writing a nonfiction book report

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

Non Fiction Book Report: How to Write the Perfect Paper

The thought of a non fiction book report may bring to mind early school days. In fact, a parent could easily use this article to help their kids complete one of these report assignments. However, even college students may be asked to review or report on a nonfiction book. Thankfully, the standards for what makes a perfect analysis paper doesn’t change across grade levels. The content itself becomes more complicated but the principles stay the same.

There are two main principles to writing a perfect book report: describe and evaluate. Knowing how to perform each and how to balance them can help you, your students, or your kids write the best paper they can.

Describe: The Facts of the Non Fiction Book Report

Description in a book report includes names and major points in the book. This is not the time to state your analysis of the work but simply to list the relevant information so the reader knows where your analysis will go.

The information in the description portion of a nonfiction book report includes background on the author and relevant information on the creation of the book. State how the book has been assembled or organized, especially if it takes a unique genre form. This includes the author’s intention with the book as a thesis or a statement of purpose. Let the reader know that you have a big picture of the nonfiction book being discussed.

Finally, offer a summary of the nonfiction book to get your readers on the same “page” for your evaluation. By selectively summarizing information, the reader (or grader) knows what they should take from your analysis.

Evaluate: Make Your Points

When you begin evaluating, use the information you reviewed and summarized in the description section. Evaluation involves your opinion, but a supported opinion that includes relevant scholarship. This means that other writers’ reviews and journal articles that discuss the nonfiction book you’re studying can come in handy to back up your points.

You can observe the strengths and faults of the book based on your observations and experience. However, the more you can support your statements with the words of others and of the book itself, the better your report will be.

How to Start Writing a Book Report

As you read, you have to read the right way ! This means observing the author’s purpose quickly, learning the background information that will go into your report beforehand, and taking notes. As you read, note the author’s expertise and how they incorporate their thesis. When you see quotes that support the author’s ideas (or yours), take note of where they occur. This can only make writing the report easier in the long run.

The Takeaway

A non fiction book report sounds like a hefty obligation. However, whether it’s a college paper or a child’s school project, a book report doesn’t have to be a burden. Get the two qualities of description and evaluation clearly distinct in your head so that when you read, you can already sort and note the informtation that will make your paper work.

Like it? Share it!

Get Updates Right to Your Inbox

Further insights.

Privacy Overview

Instantly enhance your writing in real-time while you type. With LanguageTool

Get started for free

How To Write a Good Book Report in Seven Steps

Are you having trouble writing your book report? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to give you seven easy steps that’ll help you write the perfect book report.

Need helping writing a book report? LanguageTool can help.

Quick Summary on How To Write a Book Report

As you read the book, highlight and take notes.
Reread the instructions of the assignment.
Organize your notes and create an outline.
Write a compelling introduction.
Include quotations, examples, and supporting evidence in the body paragraphs.
Encapsulate the main point of your text in the conclusion.
Edit and proofread.

What Is a Book Report?

A book report is an essay in which students explain and support their thoughts and views on a story, novel, or any other literary work.

There are several different types of book reports. Regardless of which type you’re writing, teachers and professors usually assign book reports as a way to ensure that their students have thoroughly understood the book. Below, we’ll go over how to write a good book report in seven easy steps.

How To Write a Book Report

1. as you read the book, highlight and take notes..

The first step of writing a good book report is to read the book, of course. However, it’s important to highlight and takes notes while reading it. Highlight anything that stands out to you or that evokes certain emotions. Write notes on patterns, themes, and characters. If you’re writing a book report on a nonfiction book, write notes on the major points of the book and what you think about them.

2. Revisit and reread the instructions of the assignment.

Once you’re done reading and taking notes, reread the instructions of the assignment. Find what it is you’re supposed to write about. Is it a character analysis? A plot summary? An exploration of themes and patterns, or something else? It’s also essential to follow the formatting guidelines, so make sure to use the correct font and spacing. If you have any questions, reach out to your teacher or professor.

3. Organize your notes and create an outline.

Gather your notes and arrange them into categories. Once you’ve completed this, write an outline and organize the categories to become the paragraphs of your book report. Jot down bullet points on what each paragraph will include and what part of the book can support it. As you start writing the book report, remain flexible. You don’t have to follow the outline exactly. You may realize that a few edits create a better flow.

4. Write a compelling introduction.

The introduction should be informative and catchy. You may want to start with a quote, climactic scene, or an unusual observation you had while reading the book. Towards the end of the introduction, you should write a one or two-sentence summary about the book, and then the last sentence should explain what exactly you’ll be writing about in the rest of the report.

Book Report Elements

Keep in mind that all book reports should contain:

The name and author of the book.
A thesis statement.
If you're writing about a fiction book, mention the setting, time period, and characters.
If you’re writing about a nonfiction book, mention the author’s main point in writing the book.
Evidence to support your arguments.

5. Include quotations, examples, and supporting evidence in the body paragraphs.

The body paragraphs are where you can include quotations, examples, and supporting evidence that bring your book report together.

For example, let’s say you’re writing a character analysis. You believe that the character that everyone sees as the protagonist is actually the antagonist. You should write why you believe that and include specific scenarios that help prove your point.

Or if you’re writing about a non-fiction book, you could use the body paragraphs to write about why you agree or disagree with the author. Similarly, you’d have to use examples and evidence to support your argument.

It’s a good idea to start off with your most compelling, evidence-backed point. Leave the weakest arguments for the middle, and end with another strong point. Lastly, whether you’re writing about fiction or non-fiction, commenting on writing style and tone is recommended (especially if it’s explicitly requested in the instructions).

6. Encapsulate the main point of your text in the conclusion.

The conclusion is just as important as the introduction, so make sure to set aside enough time to write one (students tend to rush through this part). Use the concluding paragraph to pull all your arguments together. Reiterate again what the main point was about, and then briefly summarize the main idea of your book report.

7. Edit and proofread.

Now that you’ve completed the first draft of your book report, it’s time to reread and make edits if needed. Are there any paragraphs you can move around that’ll improve the rhythm of your writing? Do you have enough evidence to back up your claims? Is your introduction captivating and descriptive?

While you’re rereading the book report, you should also be looking for typos and spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. If you want an extra set of eyes to look for all types of errors, you should use LanguageTool as your spelling and grammar checker. Not only will this advanced editor correct mistakes, but it supports more than twenty languages—meaning your book report will be perfect regardless of which language you’re writing it in.

Unleash the Professional Writer in You With LanguageTool

Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. Impress with clear, precise, and stylistically flawless writing instead.

Works on All Your Favorite Services

Thunderbird
Google Docs
Microsoft Word
Open Office
Libre Office

We Value Your Feedback

We’ve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or haven’t managed to get the point across? Let’s help each other to perfect our writing.

PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
Browse Articles
Learn Something New
Quizzes Hot
Happiness Hub
This Or That Game
Train Your Brain
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Arts and Entertainment

A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)

Last Updated: June 25, 2024 Fact Checked

Researching
Drafting the Report
Reviewing & Revising

Sample Book Reports & Summaries

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,423,922 times.

A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.

Things You Should Know

Read the entire book and take notes on important themes, characters, and events. Use your notes to create an outline with evidence that supports your analysis.
Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book.
Analyze the author’s writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements.

Researching Your Book Report

Step 1 Follow the requirements of your assignment.

For example, find out if your teacher wants you to include citations, such as page numbers from the book, in your report.
Ask your teacher how much of your paper to devote to summary versus analysis. Most book reports are direct summaries with objective analysis rather than your personal opinions. In contrast, a book review or commentary is more opinion-driven.

Some popular books for book reports include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Choose a book at your grade level.

Step 3 Write down the key elements of the book.

Author: Who wrote the book? Do you know any other works by this author?
Genre: Is the book fiction or nonfiction? If it’s fiction, is it historical, fantasy, horror, etc.? If it’s nonfiction, is it a biography, memoir, science, etc.?
Audience: Who would find this book appealing? Is it intended for a specific age range or gender? Do you typically enjoy books like this?
Title: Does the title catch your interest? Does it fit well with the book’s content?
Book Cover/Illustrations: What does the book cover convey and does it accurately represent the book? How do you feel when you look at it? If the book has illustrations, what are they and do they hold your interest?

Take breaks while reading to keep your attention sharp. Try to find a pace that is comfortable for you. If you get distracted after 15 minutes, read in 15-minute intervals. If you can go an hour, read for an hour at a time.
Give yourself enough time to read the entire book. It’s very difficult to write a book report if you’ve just skimmed over everything. Don’t procrastinate!
Don’t trust online book summaries. You can’t guarantee that they are accurate or true to the text.

For example, look for a sentence that clearly describes a main setting in the book, such as “The castle was gloomy and made out of large black stones.”

Outlining Your Book Report

Introduction: Introduce the title, author, and publication information. Include a brief overview of the book’s genre and main theme, and state your purpose for writing the report.
Summary: Concisely summarize the plot or central idea, highlighting main events, characters, and conflicts. Focus on important aspects while avoiding spoilers.
Analysis and Evaluation: Evaluate the author’s writing style and use of literary devices, like foreshadowing, metaphors, imagery, etc. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book and use quotes and examples from the text.
Themes and Messages: Identify the book’s main themes or messages and how they develop through the course of the book. Provide specific quotes and examples.
Character Analysis: Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships. Explain their motivations, personalities, and significance to the story. Provide examples and quotes to support your analysis.
Personal Reflection: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, you might share your personal opinions and discuss what you liked and disliked about the book. Reflect on how the book relates to broader themes or issues.
Conclusion: Summarize your main points and conclude with your final thoughts or reflections on the book.
Bibliography: If required, include a works cited page or bibliography listing all the sources you used to write your book report.
Outlining takes time, but it saves you more time once you reach the editing stage.
Some people prefer to outline with pen and paper, while others just type up a list on the computer. Choose the method that works best for you.

Step 2 Intermix examples and quotations from the text.

Be careful not to overuse quotes. If it seems like every other line is a quote, try to dial back. Aim to include a maximum of one quotation per paragraph. Quotes and examples should still take a backseat to your summary.

For example, you’ll likely need to focus primarily on discussing the most important characters or the characters that appear most frequently in the text.
When you are finished with your outline, go back through it to see if it makes sense. If the paragraphs don’t flow into one another, move them around or add/delete new ones until they do.
Also, check to see if your outline covers all of the major elements of the book, such as the plot, characters, and setting.

Writing Your Book Report

Step 1 Open with an informative intro paragraph.

For example, a sentence summary might state, “This book is about the main character’s journey to Africa and what she learns on her travels.”
Don’t take up too much space with your introduction. In general, an introduction should be 3-6 sentences long, though in rare cases, they may be longer or shorter.

Use vivid language when you can and include plenty of details. For example, you might write, “The farm was surrounded by rolling hills.”

For instance, if the main character moves to Africa, you might describe what happens before the move, how the move goes, and how they settle in once they arrive.

For example, you might write that the main character is “a middle-aged woman who enjoys the finer things in life, such as designer clothes.” Then, connect this description to the plot summary by describing how her views change after her travels, if they do.
Expect to introduce the characters in the same sentences and paragraphs as the plot introduction.

Step 5 Examine main themes and/or arguments in your body paragraphs.

You might write, “The author argues that travel gives you a new perspective. That is why her main characters all seem happier and more grounded after visiting new places.”
For fiction, determine if the author is using the story to pass along a certain moral or lesson. For example, a book about an underdog athlete could encourage readers to take chances to pursue their dreams.

Step 6 Comment on the writing style and tone.

For example, an author who uses lots of slang terms is probably going for a hip, approachable style.

Some teachers require, or strongly suggest, that you include the author’s name and the book title in your concluding paragraph.
When writing a conclusion , don’t introduce any new thoughts. Any important points should be made in your body paragraphs. Save the space for your recap.

Step 8 Include a bibliography, if required.

Reviewing and Revising Your Book Report

Before you submit your paper, make sure that you’ve spelled the author’s name and any character names correctly.
Don’t trust your computer’s spell check to catch all the errors for you. Spell check can be helpful, but it isn’t perfect and can make mistakes.

If you’re nervous about asking, try saying something like “It would be great if you could go over my book report and make sure that it reads smoothly.”
Remember, no one’s first draft is perfect, so don’t get upset if someone suggests you do something differently. They want to help make your report the best it can be, so don’t take constructive criticism personally.

For example, double-check that you are using the correct font, font size, and margins.
Once you've finished proofreading, revising, and checking that you've addressed all the requirements, you're ready to submit your book report!

Even though your book report is your own work, avoid using “I” too much. It can make your writing feel choppy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
It might be tempting to watch the movie or read the online notes instead of reading the book. Resist this urge! Your teacher will be able to tell the difference. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

Calm down and walk around if you get too frustrated while writing. If you write a book report while angry, you're more likely to misspell things!
Choose a unique book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson is an absolute no. Everyone chooses those. Try something different!
Write when anything comes to mind! You don't want to lose your ideas!

