Sales advantages of writing nonfiction books

If you’ve got ideas for both a novel and a nonfiction book, you may want to write the latter first.

If only from a sales perspective, nonfiction books tend to garner more sales than novels. According to a recent Gallup poll, 46 percent of Americans have nonfiction book on their nightstands; in contrast, only 35 percent of Americans have fiction at their bedside.

Nonfiction also offers a marketing advantage for new writers. Readers of fiction will go with a book by a big, recognizable name over an unknown when choosing a title to buy. That’s not the case with nonfiction readers; while the author’s expertise plays a minor role in the decision to buy, what matters most to readers is how well the book’s topic matches their needs or interests. Given this, the competition isn’t quite as tough in nonfiction as it would be for novels.

Furthermore, there are a lot of niche topics left to exploit in nonfiction. Mainstream publishers have tended to favor topics that have wide appeal, meaning there are lot of areas in which few if any titles have been published. This means there is a thirst for books that have yet to be written – books that you could pen!

If the nonfiction topic you choose to write about is of high appeal to male readers, all the better. A National Endowment for the Arts survey showed that nearly two-thirds of male readers choose nonfiction books over novels. Women, however, generally prefer prefer novels, with 55 percent of them opting for the fiction book.

Of course, you always should write what you’re most passionate about. Churning out nonfiction books when you dream of writing the next Great American Novel means you’re writing for the wrong reasons and probably will turn out drab, flat text.

But if your passion for either format is equal and you hope to make a little money self-publishing, then going the nonfiction route definitely is a good choice.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Miami, Florida, or a small town like Normal, Illinois, I can provide that second eye.