Ready to Write? Good. Pull the hanging folder for your first section, for example, Cold Storage. Sit down and go through it. Beginning with the file for your initial topic, such as “ice,” read through each item and highlight important information. Set aside or toss out any extraneous papers to keep this file ordered. Next, go through your stack of tabbed books and remove those that contain information relating to this folder (Cold Storage). Next, type the data from the files and books that you’ve deemed important into the computer. Each person has his or her own method; but I find that putting information on computer gives me a strong base to work from, and it’s also convenient. Start a bibliography—you’ll need it anyway. Write down the name of the article, author, and other pertinent information. Assign a number to each source and use this to identify information drawn from it as you are writing. This makes it easy to track the origination of a statement or idea, to reaffirm that it is correctly recounted, and to recheck odd spelling. As you go through each article or item, type up facts in outline form. Use headings and bullets. For a chapter on “ice,” for example, there will be sub topics, i.e. types of ice, uses of ice, how to transport and buy ice. Label each section with the number linked to its source. Save this as a file under the computer folder for your book; I usually name it something like, “Research-Cold Storage.” >b>Think and Organize
Once you’ve done the research and entered the data, it’s time to do the thinking. Read over the information you have typed and revisit your outline. Cut and paste your research notes--either on computer or on hard copy printout--in their appropriate spot in your book file’s outline. This will ultimately become the completed manuscript.

I’ve found that research makes a topic grow, and often the information I originally planned as one chapter will become a section with several chapters. Move topics around as necessary to make a logical sequence; for example, in my section, Cold Storage, I went from simple to complex with chapters on ice, coolers, built-in iceboxes, and refrigeration. If I scaled down the subject into a single chapter, the outline sequence would remain the same.
Create
Now, start writing around the collected data, forming paragraphs and putting it into your own words, taking care not to misrepresent or twist the facts. Let it rest, and then go back and put your own spin on the information. Make stiff-sounding facts more reader friendly. Know your audience: technical engineers, historians, or plain folks who want to understand a subject. Most of my books are geared to boaters, so the information needs to be presented in a straightforward manner. I try to incorporate some humor; boating is recreational, after all. Let your style shine through. Your individuality and perspective make your book unique. Here’s where your practical experience or knowledge of a topic comes in, as well as information and tips gleaned from conversations with others.
Give Credit
Can you make an analogy or tell an anecdote? Be sure to quote accurately and to give credit where it’s due. I use footnotes when developing a book; and then before sending it to press, I convert them to endnotes to keep the data available but not in the readers face. Your publisher, no doubt, will have particular thoughts on this. Lastly, cut and paste the bibliography file you’ve created to the end of the book—and you’re done!

There you have it. You don’t need to be a magician to produce a book out of a heap of data when some simple, systematic organization and hard thinking will do the trick. You will, of course, continue to research and enhance each area of your book with new findings, and to fine tune the text until you can’t tolerate looking at it one more time. Finally, when your manuscript is as flawless and comprehensive as you can make it, it will be time to get it sold. You’ve done the hard part. The rest will be easy. Right? Good luck!