Give yourself plenty of time to write your report. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may feel rushed. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
Stealing or using another person’s work is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Make sure that the work you submit is all your own. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-book-report.html
↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
↑ https://grammark.org/how-to-write-a-book-report/
↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-book-report
↑ https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/homework-center-writing-book-report
↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-setting
↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-plot-summary.pdf
↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Finally, write about the author’s style of writing, paying particular attention to word choice and the overall tone of the book. For tips on editing and polishing your paper before turning it in, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Louise Pena

May 17, 2016

Did this article help you?

Ashley Egerage

Nov 13, 2017

Aug 20, 2016

Charlotte Arney

Mar 10, 2023

Nov 16, 2017

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

How to Write a Nonfiction Book Report for College

By Grégory Gossart

Beginning your first college book report? This guide will show you how to excel! Move beyond high school summaries and dive deeper. With "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" as our example, learn expert techniques to analyze nonfiction. Let's start and impress your professors!

Understanding the Assignment: The Key to a Great Book Report

Different types of college book reports, reading and preparing to write your book report, writing the report: starting with a strong introduction, developing the body of your book report, concluding your book report: wrapping up insightfully, editing and proofreading: making your book report perfect, final thoughts: embracing the learning opportunity, further reading and resources: expanding your understanding.

Before you start writing, it's very important to understand what your professor expects in your book report. Each assignment can have different rules, and understanding these rules is the first step to doing well.

Know What's Expected

Every book report you do can be different. Some professors might want you to deeply explore the main ideas in the book, while others might ask you to write about the author's life and how it affects the story.

Make sure to read the assignment instructions carefully. If anything is not clear, feel free to ask your professor to explain it.

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" isn't just a story; it's a book packed with themes like medical ethics, racial inequality, and the impact of scientific discovery on a family.

Your professor might want you to explore how Rebecca Skloot blends science and personal narrative, or discuss the ethical questions raised by Henrietta's story. Knowing exactly what aspect to focus on is crucial.

Remember, knowing what your assignment asks is like having a map before going on a trip. It helps you write a report that does more than just what's needed, but actually impresses.

In college, you might have to write different kinds of book reports, each one focusing on something special. Knowing these different types will help you write your report to meet certain college goals.

The Common Types

Plot Summary: This type is about the main events and story of the book. You will write about the important parts without sharing your own thoughts.

Character Analysis: In this part, you explore the characters' personalities, what drives them, and their parts in the story.

Theme Analysis: This type looks at the main ideas and messages in the book, talking about why they are important and how they affect the story.

If you write a plot summary, focus on the order of events in Henrietta's life, how HeLa cells were found, and the science discoveries that came after.

When you analyze the characters, look at Henrietta, her family, and the main scientists, and think about their personalities and parts in the story.

A theme analysis would look into the right and wrong of scientific research, the racial and economic background of Henrietta's story, and how it affected her family.

Knowing what kind of report you're writing helps you stay focused and makes sure you talk about the right parts of the book in detail.

How you read the book for your report is as important as the writing part. Reading the book carefully and thoughtfully sets the base for a great report.

Read with Purpose

Gather Basic Information: Start by writing down the author's name, the book's title, when it was published, and other simple details. This information will be important for your introduction.

Understand the Author's Perspective: Try to understand why the author wrote the book and what they think. This understanding will add depth to your report.

Note down Rebecca Skloot's name, the title, and its publication year.

Understand Skloot's motivation for writing this book -- the desire to tell the untold story of Henrietta Lacks and her contribution to science.

Note-Taking and Highlights

Key Events and Ideas: While reading, mark the important events, especially for a plot summary.

Character Details: For character analysis, write down information about the main characters – their personality traits, how they change, and their parts in the story.

Themes: If your report is about themes, find and write down the ideas and messages that come up again and again in the book.

While reading, mark important chapters about Henrietta's life, the discovery of HeLa cells, and how her family was affected.

Keeping these points in mind while reading helps you write a detailed and well-informed book report that really gets to the heart of the nonfiction story.

The introduction is your first chance to catch the reader's interest. It should give the right feel for your report and include important information about the book.

How to Start Your Introduction

Book Details: Start by telling the book's title, author, and a short summary of what it's about.

Thesis Statement: Write a clear thesis statement that shows what your report will be about. This statement guides the rest of your report.

Catch Your Reader's Attention: Begin with a fun fact or an interesting question about the book to make the reader curious.

Start by mentioning the title, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," and the author, Rebecca Skloot.

Your thesis might be about how the book explores the intersection of race, ethics, and science.

You could begin with an intriguing fact about Henrietta Lacks or a thought-provoking question about medical ethics and patient rights.

A well-crafted introduction sets the stage for a detailed and engaging book report, guiding the reader into the heart of your analysis.

In the body of your report, you explain the book's details. This part should have clear and well-organized paragraphs, each one focusing on a different part of the book.

Structuring the Body

Divide by Topics: Split your report into parts like plot summary, character analysis, and theme exploration, depending on what kind of report you're writing.

Use Examples: Back up your points and ideas with specific examples from the book. This adds credibility to your report.

Stay on Topic: Make sure each paragraph talks about one main idea only. Don't wander off from the topic you're discussing.

Plot Summary: Write about the main events in the book, such as the discovery of Henrietta's cells, how they were used, and how her family found out much later.

Character Analysis: Talk about the personalities of characters like Henrietta, her family, and the scientists in the story. Explain what drives them and the parts they play in the story.

Theme Exploration: Look into the big ideas like the right and wrong in medical research, racial inequality, and how these things affected Henrietta's family.

Organizing your report this way makes sure your analysis is clear and detailed, giving a full understanding of the book.

The conclusion lets you wrap up your ideas about the book and make a strong impression on the reader.

Key Elements of a Strong Conclusion

Sum up the Main Points: Quickly go over the main parts of your analysis, repeating what you talked about in the report.

Repeat Your Main Argument: Remind the reader of your main point or thesis statement, showing again how your analysis backs it up.

Your Personal Thoughts: Share what you personally think about the book. Did it change how you see things or give you new ideas? Would you suggest it to others?

Recap your discussion about the ethical issues the book raises, the impact on Henrietta's family, and the blend of scientific and personal narrative.

Reinforce your thesis about the book's exploration of racial inequality and medical ethics.

Offer your personal take on the book. For instance, you might discuss how it opened your eyes to the complexities of medical research ethics or how it emotionally impacted you.

A well-crafted conclusion not only reinforces your analysis but also leaves the reader with something to think about, making your report memorable and impactful.

After you've written your report, it's important to go over it and make improvements. Editing and proofreading are important to ensure your report is clear, makes sense, and has no mistakes.

Editing Tips

Check for Clarity: Read your report to make sure your ideas are explained clearly and make sense. Make sure each paragraph flows smoothly into the next.

Consistency in Style: Keep the same tone and style all through your report. Make sure your report looks the way your professor or college wants it to.

Accuracy in Content: Check that all the facts about the book, like names, dates, and events, are correct.

Proofreading Steps

Grammar and Spelling: Look for any mistakes in spelling or grammar. Tools like spell checkers are useful, but don't depend on them completely.

Punctuation and Sentence Structure:: Make sure your sentences are put together well and the punctuation is right.

Final Review: It's a good idea to read your report aloud or get someone else to check it. This can help you find mistakes you might not have noticed.

Ensure that your analysis of the book's themes, characters, and narrative structure is easy to follow.

Make sure your discussion stays on topic and maintains a formal academic tone suitable for a college-level report.

Double-check the accuracy of any specific details you've included about the book, such as the depiction of scientific procedures or historical events.

Editing and proofreading might seem tedious, but they are essential steps in ensuring your book report is well-received and achieves its purpose. A well-edited report reflects your attention to detail and dedication to presenting a polished piece of work.

Writing a nonfiction book report for college is not just a school assignment; it's an opportunity to learn more about complicated subjects and get better at analyzing and writing.

As you start this task, remember to view it as a chance to grow your knowledge and explore new ideas.

The Value of In-Depth Analysis

Broadening Perspectives: Studying books like "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" not only increases your knowledge about certain topics but also helps you understand and care about the different experiences of people.

Critical Thinking: This process sharpens your ability to think critically, helping you learn how to break down texts, grasp what the author is trying to say, and form your own well-informed opinions.

A Stepping Stone to Future Success

Building Skills for the Future: The skills you gain from writing book reports can be used in many other parts of school and work life. Being able to communicate well, think analytically, and write in an organized way is very valuable in many areas.

Confidence in Your Abilities: Finishing a thoroughly researched and well-written book report can really boost your confidence. It shows that you can handle difficult tasks and express your ideas clearly.

When you finish your nonfiction book report, take a moment to be proud of the effort and thought you put into it.

Whether it's learning about the tough choices in medical research from "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" or another book, every report you write makes you a better student and thinker.

Welcome these chances, and you'll find that each report you write becomes easier and more satisfying.

Writing an interesting nonfiction book report is a skill that gets better with extra resources and examples. Here are some ideas to help you understand more and improve your report-writing skills.

Books and Articles

" Writing About Non-Fiction Books " by Owl Purdue : This is a detailed guide that gives you insights into how to write nonfiction book reports. Read here .

" How to Read a Book " by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren : This book provides strategies for reading books carefully and thinking about them deeply. Available on Amazon .

Academic Articles on Nonfiction Analysis: Look at academic articles for more in-depth understanding of careful reading and writing methods. Google Scholar is a good starting point.

Online Resources

Grammarly: This is a tool that checks grammar and helps make your writing better. Visit Grammarly .

Hemingway Editor: This tool makes your report easier to read. Try Hemingway Editor .

Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): Lots of resources about academic writing, like how to write book reports. Purdue OWL .

Writing Centers and Workshops

Your College Writing Center: Many colleges have writing centers where you can get tutoring and attend workshops. Check your college's website for more information.

Online Writing Workshops: Platforms like Coursera and Khan Academy offer courses in academic writing and analysis.

Additional Examples

More Book Report Examples: Looking at other book reports can show you different ways and ideas.

Using these resources will not only help you write an interesting nonfiction book report but also help you grow as a thinker and writer.

With Prose Analyzer, elevate your writing skills effortlessly — all with one click.

Related articles, how many words in a novel genre & books analysis.

Explore novel word counts across genres and in famous series like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Essential insights for writers and readers alike.

How Many Words in a Novel Chapter? The Perfect Chapter Length

Discover the key to balancing chapter length in novels. Learn about typical word counts and how genre and narrative style impact chapter size.

How to Cite
Language & Lit
Rhyme & Rhythm
The Rewrite
Search Glass

How to Write a Nonfiction Book Report

It generally seems easier to write a book report on a fictional book since the plot is often more imaginative with more precise conflicts than that of a nonfiction book. So what if you are assigned a nonfiction book for your book report? There are some simple techniques to keep in mind while writing a report on a nonfiction book, and you may even find the process more enjoyable and edifying than writing a report on fiction.

Carefully read the book you have chosen or been assigned. It is a good idea to mark pieces of information in the book that you may be able to use in your report with a pencil or Post-It notes. It is nearly impossible to write an intelligent essay without reading and understanding the book first.

Structure your essay using an outline. The introduction to your report should include the author's name, year of publication and reason for writing the nonfiction novel, if applicable. Hook the reader in the first sentence with an interesting opening, and summarize in a line or two the main theme of the novel to set up the rest of your report.

Write a couple of body paragraphs describing the importance of the book and the events in the book in a bit more detail. Do not summarize every chapter or simply rehash the entire plot. Instead, try and bring up moments in the book that show the author's overall theme or which emphasize the main events of the book.

Conclude with your own thoughts and feelings about the book you read if you are able to bring your own opinion into the report. Would you recommend this book to others? What is the most interesting thing you learned? Why do you feel this is an important piece of literature?

Things You'll Need

Jordynn McMahon specializes in travel, technology and health articles. She currently works as a marketing specialist in the software industry. McMahon has a B.A. in English from UC Santa Barbara, as well as an M.A. in English literature and composition from San Jose State University.

How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example)

Download for free, specific tips for writing effective book reports..

Write better book reports using the tips, examples, and outlines presented here. This resource covers three types of effective book reports: plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. It also features a specific book report example for students.

	Add to Folder
	creative writing
	children's book
	activities
	classroom tools
	language arts and writing
	vocabulary

How to write a book report (+ book report example)

Whether you're a student looking to show your comprehension of a novel, or simply a book lover wanting to share your thoughts, writing a book report can be a rewarding experience. This guide, filled with tips, tricks, and a book report example, will help you craft a report that effectively communicates your understanding and analysis of your chosen book.

Looking for a printable resource on book reports? See our Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

What is a book report?

Book reports can take on many different forms. Writing a book review helps you practice giving your opinion about different aspects of a book, such as an author's use of description or dialogue.

You can write book reports of any type, from fiction to non-fiction research papers, or essay writing; however, there are a few basic elements you need to include to convey why the book you read was interesting when writing a good book report.

Close up shot of student writing a book report in class. Book report example.

Types of book reports

Three types of effective book reports are plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. Each type focuses on different aspects of the book and requires a unique approach. These three types of book reports will help you demonstrate your understanding of the book in different ways.

Plot summary

When you are writing a plot summary for your book report you don't want to simply summarize the story. You need to explain what your opinion is of the story and why you feel the plot is so compelling, unrealistic, or sappy. It is the way you analyze the plot that will make this a good report. Make sure that you use plenty of examples from the book to support your opinions.

Try starting the report with a sentence similar to the following:

The plot of I Married a Sea Captain , by Monica Hubbard, is interesting because it gives the reader a realistic sense of what it was like to be the wife of a whaling captain and live on Nantucket during the 19th century.

Character analysis

If you choose to write a character analysis, you can explore the physical and personality traits of different characters and the way their actions affect the plot of the book.

Explore the way a character dresses and what impression that leaves with the reader.
What positive characteristics does the character possess?
Does the character have a "fatal flaw" that gets him/her into trouble frequently?
Try taking examples of dialogue and analyzing the way a character speaks. Discuss the words he/she chooses and the way his/her words affect other characters.
Finally, tie all of your observations together by explaining the way the characters make the plot move forward.

In the novel Charlotte's Web , by E. B. White, Templeton the rat may seem like an unnecessary character but his constant quest for food moves the plot forward in many ways.

Theme analyses

Exploring the themes (or big ideas that run throughout the story) in a book can be a great way to write a book report because picking a theme that you care about can make the report easier to write. Try bringing some of your thoughts and feelings as a reader into the report as a way to show the power of a theme. Before you discuss your own thoughts, however, be sure to establish what the theme is and how it appears in the story.

Explain exactly what theme you will be exploring in your book report.
Use as many examples and quotations from the book as possible to prove that the theme is important to the story.
Make sure that you talk about each example or quotation you've included. Make a direct connection between the theme and the example from the book.
After you have established the theme and thoroughly examined the way it affects the book, include a few sentences about the impact the theme had upon you and why it made the book more or less enjoyable to read.

In the novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Mildred Taylor, the theme of racial prejudice is a major catalyst in the story.

How to write a book report

Close up shot of male student writing a book report in journal. Book report example.

1. Thoroughly read the book

Immerse yourself in the book, taking the time to read it in its entirety. As you read, jot down notes on important aspects such as key points, themes, and character developments.

2. Identify the main elements of the book

Scrutinize the book's primary components, including its main themes, characters, setting, and plot. These elements will form the basis of your report.

3. Formulate a thesis statement

Compose a thesis statement that encapsulates your personal perspective about the book. This should be a concise statement that will guide your analysis and give your report a clear focus.

4. Create a detailed outline

Plan the structure of your book report. This outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs each focusing on a different aspect of the book, and a conclusion.

5. Craft the introduction

The introduction should provide basic information such as the book's title and author, and present your thesis statement. It should engage the reader and make them interested in your analysis.

6. Write the body of the report

In the body of your report, discuss in detail the book's main elements that you identified in step 3. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis and to prove your thesis statement.

7. Write a strong conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your analysis, reaffirm your thesis, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the overall book.

8. Review and edit your report

After writing, take the time to revise your report for clarity and coherence. Check for and correct any grammar or spelling errors. Ensure that your report clearly communicates your understanding and analysis of the book.

9. Include citations

If you have used direct quotes or specific ideas from the book, make sure to include proper citations . This is crucial in academic writing and helps avoid plagiarism.

10. Proofread

Finally, proofread your work. Look for any missed errors and make sure that the report is the best it can be before submitting it.

Book report example

Below is a book report example on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

In To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee presents a thoughtful exploration of racial prejudice, morality, and the loss of innocence. Set in the small, fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the book centers around the Finch family - young Scout, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Scout's character provides a fresh perspective as she narrates her experiences and observations of the unjust racial prejudice in her town. Her honesty and curiosity, coupled with her father's teachings, allow her to grow from innocence to a more profound understanding of her society's inequalities. The plot revolves around Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer, defending a black man, Tom Robinson, unjustly accused of raping a white woman. As the trial progresses, it becomes clear that Robinson is innocent, and the accusation was a product of racial prejudice. Despite compelling evidence in Robinson's favor, he is convicted, symbolizing the power of bias over truth. The theme of racial prejudice is a significant part of the book. Lee uses the trial and its unjust outcome to critique the racial prejudice prevalent in society. For example, despite Atticus's solid defense, the jury's racial bias leads them to find Robinson guilty. This instance highlights how deeply ingrained prejudice can subvert justice. The book also explores the theme of the loss of innocence. Scout and Jem's experiences with prejudice and injustice lead to their loss of innocence and a better understanding of the world's complexities. For example, Scout's realization of her town's unfair treatment of Robinson demonstrates her loss of innocence and her understanding of societal biases. Overall, To Kill a Mockingbird is a compelling exploration of the harsh realities of prejudice and the loss of innocence. Harper Lee's intricate characters and vivid storytelling have made this book a classic.

The above is an excellent book report example for several reasons. First, it provides a clear, concise summary of the plot without giving away the entire story. Second, it analyzes the main characters, their roles, and their impacts on the story. Third, it discusses the major themes of the book - racial prejudice and loss of innocence - and supports these themes with evidence from the text. Finally, it presents a personal perspective on the book's impact and overall message, demonstrating a deep understanding of the book's significance.

Book report checklist

Always include the following elements in any book report:

The type of book report you are writing
The book's title
The author of the book
The time when the story takes place
The location where the story takes place
The names and a brief description of each of the characters you will be discussing
Many quotations and examples from the book to support your opinions
A thesis statement
The point of view of the narrator
Summary of the book
The main points or themes discussed in the work of fiction or non-fiction
The first paragraph (introductory paragraph), body paragraphs, and final paragraph
The writing styles of the author
A critical analysis of the fiction or non-fiction book

Don't forget!

No matter what type of book report you decide to write, ensure it includes basic information about the main characters, and make sure that your writing is clear and expressive so that it’s easy for audiences in middle school, high school, college-level, or any grade level to understand. Also, include examples from the book to support your opinions. Afterward, conduct thorough proofreading to complete the writing process. Book reports may seem disconnected from your other schoolwork, but they help you learn to summarize, compare and contrast, make predictions and connections, and consider different perspectives & skills you'll need throughout your life.

Looking for more writing resources? You can find them in our creative writing center .

Featured Middle School Resources

Related Resources

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing a Book Report

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Book reports are informative reports that discuss a book from an objective stance. They are similar to book reviews but focus more on a summary of the work than an evaluation of it. Book reports commonly describe what happens in a work; their focus is primarily on giving an account of the major plot, characters, thesis, and/or main idea of the work. Most often, book reports are a K-12 assignment and range from 250 to 500 words.

Book reviews are most often a college assignment, but they also appear in many professional works: magazines, newspapers, and academic journals. If you are looking to write a book review instead of a book report, please see the OWL resource, Writing a Book Review .

Before You Read

Before you begin to read, consider what types of things you will need to write your book report. First, you will need to get some basic information from the book:

Publisher location, name of publisher, year published
Number of Pages

You can either begin your report with some sort of citation, or you can incorporate some of these items into the report itself.

Next, try to answer the following questions to get you started thinking about the book:

Author: Who is the author? Have you read any other works by this author?
Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, biography, etc.? What types of people would like to read this kind of book? Do you typically read these kinds of books? Do you like them?
Title: What does the title do for you? Does it spark your interest? Does it fit well with the text of the book?
Pictures/Book Jacket/Cover/Printing: What does the book jacket or book cover say? Is it accurate? Were you excited to read this book because of it? Are there pictures? What kinds are there? Are they interesting?

As You Read

While reading a work of fiction, keep track of the major characters. You can also do the same with biographies. When reading nonfiction works, however, look for the main ideas and be ready to talk about them.

Characters: Who are the main characters? What happens to them? Did you like them? Were there good and bad characters?
Main Ideas: What is the main idea of the book? What happens? What did you learn that you did not know before?
Quotes: What parts did you like best? Are there parts that you could quote to make your report more enjoyable?

When You Are Ready to Write

Announce the book and author. Then, summarize what you have learned from the book. Explain what happens in the book, and discuss the elements you liked, did not like, would have changed, or if you would recommend this book to others and why. Consider the following items as well:

Principles/characters: What elements did you like best? Which characters did you like best and why? How does the author unfold the story or the main idea of the book?
Organize: Make sure that most of your paper summarizes the work. Then you may analyze the characters or themes of the work.
Your Evaluation: Choose one or a few points to discuss about the book. What worked well for you? How does this work compare with others by the same author or other books in the same genre? What major themes, motifs, or terms does the book introduce, and how effective are they? Did the book appeal to you on an emotional or logical way?
Recommend: Would you recommend this book to others? Why? What would you tell them before they read it? What would you talk about after you read it?

Revising/Final Copy

Do a quick double check of your paper:

Double-check the spelling of the author name(s), character names, special terms, and publisher.
Check the punctuation and grammar slowly.
Make sure you provide enough summary so that your reader or instructor can tell you read the book.
Consider adding some interesting quotes from the reading.

How to Write a Nonfiction Book (8 Key Stages)

Generate Full-Length AI Non-Fiction Book Instantly

Looking to write a nonfiction book?

Nonfiction books often stem from the author’s passion or expertise in a particular subject. Authors like Malcolm Gladwell, who began his career as a journalist delving deep into psychology and sociology, or Stephen Hawking, who shared his profound knowledge of cosmology, exemplify how a deep-seated interest can lead to compelling and successful non-fiction works.

However, many of these authors don’t start with book-writing expertise. This should not stop anyone from sharing their knowledge or story with the world.

Let’s explore how to write a nonfiction book, a genre that encompasses a wide range of subjects from history and biography to self-help and science.

How to Write a Nonfiction Book

Nonfiction writing, distinct from its fictional counterpart, demands a rigorous approach to factual accuracy, comprehensive research, and clarity in presentation. We aim to provide a pragmatic guide for aspiring authors, delineating the steps involved in a nonfiction work’s conceptualization, research, writing, editing, and publishing.

Here are the main steps of writing a nonfiction book. Let’s start.

Choosing a Topic

Choosing a topic is the first and perhaps most crucial step in writing a nonfiction book. Your topic should align with your passion or expertise, as this will sustain your interest and authority throughout the writing process.

Consider what unique insights or perspectives you can offer on the subject, and ensure there is an audience interested in the topic. Conduct preliminary research to identify gaps in existing literature and refine your idea to make it both original and valuable to potential readers. This foundation will set the stage for a compelling and successful nonfiction book.

Identifying Your Passion

Begin by introspecting about subjects you are interested in or even a personal story that you have. The ideal topic should intrigue you and sustain your interest over the long process of writing a book. It could be a field you have expertise in, a hobby you are passionate about, or a subject you have always wanted to explore in depth.

Use Portent’s Content Idea Generator to generate ideas based on any subject you have in mind.

Assessing Market Demand

Once you have a list of potential topics, the next step is to analyze the market demand. This involves researching current trends, finding a popular nonfiction book title in your chosen genre, and identifying gaps in the available literature. Tools like Google Trends and Amazon’s Best Sellers lists can provide insights into what readers are currently interested in.

Conducting Initial Research

Before finalizing your topic, conduct preliminary research to ensure there’s enough information available to cover your subject comprehensively. This research will also help you understand the different perspectives and debates surrounding your topic. It’s important to ensure that the topic is not too broad, making it difficult to cover thoroughly or too narrow, limiting the book’s appeal to a wider audience.

Finalizing Your Topic

After considering your passion, market demand, and the availability of research material, narrow down your choices to one topic. This topic should be interesting and marketable and offer a unique angle or perspective that distinguishes your book from existing works in the field.

Use the Hedgehog Concept to find a great topic for your nonfiction book. Read all about this concept here .

In summary, choosing a topic for your nonfiction book requires balancing personal interest, market viability, and availability of sufficient content. This careful consideration will set the foundation for a compelling and successful nonfiction book.

Research and Gathering Information

Conducting research is a fundamental aspect of writing nonfiction. It involves gathering, organizing, and verifying information to ensure reliability.

Detailed Methods for Conducting Effective Research

Here are helpful methods for conducting research:

Identify Reliable Sources: Identify authoritative sources such as academic journals, books by respected authors, government publications, and reputable news organizations. Online databases and libraries can be invaluable for this.
Diverse Research Techniques: Use primary sources (like interviews, surveys, and firsthand observations) and secondary sources (such as books, articles, and documentaries). This mix provides depth and perspective to your research.
Note-Taking and Documentation: As you gather information, take detailed notes. Record bibliographic information (author, title, publication date, etc.) for each source to make referencing easier later. Tools like Zotero or EndNote can help manage citations.

Tips for Organizing and Compiling Research Materials

Here are some further tips for organizing your nonfiction book writing process.

Categorize Information: Organize your research into categories related to different aspects of your topic. This will make it easier to find information when you start writing.
Use Digital Tools: Utilize digital tools such as spreadsheets, document folders, or specialized research software to keep your information organized.
Maintain a Research Log: Keep a log of your research activities, including where you found information and keywords or topics searched. This log will be invaluable if you need to revisit a source.

By using Squibler for your writing, you can use many tools to organize your writing to stick to a steady schedule.

Ethical Considerations and Fact-Checking in Nonfiction Writing

Here are ethical considerations to be aware of when learning how to write a nonfiction book:

Fact-Checking: Rigorously check the facts you plan to include in your book. Verify dates, names, quotes, and statistics from multiple sources.
Avoid Plagiarism: Always give proper credit to the sources of your information. Paraphrase where necessary and use quotations for direct citations.
Ethical Reporting: Be aware of the ethical implications of your writing, especially when dealing with sensitive topics. Strive for fairness and accuracy in your representation of different viewpoints.

Effective research for a nonfiction book requires a systematic and ethical approach to gathering, organizing, and verifying information. You can ensure that your nonfiction work is credible and compelling by using various research methods, maintaining organized notes, and adhering to ethical standards.

Planning and Outlining the Book

Planning and outlining are critical steps in writing a nonfiction book. This phase involves structuring your ideas and research findings into a coherent and logical framework to guide your writing process.

Importance of Creating a Detailed Outline

Read about the importance of having a detailed outline.

Blueprint for Your Book: An outline serves as a roadmap for your book, helping you organize your thoughts and research systematically. It ensures that your narrative flows and that you cover all key points.
Efficiency and Focus: A well-structured outline helps you write. It keeps you focused on your main points and prevents you from veering off-topic.
Identifying Gaps: During the outlining process, you may identify areas where further research or elaboration is needed, allowing you to address these gaps before you begin writing.

Here is an example of how to outline your book based on the structure:

Methods for Outlining Nonfiction Books

Here, you’ll learn about key methods for creating an outline:

Chronological Structure: A chronological approach might be most effective for topics that unfold over time, such as historical events or biographies.
Thematic Structure: If your book covers different aspects of a topic, organizing your outline by themes or subjects can help present information in a more integrated way.
Problem-Solution Framework: For topics like business or self-help, structuring your outline to present problems and their solutions can engage readers.

Tips for Structuring Your Book

Read some further tips for creating a book structure:

Start with a Broad Overview: Begin your outline with a broad overview of your topic, then break it into more specific chapters or sections.
Balance Your Chapters: Try to balance the length and depth of each chapter to keep readers engaged and ensure a smooth flow.
Include Introduction and Conclusion: Plan for an introductory section to set the context of your book and a conclusion to wrap up and reinforce your key messages.
Consider Readers’ Needs: Keep your intended audience in mind while outlining. Structure your content to address the readers’ interests, background knowledge, and expectations.

Writing the First Draft

Writing the first draft of a nonfiction book is where you transform your research and outline into a manuscript. This stage is about getting your ideas down on paper and shaping the raw material of your research into a readable and engaging narrative.

Starting the Writing Process

Here, you will read the main steps in writing nonfiction and healthy writing habits for creative nonfiction.

Overcoming the Blank Page: The first step is to overcome the intimidation of the blank page. Begin by writing about the parts you are most comfortable with or most excited about. This builds momentum.
Refer to Your Outline: Consult your outline to stay on track. However, be flexible enough to deviate if a section needs more elaboration or a different direction.
Set Realistic Goals: Establish daily or weekly word count goals. Consistency is key to making steady progress.
Write Consistent Conversations: A nonfiction writer creates a conversation with their readers. Create a consistent information flow by using one of the four types.

Here are four types of conversations that will give you an idea of what will work best for your audience.

Maintaining a Consistent Writing Routine

Learn how to maintain a writing routine in each writing phase:

Create a Writing Schedule: Set aside dedicated time for writing each day or week. Consistency is crucial, whether an hour every morning or a full day over the weekend.
Create a Writing Environment: Find or create a space where you can write without distractions. The right environment can significantly boost your productivity and focus.

Dealing with Writer’s Block

Read about the basics of overcoming writer’s block.

Take Breaks: Step away from your work if you hit a block. Sometimes, taking a short walk or engaging in a different activity can refresh your mind.
Write Freely: Don’t be too concerned with perfection in the first draft. Allow yourself to write freely without worrying too much about grammar or style at this stage.
Talk It Out: Discussing your ideas with someone can provide new perspectives and help overcome blocks.

Staying Motivated

Learn how to stay motivated:

Track Your Progress: Tracking your progress can be a great motivational tool. Seeing how far you’ve come can encourage you to keep going.
Seek Feedback: Sharing sections of your draft with trusted friends or other nonfiction authors provides encouragement and constructive feedback.
Remember Your Purpose: Remind yourself why you started this project. Revisiting your initial inspiration can reignite your enthusiasm.

Writing the first draft of your nonfiction book involves starting with confidence, maintaining a disciplined routine, tackling challenges like writer’s block, and staying motivated throughout the process. This stage is less about perfection and more about bringing your ideas to life in a coherent structure. Remember, the first draft is just the beginning, and refinement comes later in the editing stages.

Editing and Revising

Editing and revising are about refining your first draft and enhancing its clarity, coherence, and overall quality. It involves scrutinizing and improving your manuscript at different levels, from overall structure to individual sentences.

The Importance of a Self-Editing Process

Read about self-editing.

First Layer of Refinement: Self-editing is your first opportunity to review and improve your work. This process includes reorganizing sections, ensuring each chapter flows logically into the next, and checking for consistency in tone and style.
Focus on Clarity and Conciseness: Look for areas where arguments can be made clearer, descriptions more vivid, and redundancies eliminated. It’s crucial to be concise and to the point in nonfiction writing.

Seeking Feedback

Here, you will read about basic tips for seeking feedback.

Beta Readers and Writing Groups: Share your manuscript with trusted individuals representing your target audience. Beta readers or members of writing groups can provide invaluable feedback from a reader’s perspective.
Constructive Criticism: Be open to constructive criticism. It can provide insights into areas you might have overlooked or not considered fully.

Hiring a Professional Editor

Here’s what to consider if you think you need a professional editor.

When and Why It’s Necessary: A professional editor can bring a level of polish and expertise that’s hard to achieve on your own. They can help with structural issues, language clarity, and fact-checking. Consider hiring an editor, especially if you plan to self-publish.
Types of Editing Services: Understand the different editing services available, including developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Each serves a different purpose and is relevant at different stages of the revision process.

Revising Your Manuscript

Here, you’ll read about revising the manuscript.

Iterative Process: Revision is an iterative process. It may require several rounds to get your manuscript to the desired quality.
Attention to Detail: Check grammar, punctuation, and factual accuracy. Nonfiction books, in particular, need to be factually correct and well-cited.
Incorporating Feedback: Integrate the feedback from your beta readers and editor judiciously. Balance maintaining your voice and message with addressing valid concerns and suggestions.

Editing and revising are where your manuscript transforms into its final form. This stage requires patience, attention to detail, and, often, external input. By embracing the editing and revising process, you can significantly enhance the quality of your nonfiction book, making it more engaging, credible, and polished.

Publishing Options

After writing, editing, and revising your nonfiction book, the next critical step in the how-to-write-a-nonfiction-book process is to decide how to publish it. Today, a nonfiction author has various options, each with its own set of advantages and challenges. Understanding these can help you choose the best path for your nonfiction book.

Traditional Publishing

Here, you can read about traditional publishing routes.

Working with Literary Agents: Traditional publishing typically involves securing a literary agent to represent your book to publishers. An agent’s knowledge of the market and industry contacts can be invaluable.
The Submission Process: This involves preparing a proposal and sample chapters to send to publishers, often through your agent. The process can be lengthy and competitive.
Advantages: Traditional publishers offer editorial, design, and marketing support. They can also provide broader distribution channels.
Considerations: It can be challenging to get accepted by a traditional publisher. They usually control the final product and a significant share of the profits.

Self-Publishing

Here, you can read about the possibility of self-published books.

Complete Creative Control: Self-publishing gives you total control over every aspect of your book, from the content to the cover design and pricing.
The Self-Publishing Process: This includes tasks like formatting the book, obtaining an ISBN, and choosing distribution channels (e.g., Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing).
Marketing and Promotion: Self-publishing means you are responsible for marketing and promoting your book. This can be a significant task but also offers the opportunity for higher royalties per book sold.
Accessibility: Platforms like Amazon, Smashwords, and Draft2Digital have made self-publishing more accessible, offering tools and services to assist authors.

Hybrid Publishing

The third option is hybrid publishing. Read more about it:

Combination of Traditional and Self-Publishing: Hybrid publishing models combine elements of both traditional and self-publishing, offering more support than self-publishing alone but with more flexibility and control for the author.
Costs and Services: These publishers often charge for their services, but they also offer professional editing, design, and marketing services.

Choosing the Right Option

Finally, here are tips for deciding exactly what the route to take:

Consider Your Goals: Consider what you want to achieve with your book. Are you looking to reach a wide audience, maintain creative control, or see your book in bookstores?
Understand Your Audience: Knowing where your target audience buys books can guide your choice. Some genres do exceptionally well in self-publishing, while others fare better with traditional publishers.
Assess Your Resources: Consider your budget, available time for marketing, and your comfort level with the various aspects of the publishing process.

The choice between traditional, self-publishing, and hybrid options depends on your goals, resources, and the level of control and support you desire. Each path has its unique set of benefits and challenges, and understanding these can help you make an informed decision about the best way to bring your nonfiction book to your readers.

Marketing and Promotion

The success of a nonfiction book depends on effective marketing and promotion strategies. Here are tactics that you can use:

Building an Author Platform: A strong author platform is essential for success in marketing. This involves establishing your online and offline presence, which can be achieved through a professional website, active social media profiles, blogging, and networking in relevant communities. An effective platform helps in building credibility and a loyal reader base.
Effective Marketing Strategies: Developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing plan is key. This could include arranging book launch events, participating in speaking engagements, creating promotional content, and engaging in online marketing efforts. Tailoring these strategies to your target audience and leveraging the right channels are critical for maximum impact.
Utilizing Social Media: Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your book. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer direct engagement with your audience. Regular posts, interactive content, and targeted ads on these platforms increase your book’s visibility and attract potential readers.
Book Tours and Speaking Engagements: Conducting book tours and speaking at relevant events can enhance your book’s exposure. These engagements provide opportunities for personal interaction with your audience through physical events or virtual webinars and talks. They are effective in generating interest and boosting sales.
Engaging with Media and PR: Media engagement is another vital aspect of book promotion. Reaching out to newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV programs related to your book’s topic can help gain wider exposure. Press releases, interviews, and book reviews are traditional yet effective ways to attract media attention.
Email Marketing: Email marketing involves contacting your audience directly through newsletters and email campaigns. It’s an effective way to keep your readers informed about your book, upcoming events, and any new content you produce.
Collaborations and Partnerships: Partnering with other authors, bloggers, and organizations can amplify your marketing efforts. These collaborations can include joint promotional events, guest blogging, or featuring on podcasts. Such partnerships can help you reach a broader audience and gain credibility in your field.

Here are the most frequently asked questions about how to write a nonfiction book.

1. How do I choose the right topic for my nonfiction book?

Choosing the right topic involves balancing your interests, expertise, and what readers are interested in. Consider topics you are passionate about and know well, then research the market to see if there’s a demand for information on these subjects. It’s also important to ensure there’s enough material available to write a comprehensive book on the topic.

2. How much research should I do for my nonfiction book?

The amount of research needed varies depending on the subject. However, gathering comprehensive and accurate information is vital to establish credibility and trust with your readers. Use a mix of primary and secondary sources and verify facts from multiple sources. Remember, in nonfiction, the quality and reliability of your information are as important as how you present it.

3. Should I write an outline before starting my nonfiction book?

Yes, creating an outline is highly recommended. An outline is a roadmap for your whole book idea, whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction. It ensures you cover all necessary points and maintain a logical flow throughout the book. Outlines can be modified as you write, but having a basic structure in place can significantly ease the writing process.

4. What are the key steps in editing and revising my nonfiction book?

Editing and revising involves several steps: First, conduct a self-edit to improve structure, clarity, and coherence. Next, get feedback from beta readers or a writing group. Finally, consider hiring a professional editor for developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Pay attention to factual accuracy and consistency, and eliminate redundancies or unclear sections. Remember, editing and revising are crucial for enhancing the quality and readability of your book.

Published in What is Book Writing?

Join 5000+ Technical Writers

Get our #1 industry rated weekly technical writing reads newsletter.

Project Types We Cover

Admissions Essay
PowerPoint Presentation
Research Paper
Book Reviews
Personal Statement
Ph.D Dissertation
Proofreading

Academic Fields & Subjects

Programming
Computer Science
Other projects we help with
Our Experts
Plagiarism Checker
Writing Tips

Come Up With an Amazing Non-fiction Book Report

By: Angelina Grin

Studying at school, college, or university, you always deal with various written assignments.

How Do You Write a Nonfiction Book Report?

Description:, evaluation:, points of description, how to distinguish fiction and nonfiction, features of nonfiction literature, autobiography, popular science, narrative writing, explanatory writing, persuasive writing, instructive writing, list of the best nonfiction books to choose from.

They are necessary regardless of your major since they help you to develop some essential skills. When writing, people learn to formulate things correctly, share their point of view, build persuasive arguments, etc. Besides, depending on the assignment’s type, it is also essential to find the information, check facts, analyze data, and draw up the whole document according to your educational institution’s preferences.

One of the most popular written tasks is a book report. It consists of two parts. Firstly you need to read the book, and then your mission is to provide a review, summarizing the main points. It is a bit different from the typical review paper since students concentrate not on their personal opinions only, but on some details like the plot, characters, or main concepts, when it goes to the nonfiction book report.

The Non-Fiction Report Definition

It is a kind of book report when your task is to write about a nonfiction book. Many genres are depending on the discipline you study and the requirements of the particular instructor. You may read historic literature, philosophy pieces, self-help books, books about science, space, famous people, and so on.

A nonfiction report is a paper intended to share your view about the text. Of course, you won’t write about the characters (until you have them), the plot, various literary devices, etc. Your task is to analyze the book, its ideas, and its contribution.

You shouldn’t worry if you don’t know how to write a book report . Nobody was born with the talent to complete this task successfully. If you desire to impress your professor and get a good grade, we can support you along this way. Follow our recommendations to write a decent paper with ease.

The writing process, in this case, is not so different from other student assignments. There are some professional tips from our authors:

Get clear what is your final goal. Of course, you want to come up with an A-level paper. But it is not that goal. You need to understand what you want to provide your audience with. What are the thoughts and feelings you want to evoke in them? Is it a paper to inspire or to guide? Knowing your goals, you will make the whole process much more comfortable.
Draft an outline. It is vital to have a plan with all paragraphs and ideas to write about. Define all sections, come up with titles for them, and make sure you have enough information to fill the space. If some of your thoughts are good, but they don’t suit the goal and the structure, get rid of them.
Write the first draft. Don’t overthink about the quality of the text right now. You’ll have time to polish it. You may think you don’t know how to start writing a book report, but once you start, you’ll catch the flow.

What Should Your Non-fiction Report Consist Of:

If you were assigned a non-fiction book report writing, you can’t just look at the 5th-grade book report sample , and follow its structure. This task is one level higher since you need to demonstrate your research and analytical skills. In most cases, there is no place for creativity.

The very first thing you should do is read your requirements carefully. Sometimes students think that the task is too complicated and postpone the writing until the last day. Or they believe they know exactly what to do and find themselves with bad grades because the task was pretty different. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just try to understand what your professor expects of you.

Summarize And Evaluate

Your task is to describe the piece, define the essential points, and provide your evaluation and judgment. It is essential to include:

basic information about the writer;
background of the book creation;
author’s purposes;
writer’s thesis statement;
the book structure;
your summary.
positive and negative reviews;
contribution;
strengths and weaknesses.

You may omit some of these points if necessary, change their order, add some more details, etc. Look for a good book review example to find inspiration, see what techniques other students use, and analyze the books. But remember that you shouldn’t just copy someone’s paper. It is better to spend more time and come up with a unique piece or order a report written from scratch exclusively for you.

You can find information about the writer on the cover of a book or the Internet. The background to the creation of this piece is often described in the preface. You will most likely need to do a little research to determine if the author is really an expert in this area and how fully one can judge this topic.

After reading the introduction, you will immediately understand what goal the author set for himself. And as soon as you finish reading and analyze the text, you will realize whether one managed to achieve this. The introduction of a good book report also contains a thesis statement and main ideas. Please note that simply copying or paraphrasing them is considered plagiarism. You need to highlight this information yourself after reading and explain it in your own words.

Writing a book summary also depends on your audience. Perhaps you are writing only for the professor who commissioned this text to you and is familiar with it. Or is your task to provide a summary for those who can't decide whether to read a piece? That’s why we’ve told you that you should know your goals before you start writing.

Points Of Evaluation

To evaluate the book, you may look for some reviews, articles, other students’ reports, etc. It is crucial to understand whether your point of view is standard or you have unique thoughts. You may find out that you’ve missed some vital information, skipped a critical angle to look from. Or that you haven’t understood the author the way one wanted you to.

Writing about the contribution, it is important to provide evidence. For example, if you think that The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod helped people to appreciate morning hours and plan their days more efficiently, make sure you have some stats, or at least reviews to prove it. If you think that the author has used incorrect or false information, you should be able to protect your position as well.

Depending on the requirements, you may also write about your feelings about the book. Was it inspirational? Have you enjoyed the reading? Would you advise it and to what people?

What Is Nonfiction Literature?

It is a literary genre that is based on facts. It is the broadest category that includes a lot of sub-genres about everything that surrounds us. Whether it is a piece about pets, learning languages, religious beliefs, music artists, it is nonfiction. Of course, in most colleges, you won’t read the book about successful fishing receipts or secrets. You’ll have a particular book report template to follow. Below you’ll find the most popular

When it comes to differences between these two types, it is easier to start with a fiction explanation. Fiction books are fabricated; they are based on the creator’s imagination. Whether it is a fairy tale, a legend, a short story, or a novel, it describes some world and people that don’t exist. Such pieces have a setting, plot, characters. They may be based on real-life events, but they are just a background to create fiction.

On the contrary, nonfiction is always real. It may be about the past, present, or the prospective future. The scene is our planet, the characters are real people. Most nonfiction books are created by researchers, scientists, people who are experts in their fields.

Many famous people have written their books, whether it is an autobiography, a scientific document, or an instruction with actionable tips.

It is easy to define the nonfiction book since it has precise characteristics:

All events and heroes are real;
The author writes about oneself, one’s experience, or one’s position;
There are facts and evidence to support them;
The piece has a concrete genre and a clear structure;
It contains some personal thoughts, ideas, insights, advice.
The author writes for a particular audience.

Essential Academic Genres of Nonfiction Books

We have already mentioned that there are several genres. There are 5 of them you may consider choosing a book for your report.

It is a historical text based on personal knowledge and experience. Remember Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert? It is a classic example of a memoir.

This genre has similarities with the previous one because the author of the book is at the same time its object. However, suppose the memoirs tell about some significant events or periods in a person's life. In that case, the autobiography covers all years of experience, from childhood to death (or the present, if the author is still alive). Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela or I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, are autobiographies.

Another sub-genre of non-fiction that involves describing someone's life. In this case, the object of the book is not the author, but some famous person.

Often, one person has several biographies. You can find several books only about Barack Obama. The point is not in some events that you can learn in Wikipedia but in the author's unique view who decided to write a biography.

Expository literature's task is to describe some important events, show different views, and deeply understand the subject. Civil War Love Stories by Gill Paul is a good example.

Once you enter any book store, you’ll see many self-help books among the bestsellers. They are the most popular pieces these days since everyone encounters challenges and needs to improve life. There are also various sub-genres, e.g., books about business, health, meditations, personal finances, communication, etc. The great examples are The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey or Zero to One by Peter Thiel.

The purpose of this literature type is to help people discover the wonderful world of science. If you don't have boring textbooks about medicine, space, animals, popular science nonfiction books may become the best choice for you. As an example, Black Hole Blues: And Other Songs From Outer Space by Janna Levin, or The Brain: The Story of You by David Eagleman.

Nonfiction Writing: 4 Main Types

Writing a book report, it is crucial to define the type of nonfiction the author has used. It directly connects with one’s goals, for example, when the writer wants to explain something, one uses explanatory writing. When he or she has solid arguments to provide, it is persuasive writing. Let’s delve a bit deeper.

It is the type that is common for biographies, autobiographies, memoir. The creator wants to describe some person or events, to share new information, or to present different facts from the other angle.

When you need to develop a paper on narrative nonfiction, it is the most simple book report format . You shouldn’t look for some hidden senses, to think whether the author was convincing enough, etc. Your task is to analyze the provided information and create a paper with a summary and personal opinion.

This type of writing is used when you are dealing with paper, the task of which is to explain some information. The author needs to establish a dialogue with the audience, show why certain events are essential, and what angle they should be viewed.

Explanatory writing sets out some facts and provides the author's conclusion about them. For example, you can find literature about the Big Bang, where different people explain its influence on the creation of the Universe in different ways, as well as discoveries that confirm (or, conversely, refute) this theory.

The persuasive type is when the author has a concrete point of view and wants to convince readers that it is the right position. For example, one thinks that there were specific causes and consequences of the Civil War. That’s why you may find different books with facts about a particular event that don’t match each other. Of course, you're a regular student and may now know whether the writer is 100% true. What you can do is to explain whether one’s arguments are good enough, whether different authoritative sources support them, what is the official position (when it goes about some political or historical issues), and what do you personally think on this topic.

It is about such books as The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, or The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter by Meg Jay. The pieces, where the authors are (or find themselves) experts, provide the results of their observations and research. For example, they are psychologists who have been working with patients for decades and know how to help people in different situations. Or they are successful businessmen and businesswomen with wins and losses and understanding how to invest money.

Writing your report, you should provide a summary, main ideas, and analysis of the piece. You may even try to follow some advice and share your experience: whether the instruction was beneficial.

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston;
The Liars’ Club by Mary Karr;
Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama;
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin;
Chronicles, Vol 1 by Bob Dylan;
Autobiography of Mark Twain;
A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar;
Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera;
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts;
Titanic by Simon Adams;
If You Lived When Women Won Their Rights by Anne Kamma;
All About America: Colonists and Independence by Sally Senzell Isaacs;
Ocean Life: Tide Pool Creatures by Alice Leonhardt;
Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets by Nassim Nicholas Taleb;
Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy;
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie;
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene;
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - it's a joke)

User ratings:

User ratings is 4.8 stars.

4.8 /5 ( 12 Votes)

Creative Writer and Blog Editor

Despite my relatively young age, I am a professional writer with more than 14 years of experience. I studied journalism at the university, worked for media and digital agencies, and organized several events for ed-tech companies. Yet for the last 6 years, I've worked mainly in marketing. Here, at Studybay, my objective is to make sure all our texts are clear, informative, and engaging.

Add Your Comment

We are very interested to know your opinion

Thank you for this article. I am really obsessed with the book Three Brothers from Virginia these days and I think the author Andy Lazris really has a gift to keep people interested in topics that are too boring.

Upgrade your writing skills!

Try our AI essay writer from Studybay today!

Page Content
Sidebar Content
Main Navigation
Quick links
All TIP Sheets
Writing a Summary
Writing Paragraphs
Writing an Analogy
Writing a Descriptive Essay
Writing a Persuasive Essay
Writing a Compare/Contrast Paper
Writing Cause and Effect Papers
Writing a Process Paper
Writing a Classification Paper
Definitions of Writing Terms
How to Write Clearly
Active and Passive Voice
Developing a Thesis and Supporting Arguments
Writing Introductions & Conclusions
How to Structure an Essay: Avoiding Six Weaknesses in Papers
Writing Book Reports
Writing about Literature
Writing about Non-Fiction Books
Poetry: Meter and Related Topics
Revising and Editing
Proofreading

Writing About Non-Fiction Books

TIP Sheet WRITING ABOUT NON-FICTION BOOKS

At some point in your college career you may be asked to review a non-fiction book to enable you to learn more about some aspect of your course work. The assignment is demanding because you are required to describe and evaluate an author's contribution to a subject that you may know little about. How should you proceed?

Your instructor will usually offer some guidance, such as a suggested list of books or some guidelines to follow in selecting a work. Generally, you should try to find a relatively recent work of about 200-350 pages on some aspect of the course that particularly interests you.

Describe and evaluate You are expected to describe the book, that is, to summarize some major points of interest, and to evaluate it, that is, to make judgments about it. The areas to address include the following:

Description

Information about the author
Background information about the book
Author's purpose-to inform? Entertain? Persuade?
Author's thesis
Organization
Other reviews
Scholarship
Strengths and weaknesses

Later you may decide to omit some of these points. Their order may be changed, with more important or striking matters appearing first. Usually the descriptive section appears first in non-fiction reviews, especially in scholarly journals. All these organizational decisions are subjective and can be revised as needed.

While reading the book, take notes of the passages and their page numbers that relate to how you can describe and evaluate the work. In particular, be on the lookout for thesis statements, chapter summaries, striking quotations, discussions of methodology, conclusions, and author's recommendations. If you question whether or not to take a particular note, remember that it would be wiser to err on the side of having too many, rather than too few. You can always eliminate notes that appear unnecessary.

Points of description Information about the author may appear on the book jacket or may be obtained or inferred from what is written in the preface. In order to determine to what extent the author is an authority on the subject, you should do some library research into the author's present position, background, experience, and qualifications. Biographical sources such as the Biography Center in the GaleNet database will help you find this information. It need not be much, perhaps just a sentence; at most, it might consist of a short paragraph.

Background information about a book consists of the historical, sociological, economic, scientific or other circumstances that may have influenced or contributed to its publication. This information may have some bearing on the book's importance or interest.

Often the author's purpose –to amuse, inform, persuade-will be apparent from the preface or introduction.

The thesis or central idea of the book will probably be stated in the introduction or the conclusion. To gain an overview of the book that will help you realize its purpose and main ideas, read the preface and the introductory and concluding chapters first.

The organization of non-fiction depends partly on what kind of non-fiction it is-philosophy? Biology?–and partly on the author's purpose. History, for example, might be organized either chronologically or around central issues. Or, if the author's purpose is to challenge a widely-held position, he may choose to refute ideas point-by-point. Look at the table of contents and, as you read, refer back to it.

Because so much depends on your audience, the summary may be one of the most difficult parts of the review to write. Are you writing only for your instructor who has probably already read, or is familiar with, the book? Are you writing for your classmates who have not read it? Or are you writing for other people who are not in the course and are therefore unfamiliar with the subject? Your instructor can tell you what audience the paper should address. Then you will be able to judge how thorough your summary should be and whether or not terms should be defined and points explained in detail.

Points of evaluation At the same time that you gather information to describe the work, you should be thinking about your evaluation of it. Read a few other reviews of this book to inform your own opinion–what points did other reviewers address? Were professional reviewers unanimous in their evaluations, or did their opinions differ? Of course, any ideas or quotations obtained from these reviews should be attributed to their owners in your paper. To consult published reviews of the book, ask the reference librarian to help you find an appropriate index, or check an online database. Following is a partial list of the databases available to Butte College students:

Proquest Direct–for general disciplines including health, humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, business, education, women's and multicultural issues.
SIRS Researcher–for topics including science, history, politics, and global issues.
Wilson Web–for biographies, obituaries, science, education, current events, and social science.
GaleNet–for biographies, authors, history, science, and literature.
Health Reference Center–for topics in health, medicine, and nursing.

Some online databases offer full text articles; others offer abstracts (summaries) and information on how to find the full text in other publications; you can quickly scan abstracts to determine which articles are most likely to be useful to you. Advanced search features allow you to search using Boolean operators (and, or, not) for either full texts or abstracts. You can also narrow your search to scholarly journals for better search results. (From the Butte College home page, http://www.butte.edu, use the library links-search For Articles and select a database from the alphabetical list.)

The print-version Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature (in the Butte College Library, 1959 to the present) may also be helpful. This index also summarizes and tells you where to find the texts. The names and dates of the publications in which they appear are listed, and you should be able to refer to your selected reviews with little effort. The different indexes are usually organized by year, but keep in mind that a work published late in the year might not be reviewed until the following year.

You may find it difficult to judge the scholarship of a work or an author's expertise because of your limited understanding of the subject. But it does not require highly specialized knowledge to note what sources the author uses (look for the notes or bibliography sections), how much and what kind of evidence he provides, or how he analyzes data and justifies his conclusions. Read carefully to identify omissions, discernible bias, or unsupported generalizations. For example, someone reviewing a work entitled War in the Falklands would have little difficulty pointing out that this account of the 1982 war between Britain and Argentina is pro-British, containing little information about the Argentine politicians, participants, and purposes.

When considering a book's strengths and weaknesses , discuss the following points:

The tone and style of the writing
The importance of the book in its field
The value of the book for its intended audience
The effectiveness of the author's argument
The soundness of the author's conclusions
The practicality of the author's recommendations.

Your discussion the book's strengths and weaknesses may overlap with your discussion of scholarship. Plan to sort this out when revising your review so that your paper concludes with your general reaction. If your overall evaluation is favorable, admit the book's few weaknesses first and conclude with its many strong areas. If unfavorable, name the book's strengths first and conclude with its numerous weaknesses.

Mention any particularly interesting or memorable points or passages, and support your opinions with references to the book, but use quotations sparingly.

In your evaluation, you might reflect on how the book relates to your course. Consider what issues, ideas, or institutions the author criticizes or defends. Note the methodology and evaluate how it shapes or restricts the topic. Also, evaluate how well the author has added to your knowledge and understanding of the subject, particularly how it supplements the ideas in the textbook and the views of your instructor.

Butte College | 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville CA 95965 | General Information (530) 895-2511

Kindlepreneur

Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors

Home / Guides / Book Publishing / How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 2024: The Ultimate Guide for Authors

How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 2024: The Ultimate Guide for Authors

Part 1: Your Book Idea
Part 2: Outline the Book
Part 3: Write the Book
Part 4: Edit the Book
Part 5: Format Your Nonfiction Book
Part 6: Publish & Market Your Book

If you want to be a nonfiction author, I’ve got the perfect guide for you.

I've assembled this ultimate guide will walk you through the entire process of creating your nonfiction book, from the initial idea to the final publication.

How to ensure your idea will sell
How to outline and write your nonfiction book
How to polish your book to make it perfect
How to publish and market your book for maximum success

Some of my links in this article may give me a small commission if you use them to purchase products. There’s NO extra cost to you, and it helps me continue to write handy articles like this one.

The first step is to come up with your idea, and validate it to make sure it is something that will sell.

Determine What Problem Your Nonfiction Book Solves

When it comes to nonfiction writing, it's common for beginning ideas to be a bit vague. It's easy to have a general concept in mind, but to truly make your book a success, you need to do market research to ensure there's an audience for your work.

This research will help you narrow down your focus and identify the specific problem your book will solve.

In most cases, nonfiction books are written to solve a specific problem . Whether it's a how-to guide on a particular topic, or a self-help book addressing a certain issue, these types of books are meant to provide readers with valuable information that can help them in some way.

Side note: there are some genres, such as history books, creative nonfiction, or memoirs, that don't quite fit into this mold. But even in these cases, it's still important to understand why people want to read it.

When doing market research, it's important to answer the five W's of your book: the who , what , where , when , and why .

By answering these questions, you'll be able to identify your niche and craft a book that truly resonates with readers.

Validate Your Book Idea

Before you completely narrow down your story or topic, you need to know if it's a good idea or not. To do this, you need to run through four steps:

Step 1: Learn if and how many people search for your book idea
Step 2: Learn if the idea is profitable during the book topic validation process
Step 3: Discover how hard the competition is for your book
Step 4: Rinse and repeat

If you find your book topic is not profitable, you can still write it. But if that's the case, you will have to resort to different marketing tactics. You will need to focus on finding the right market somewhere other than Amazon, and getting them interested in reading your book.

Read more in our article on book idea validation .

Determine Your Audience

When it comes to market research for your book, the most important part is understanding your audience. Without a clear understanding of who you're writing for, it will be difficult to create a book that truly resonates with readers. Counterintuitively, you want to narrow down your audience as much as possible.

One of the best ways to narrow down your audience is by creating a customer avatar. This is a single person that represents your ideal reader.

The more specific you can make this person, the better.

It's important to think about things like their gender, age, background, education level, family situation, and even how much money they make.

The more specific you can get, the more you'll understand about the kinds of problems they're facing, and how your book can help them.

Having a customer avatar in mind can help you make important decisions about your book, such as what types of information to include, what tone to use, and even what types of marketing to do.

It also helps to think of your customer avatar when you are writing as well so you are writing with a specific person in mind and that will help you to keep your writing more focused.

Outlining is the next part, and is particularly important for nonfiction books.

You want to make sure you are covering all the subjects thoroughly in your nonfiction book outline, and nothing is lost in translation. Here are some ideas to help.

Brainstorm Ideas

Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience and the problem your book will solve, it's time to start brainstorming ideas. If you already know what your book is about, this is the time to think about how to structure your book and what to include in it.

If you're still not sure what your book is about, this is the time to explore different possibilities.

When brainstorming ideas, it's important not to hold back. Write down everything that comes to mind, even if it doesn't seem like a good fit at first.

To help generate ideas, try brainstorming with a group of people, whether it's friends, family or other nonfiction writers. They may have insights you haven’t considered and the exchange of thoughts can be very productive. Also, you could explore other books in your niche and look for inspiration, or research the latest trends and best practices in your niche.

Ultimately, don't be afraid to experiment and try out different things. Brainstorming is a creative process and the more ideas you have to work with, the better your final book will be.

After brainstorming ideas, it's time to dive into research. Research is the best way to truly understand what your book should talk about.

If you find that no one has written about your topic before, it might be a sign that the topic may not be as helpful as you think. So, it's important to be open to the possibility of changing the topic or pivoting in a different direction.

The research process should involve looking through a variety of sources such as books written by others, online articles, podcasts and YouTube videos, interviews, and anything else that may be relevant to your topic. This will give you a good idea of what to cover, but also what gaps in knowledge still exist.

As you research, make sure to gather all unique pieces of data into your notes. Organize the information by topic or subtopic, and make sure to include the source of each piece of information. This will be useful later when you're writing your book and need to cite your sources or refer back to specific information.

Research is a crucial step in the book-writing process, and the more time you spend doing it, the more valuable your book will be.

It will help you to understand your topic more deeply and help you to better serve your readers. Remember, research is not just to back your claims but to improve the credibility of your book.

Use Nonfiction Story Structures

I often talk about story structure when it comes to fiction, but nonfiction books can benefit from using story structures as well. There are many different types of nonfiction story structures you can use, but here are a few examples to get you started.

Manipulating Time: With this structure, your story starts in the middle, and shows how you got there in flashback-type sequences. This is great if you're using your own story or something from one of your clients. It allows you to show how your protagonist got to where they are, using the principles you outlined in the book.
Hook, Story, Offer: This is a great framework from Russell Brunson that I like to use. It consists of three different steps: Hook, which is the thing that gets your readers interested; Story, which is the thing that connects your readers with the emotional truths you're trying to convey; and Offer, where you present the solution to the problem you outlined in your story.
Circular Structure: Similar to manipulating time, this structure starts at the end, and shows how you got there.
Parallel Structure: With this structure, you might have two or more stories that you are weaving together. They might seem separate at first, but you tie them together by the end. This is a great way of interweaving your personal story with the principles in your nonfiction book.

Using nonfiction story structures can be a great way to engage your readers and make your book more compelling. By using one of these structures, you can help your readers understand and connect with the information you're presenting in a more meaningful way.

Put it All Together

Once you have your structure in place and your notes organized, it's time to weave it all together into something coherent.

This can be a challenging step, as you'll need to take all the information you've gathered and figure out how to present it in a logical and easy-to-understand way.

It's important to be selective with the information you include, as you'll likely have more than you can include in your book. This means that some things may need to be left out, as hard as that may be.

Once you have that all fleshed out and ready to go, it’s time to move on to the next step…

Writing a book is the single most important step on this list, and often the hardest. So I’ve assembled a few tips to get you started.

Determine the Best Writing Software

Choose the best book writing software for individual project, consider software like Atticus, Scrivener, Ulysses and Microsoft word or Google Docs.

Atticus is the best book writing software for overall capability, including tracking software and formatting. It costs $147 as a one-time fee and works on multiple platforms.

Plus, it is optimized for nonfiction, with certain features that make the nonfiction process SOOOOO much easier, including:

Endnote and Footnotes (the only budget-friendly tool to do the latter)
H2 – H6 Headers
Callout boxes
Hanging indents

It is my #1 recommendation for authors who want to write and format books of any kind!

Scrivener is the next best option for organization and customization, but it has a steep learning curve and costs $49 (one-time) for Mac or Windows. $19.99 for iOS devices and reduced pricing of $41.65 is available for “students & academics”.

Use Kindlepreneur’s unique discount code (KINDLEPRENEUR) to get 20% OFF your purchase.

Download Scrivener 3 for Mac
Download Scrivener 1 for Windows , which is on par with Scrivener 2 for Mac (update coming in 2021)
Download Scrivener 1 for iOS , which is also on par with Scrivener 2 on Mac (a handy tool for on-the-go writing with an iPad or iPhone )

Ulysses is a customizable and sleek book writing software that syncs automatically and has a drag-and-drop functionality, but only works on Apple products and costs $5.99/month or $49.99/year, but with a free 2-week trial.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is industry standard for word processing, but not ideal for novel writing, often used because of its ubiquity, but it is cumbersome for writing a book, and costs $139.99 as a one-time purchase or $6.99/month for a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Write the Book Fast

When it comes to nonfiction and fiction alike, I firmly believe that getting the book out as fast as possible is the best way to go. Writing fast allows you to get the first draft on the table and start the editing process.

Important: The goal at this stage is not to create a perfect product, but simply to get the words down so you can work with them later.

One of the main advantages of writing quickly is that it helps to overcome writer's block and other forms of procrastination. When you're not focusing on making everything perfect, it's easier to simply get words down on the page.

It's also useful to remember that the first draft is not meant to be perfect, it's meant to be a starting point, it's where you will put down the ideas that you want to explore further, and decide which direction you want to take.

Some quick tips to write fast include

Set good goals
Work in manageable chunks
Develop writing habits
Right at the same time everyday
Use a timer
Try dictation

I have a whole list of other ways to write faster in this article.

Use Storytelling

Storytelling is often seen as something that is only relevant to fiction writing, but it's equally important in nonfiction. Stories allow you to draw readers in and make them emotionally connected with your subject matter.

There are many ways to incorporate stories into your nonfiction book. You can mine stories from your own life, the lives of your clients, history, or even current events.

The key is to find stories that are relevant to the topic of your book and that will help to illustrate the points you're trying to make.

Keep the Writing Simple

For nonfiction, it's important to keep the language simple and easy to understand. Unless you are speaking to a highly educated audience, this will almost always be the case.

This is because nonfiction books often have the goal of conveying information to a wide audience, which means that the language must be accessible to a general reader.

Using simple and easy-to-understand language not only makes your book more accessible to a wider audience, but it also makes it more likely that your readers will retain the information you're trying to convey.

Avoid using jargon and technical terms that might not be familiar to your general audience. Instead, explain them in simple terms or provide definitions.

The more complex your topic, the more you want to be able to explain that topic in simple terms.

Editing the book is when you take that rough product and polish it. It’s an important step that should be done with care.

Self-edit the Book

Let's be honest, self-editing is not everyone's favorite part of the writing process. However, it is an important step that should not be overlooked. Before you send your work to beta readers or an editor, it's a good idea to have at least one self-edit.

This will give you an opportunity to catch any errors and make sure your ideas flow well, your arguments are tight and the book feels coherent.

The key is to approach self-editing with an open mind and a critical eye. Take the time to read through your work carefully and consider whether each sentence and paragraph adds value to the book. Look for ways to tighten up the writing, eliminate redundancy and make sure that the book is clear and easy to understand.

Fact Check Everything

In today's age of misinformation, fact checking is more important than ever. It's crucial that the information in your nonfiction book is accurate and reliable, otherwise it risks losing credibility with your readers.

The good news is that if you did your research well, and documented everything, this step will be greatly simplified. You should have sources and citations to back up every claim you make in your book.

By double-checking these sources and making sure that the information is still accurate, you'll ensure that your book is reliable and trustworthy.

Send to Editors

After you've given your manuscript a thorough self-edit, it's time to send it to an editor . An editor is one of your most important resources when it comes to producing a polished and professional book.

They can provide valuable feedback and make suggestions that will help to improve the overall quality of your manuscript.

It's important to keep in mind that editing can be one of the more expensive parts of the book writing process. However, investing in an editor's expertise is well worth the effort.

An editor can help you to turn your manuscript into a polished and professional book that will stand out among the competition.

Send to Beta Readers

Once you have a decent product, it's time to send it out to beta readers. Beta readers are a valuable resource that can help you to identify problems you might not have thought of.

Beta readers can also help you to understand if the stories you used in your manuscript worked and if any of them were confusing. They will give you an idea of how the general audience might receive your work. They can point out if certain parts of the manuscript are too complex or if certain sections don't flow well.

This feedback is essential to help you to make necessary adjustments before your book is ready for publication.

The penultimate step is to format your nonfiction book so it looks good. I've got one specific tool to help with this…

The best way to format your nonfiction book is using Atticus, the best formatting tool for nonfiction, given that it has multiple nonfiction-specific features that other formatting tools don't have.

Plus, it's way cheaper and easier to use than any of the other formatting tools out there.

For example, here are some of the nonfiction-specific features that you might want to use:

Subheadings

While most formatting tools have only one size of heading, Atticus has the ability to create multiple levels of headings, meaning you can have main headings, then subheadings underneath those headings, etc. Here's what that looks like:

Additionally, you can customize the size and style of each heading type, which actually means that fiction authors can make use of the headings as well.

By selecting a specific style font, you could create the illusion of a hand-written note or a text that you could use insert into your text. So headings are not just for nonfiction authors!

Here's the what the heading formatting looks like in Atticus:

Footnotes/Endnotes

Until Atticus came along, there wasn't any affordable and easy to use program that provided footnotes in books. But Atticus can!

With Atticus, you can easily add footnotes that will appear at the bottom of each page in your print edition (note: ebook editions, by necessity, default to endnotes).

In addition to footnotes, Atticus also lets you select endnotes, and let's you specify whether you want your endnotes to appear at the end of the book, or the end of each chapter.

Hanging Indents

Hanging indents are an essential piece of formatting for authors who have a lot of references. A hanging indent is used when you need to list your sources and create a bibliography.

In other words, this is an essential piece of the puzzle for any nonfiction author who needs to list their sources.

Callout Boxes

Last but not least, Atticus has Callout Boxes!

These are honestly some of my favorites.

Atticus lets you add a callout box to any selection of text, and it will show up with that callout box in ebook or in print.

You can completely customize the look of your callout boxes, as seen here:

And then, once you've got something like that, you can preview it in Atticus' device previewer, where it might look a little something like this:

Part 6: Publish & Market Your Book

Writing the book is just part of the process. With any book, but especially with nonfiction books, publishing and marketing is crucial.

Research Your Title and Subtitle

When it comes to writing a nonfiction book, finding the right title and subtitle is crucial. This is because a well-crafted title and subtitle can help to attract readers and increase the visibility of your book.

One effective way to determine your title and subtitle is by doing keyword research.

Keyword research can be done by extensively crawling through Amazon's listings. This can help you to understand what people are searching for, and what kind of titles and subtitles are most effective.

Pro Tip: The key is to figure out what people are searching for, and use this information to choose a title and subtitle that will resonate with your target audience.

Unfortunately, manual searches can be tedious when done manually. However, there's a tool out there called Publisher Rocket that will automate this process and make it faster and easier.

This tool can help you to analyze your competition, uncover the best keywords, and optimize your title and subtitle for maximum visibility.

Publish Your Nonfiction Book

After all the hard work of researching, writing, editing and fact-checking, it's finally time to publish your book. It can be a daunting process, but with the right guidance, it can be done seamlessly.

If you're planning to publish your book on Amazon, I have an article that can be extremely helpful.

It provides an in-depth guide on how to publish your book on Amazon, detailing the different options and services available, and how to use them.

Market Your Book to Your Audience

When you publish your book, make sure you format your book correctly , nail your back cover blurb , have a stellar book cover (traditional publishers will usually pay for this), and properly organize the front matter and back matter . Hopefully, you know that you have to start marketing your book long before it hits shelves and the online marketplace. Here are some articles you can read to learn more about book marketing:

Book Marketing 101
Kindle Keywords for Self-Publishers
Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs
How to Use Surveys to Sell More Books
Best Email Services for Authors
How to Sell Your Books in an Indie Bookstore

Jason Hamilton

Related posts, cyber monday deals for writers 2023, launching a book: the ultimate step by step guide, how to publish a book on amazon: the full step-by-step guide, sell more books on amazon, amazon kindle rankings e-book.

Learn how to rank your Kindle book #1 on Amazon with our collection of time-tested tips and tricks.

Join the community.

Join 111,585 other authors who receive weekly emails from us to help them make more money selling books.

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar
Skip to footer

Raise the Bar Reading

A Reading Teacher's Blog

Nonfiction Book Report Templates and Ideas for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Students

Generally, when we think of book reports, we think of fiction reading response. However, nonfiction book report templates serve equally as important of a purpose for digging deep into nonfiction texts.

Book reports are such a great way to encourage the use of many different reading skills with the same text. With one nonfiction text, students can practice skills like identifying main idea and details, analyzing text structure, finding nonfiction text features, summarizing, quoting, paraphrasing, finding the author’s purpose, citing text evidence, etc. The list goes on and on!

By allowing students to practice so many skills at once, they are able to deeply analyze the text and think critically about the topic. Students can then form their own opinions on the topic and the author’s writing style, and ask important questions for further investigation.

1. BACKPACK BOOK REPORT:

Backpack Book Reports are an engaging, hands-on twist on a classic book report. They are very easy to prep and make a great bulletin board display when completed.

Nonfiction Backpack Book Craft (Each page is a graphic organizer focusing on a different fiction skill)

Each page focuses on an important nonfiction reading skill. These include:

Main Idea & Supporting Details
Summarizing
Nonfiction Text Features
Author’s Point of View & Text Evidence
Text Structure
Academic Vocabulary
Interesting Facts
Back Up Opinions
Reflection (What I Learned, My Connection, Questions I Still Have)

2. BOOK REPORT TAB BOOKS:

These tab books really bring nonfiction texts to life! Students re-create the cover of their informational book on the front of their book report. Then, each of the 10 tabs represent an important nonfiction reading response skill. The tabs include:

Nonfiction graphic organizers in a tab book format

They also come in full page option to maximize student writing space, or half page size to maximize wall space for a display.

text features graphic organizer tab for a nonfiction tab book

3. INFORMATIONAL TEXT LAP BOOK REPORT:

These lap books are great in that you can have students 1.) completely design their own lap books, or 2.) provide them with more structured directions.

Lap Book Free-Writes: The teacher tells students what nonfiction elements they are responsible for reporting on, but does not tell them exactly how to present them. The teacher provides students tools like paper, envelopes, scissors, etc. and students can present the information however they would like.

nonfiction lap book craft - students use scissors, glue, paper, and a file folder to create their own unique book report

Structured Lab Book: With this option, the teacher can set clear expectations and provide a model for how to present each nonfiction element on their lap books.

4. NONFICTION BOOK REPORT TEMPLATES:

Students can fill in each template and staple them together with the included cover page. These 10 templates are versatile in that if there’s a skill you haven’t yet covered, you can easily leave that page out until later into the school year and it won’t affect the finished book report product.

Book Report Templates for writing a more traditional nonfiction book report

5. DIGITAL NONFICTION BOOK REPORT TEMPLATES:

These digital slides are the same as the nonfiction book report templates above, just in a digital Google Slides format. With this format, teachers can just delete any of the slides that cover skills that their students are unfamiliar with before making them their own copy.

Digital book report slides for Google Slides

6. CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORT IDEAS:

Cereal boxes are a popular 3D way to have students present their book report since cereal boxes are easily accessible for any student to get their hands on. Students cover their boxes with paper to create drawing and writing space.

The front of the box is transformed into a type of cereal that is fitting for the text they read. For example, a student reporting on owls might name their box “Hoot Loops”. Then, the back and sides of their box are filled with information on the text.

Similar to the lap book options described above, it is up to the teacher in how much structure they want to provide in this activity. Students can follow a model of how to present each element of nonfiction, or come up with their own ways to present each element on their box.

7. ONE PAGE BOOK REPORT (One Pager) :

Not every single book report we assign needs to take up tons of class time. A one-page book report option is an essential resource as it can be used as a quick, zero prep assessment tool. Although short, this type of report can still have students dig deep into reading comprehension.

a one-pager nonfiction book report that includes a title, author, summary, text structure, fun fact, overall opinion, what the student learned, a recommendation, and star rating

On the one pager that is pictured, students still use many important nonfiction skills. These include writing a nonfiction summary, identifying text structure, finding facts, giving an overall opinion, writing a recommendation, reflection on what they learned, and providing a rating.

8. PARAGRAPH WRITING WITH GUIDELINES:

If you are looking for a way to provide a lot of structure and clear expectations, you can give students a nonfiction book report writing rubric for what their reports need to include from the very start.

Nonfiction book report guidelines, rubric, and graphic organizer

Students can also use graphic organizers that break down necessary points to include according to their rubric. Using a graphic organizer for prewriting is a great support for students in organizing their ideas before jumping into their drafts.

No matter what book report format you go with, it is important that students know and understand what is expected of their writing content. Displaying a Nonfiction Book Report Bulletin Board is such a helpful way to provide students with steps to writing a book report as well as terms they will come across in their templates.

Nonfiction book report bulletin board display with a poster, writing tips, and words to know when writing a book report

All of the nonfiction book report templates from this blog post are included in the Nonfiction Book Reports Bundle as well as the Fiction & Nonfiction Book Reports Megabundle !

Next up: Fiction Book Report Writing Ideas

Teaching Book Report Writing: Book Report Ideas and Formats (Grades 3-5)

Customized by Laine Sutherland Design

TRY OUR FREE APP

Write your book in Reedsy Studio. Try the beloved writing app for free today.

Craft your masterpiece in Reedsy Studio

Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.

Guides • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Apr 23, 2021

How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 6 Steps

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Savannah Cordova

Savannah is a senior editor with Reedsy and a published writer whose work has appeared on Slate, Kirkus, and BookTrib. Her short fiction has appeared in the Owl Canyon Press anthology, "No Bars and a Dead Battery".

About Rebecca van Laer

Rebecca van Laer is a writer, editor, and the author of two books, including the novella How to Adjust to the Dark. Her work has been featured in literary magazines such as AGNI, Breadcrumbs, and TriQuarterly.

Writing a nonfiction book is a good way to share your story, impart your wisdom, or even build your business. And while you may not have thought about becoming an author before, it’s not as far-fetched a goal as you might think. In this post, we'll show you a simple process for becoming a nonfiction author. Hold onto that book idea of yours, and let’s see how we can turn it into something that readers will love.

How to write a nonfiction book:

1. Determine what problem your book will solve

2. outline your book with a logical structure, 3. choose a style guide to remain consistent, 4. blast through your messy first draft, 5. revise your manuscript and check your facts, 6. choose to publish traditionally or independently.

When you start out, your idea is likely to be nebulous or vague, e.g. “It’s a self-help book for new parents.” Before you put pen to paper, you need to crystallize and tighten your original idea, as well as think about your target audience and how to reach readers . Using that information and the tips below, you can validate your book idea, find a sense of direction in your writing, and prepare for when you try to get a book deal , if you want to traditionally publish.

FREE RESOURCE

Book Proposal Template

Craft a professional pitch for your nonfiction book with our handy template.

Nail down your book idea

A key part of figuring out how to write a nonfiction book is being able to answer the three important "W" questions:

What is it about?
Why does it matter, and why should you write it?
Who will want to read it — or rather, who are your ideal readers ?

Once you can answer these questions, you can fill in the blanks below:

[The who] will read my book about [the what] because [the why].

For example: "CEOs will read my book about workplace culture because it offers insights into the practices of the top ten companies voted 'best places' to work in the USA."

Being able to distill your book down in this way is a good sign you have a solid concept, and that your book will ultimately be marketable. If you can’t answer one of those questions, it may be time to return to the drawing board and tighten up your book’s main idea.

Research your topic

Once you’ve pinned down your idea, you’ll want to dig a bit into the topic or the nonfiction genre of your book to find the leads to develop this idea. Research is very important, and it can come in many shapes and sizes depending on the project. Here are a few of the different types of research that are suitable for certain genres.

💭 If you’re writing a memoir

We’ve got a whole guide on writing memoirs with more research tips, but if there’s one thing we recommend you do, it’s to interview yourself. Ask yourself questions that strangers might ask you. A simple interview like this can help you reassess your memories and pull out the important bits of your story. (And of course, you can always have someone else interview you too!)

🔧 If you’re writing a how-to

Your research may involve collecting all sorts of existing material on the subject — such as blog posts and previously published essays. You might want to test some of the methods out in order to home in on the most effective instructions.

☯ If you’re writing self-help

When writing a book about helping yourself , you might want to reach out to experts, such as psychologists and inspirational speakers, who can provide more evidence and insight to what you already know. If you're an expert yourself, you can interview yourself as you would for a memoir. It also doesn’t hurt to check out some of the best self-help books for inspiration!

GET ACCOUNTABILITY

Meet writing coaches on Reedsy

Industry insiders can help you hone your craft, finish your draft, and get published.

⏳ If you’re writing a history or biography

You’ll be gathering resources in libraries and archives, looking at primary and secondary sources on the matter. And if you’re writing about someone who’s still alive, you’ll probably need access to said person, or at least have their consent before forging on with the research.

💼 If you’re writing a business book

This requires a lot of understanding of the market that you’re writing about, be it the one concerning stocks or houseplants (see more of what we mean in our guide on how to write an ebook). You have to find out who might be interested in the products you're talking about, what their habits are like, where they usually go to for advice on matters related to the product — the list goes on. If you really want to dive into this route, perhaps this free course of ours can be of some help…

Free course: How to write a business book

How can writing a book revolutionize your business? Only one way to find out.

Like fiction, where story structure can make or break a narrative , nonfiction relies on the reader being able to follow the writer’s leaps of logic. Since nonfiction is all about utility, structure is of the utmost importance in guiding the reader toward the information they need. You want your structure to be coherent but also gripping, so that readers want to read on and remember what they’ve read.

How to Write a Nonfiction Book | Book Writing Software Reedsy Book Editor

Typically, if your book is about a process, or is a how-to, a linear structure makes sense. To make things more exciting for readers, you can also choose to disrupt the linear flow and follow a list or essay structure. Not sure what these structures are? Head on to our guide on how to outline a nonfiction book to find the answers (and more planning tips).

Before you start writing, pick a style guide to follow throughout your book. What’s a style guide, you ask? It’s a set of guidelines to help keep your writing consistent. If you’ve worked with both US English and UK English, you might notice that certain things get spelled differently, i.e. ‘color’ versus ‘colour’. You should choose the variation that best suits your target audience, depending on where they’re based. A manual of style would help ensure you keep to one of those versions, along with some other details like whether you use the Oxford or serial comma, single or double quotation marks, or how to list your references. A popular guide that you might find useful is the Chicago Manual of Style .

Why do things like this matter? Firstly, a proper guide matters to a nonfiction book because this book is supposed to be factual and accurate. Whether you’re writing popular self-help or more academic pieces, referencing will be a crucial part of your credibility, so you’ll want to nail it from the moment you start. Secondly, being consistent as you write will only help you in the editing process, preventing you from having to correct the same mistakes over and over again.

Now the planning’s out of the way, there’s nowhere left to run: it’s time to actually sit down and write your first draft. Luckily, we've got plenty of tips for writing to help you out!

Use storytelling techniques

Almost anything is more comprehensible and memorable when told as a story. Stories are easier to follow along, they get readers invested in the topic and curious about what happens next, and they tend to be more memorable than just hard facts. Which is why you should think about the stories that you can tell through your nonfiction book, and how to get the most out of them.

So when you use anecdotal evidence, think about the person (a.k.a. character) involved, what their motivations and feelings are. How can those motives and sensations be linked to your main point? If you can, the fact that you’re sharing will be that much more meaningful to the reader because they've associated it with a story. Of course, you shouldn’t embellish facts and end up in the realm of fiction, but an eye for narrative detail is a big asset for a nonfiction author.

Hear it from another author: Harry Freedman shared his process with us in this Reedsy Live!

Include dialogue

Continuing on from the previous point, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use dialogue in your nonfiction writing. It’s a given that you’d use it in creative nonfiction, but it’s also a great way to break up dense texts and add a human voice to your book. If you have a transcript or a record of a direct quote, you can write it as dialogue . If not, feel free to refer to what was being said as something you’ve been told, rather than something someone said. The difference is subtle (as you can see in the example below), but either way, including conversations make the writing more accessible and interesting to read.

“I bought a lot of ice cream that week where there was a heatwave,” Joe said. Hot weather makes people crave ice cream — I remember my neighbor, Joe, stocking up in preparation for a heatwave.

Of course, it goes without saying that in academic writing this might not be the most conventional or professional option. But if you have a clear recording of the conversation, and you see the value of including it in your book, then you can do it. Note, however, that the formatting for dialogues in academic writing especially may be different from the ones you see in fiction writing (this is why we cannot emphasize enough the need to find an appropriate editor).

Avoid jargon

This just might be the most important piece of advice we can give you: keep your use of jargon and complicated language to a minimum. This does not mean that you have to cut away every expert term you have in your vocabulary, it just means you should use them mindfully. Remember that you may be writing for a quite a big audience, many of whom might not know what you’re talking about. Not only will they need you to explain the term when you first introduce it, they’ll also be less likely to remember these terms if they’ve only just met them.

As such, you want to minimize the use of jargon in your writing. If there’s a simpler way to express something, use it. It might feel like you’re killing story elements you love , but it will most likely be appreciated by your readers.If you must use specialist vocab, be sure to define it and add refreshers where necessary.

Have a writing schedule

Our final tip is one for your process: create a writing schedule for yourself, whichever fits your own timetable and writing habits the most. Perhaps you have a day job and work best when you have a specific time to write at the end of the day. Or maybe you work better with a monthly goal of finishing certain sections and chapters in mind. Either way, setting out time to write regularly will help you progress and keep you from losing motivation.

If you think learning how to write a nonfiction book is all about the actual writing, you’re forgetting another crucial dimension of the book business: editing. Most manuscripts go through several rounds of revisions before they reach their final form, and the first round should always be a self-edit. So don’t hold back: it’s time for you to ruthlessly edit your book . Here are some of our best tips for you.

Double-check your facts

It should go without saying, but this is probably the most important part of editing your nonfiction book. Whenever you refer to a fact, a historical event, or an argument that another academic has previously made, you have to make sure that it’s accurate. On top of that, you’ll have to add a footnote and reference at the end, listing your sources. You don’t want to be sharing false facts or accused of paraphrasing other’s works!

As such, combing through and checking your facts is essential. It can be quite a tedious task, and you can never be too careful, so having a second pair of eyes on your manuscript is always a good idea.

Perfect your manuscript with professional help

The top nonfiction editors are on Reedsy, and you can meet them for free

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

Cut down on excessive information

While we’re on the topic of facts, let’s talk about being overly informative. Can a book that’s supposed to educate ever be provide too much information? Turns out too much of anything can be bad.

Everything in your book should link back to the main problem that you’re addressing. Sometimes it’s tempting to drop in a fun fact or anecdote that you think readers might find entertaining, but it’s important to balance that with the coherence of your book. So as you reread your first draft, think about the purpose behind the pieces of information you lay out, and remove those that don’t aid in answering the main question of your book.

Shorten your sentences

The style guide you picked at the beginning will probably have you covered in terms of punctuation and grammar. What it can’t cover is your sentence length. Most sentences in first drafts err on the longer side — we tend to use more conjunctions than necessary to connect phrases and ideas that are interlinked. However, it’s often easier for readers to take in the details bit by bit.

Aim for 20-30 words sentences, which should max out at about two lines in the standard Times New Roman, 12-point font. Anything longer than 50 words should be avoided as much as possible.

Looking for more tips to refine your nonfiction writing? Reedsy editor Jenn Lien shared plenty in this seminar!

Self-edits all done? That means you’re ready for the next steps of your publishing journey. The next question to ask yourself is how you’ll be putting this book of yours into the world: will it be through a publisher, or will you produce the book independently? There’s a lot to consider when debating the pros and cons of traditional and self-publishing , but as a nonfiction writer, you might find doing it yourself beneficial, because:

Publishing is much faster without having to go through agents and publishers;
You probably have or are building an online presence already and can use that to effectively get your book out there ;
You get most of the royalties.

That said, we’ll share some tips to get you ready for either pathway below. And if you’re still on the fence about the next steps, maybe this little quiz can help you out!

Is self-publishing or traditional publishing right for you?

Takes one minute!

Self-publishing

If you’ve decided to become an indie author , here are some things you might want to do once you finish your manuscript. (Remember that although you’re self-publishing, you won’t have to do everything by yourself! Professional help is at hand.)

✍ Hire an editor (if you haven’t already). At the risk of sounding like a broken record, we can’t recommend hiring a professional editor enough. A fresh perspective will always help when it comes to the nitty gritty details.

🎨 Work with a professional cover designer. In the digital age, the decision to buy a book is arguably more heavily influenced by the appeal of the cover — it’s the thumbnails on Amazon that do much of the work! Artistic book covers like these are guaranteed to catch the eye of browsers, which is why you should definitely work with a designer.

🌐 Get to know Amazon. We know, its influence on our lives is uncanny, but there’s hardly a better place to reach your audience than Amazon. From printing the books to promoting it, there are all the tools you need on this platform to achieve self-publishing success. This guide on Amazon self-publishing will shed some light on how that can be done.

Traditional publishing

Going down the traditional route means that the publisher will take care of most areas of finishing up the product, from the edit to cover design. However, to get to that point, you’ll need to follow some pretty standard steps.

📬 Query an agent. Most large publishers don’t accept unsolicited submissions from authors, meaning they require representation from a literary agent. Some resources we have for those looking to query are:

How to Write a Nonfiction Query Letter (blog post)
The Best Nonfiction Literary Agents to Submit to (directory)

📖 Submit a book proposal. Together with an agent, you’ll have to pitch a publisher with a book proposal. This proposal includes your book’s synopsis, its target audience and competitive titles, as well as a sample of one or two of the chapters. So while you don’t need a complete manuscript before you submit, a rough draft will no doubt be helpful. For a bit more detail on the process, check out our free course on how to submit a nonfiction proposal.

Free course: How to submit a book proposal

Get publishers excited about your nonfiction book in this 10-day online course.

Now that you know how to write a nonfiction book, the publishing world is your oyster! Whatever path you take, we wish you the best of luck. And if you do decide to publish, we can’t wait to see what you’ve created.

David Irvine says:

05/12/2019 – 16:58

I self-published all my books for free using the Amazon KDP software. It was a bit of a high learning curve but worth the time and effort. You can also create a really nice front cover using their cover creator. Anyway, nice write up with plenty of good tips for writers seeking to get published.

Comments are currently closed.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

We made a writing app for you

Yes, you! Write. Format. Export for ebook and print. 100% free, always.

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

Non-Fiction Book Report Template

Description

Streamline your book report writing with our pre-made template! Cover all the crucial aspects of the book including plot summary, character analysis, and personal opinions. A must-have resource for efficient and effective reporting.

Open with Kami to

Add text, images and videos

Leave interactive annotations

Collaborate in real-time

Assign to students

Edit in offline mode





Share

Related Templates

A essay writing template for students with a hamburger design

Hamburger Writing Template

Our hamburger essay template guides you to structure your thoughts and ideas with a clear intro, body, and conclusion.

8 pARTS of Speech

Use EduProtocols 8pARTS to master the eight parts of speech! Start with a hilarious image to spark vocabulary ideas. Teach together, practice often, and watch students' understanding grow! This versatile tool can even be used for story structure, character analysis, and historical documents.

Newspaper Template

Introduce your students to the world of journalism with this newspaper template. It can be used as a starting point for writing about current events or for publishing their own articles.

A handwriting template for students to practice with a landscape design.

Handwriting Template | Dashed Lines Landscape

This blank handwriting template is perfect for practicing your writing skills!

Explore Kami Library

Tap the on any templates you'd like to mix and match as a new file, totally free.

Download any templates for your K-12 classroom

Ready-to-use

100% accessible, no sign-in needed

Kami-compatible

Use Kami to personalize, assign and grade

Featured Articles
Report Card Comments
Needs Improvement Comments
Teacher's Lounge
New Teachers
Our Bloggers
Article Library
Featured Lessons
Every-Day Edits
Lesson Library
Emergency Sub Plans
Character Education
Lesson of the Day
5-Minute Lessons
Learning Games
Lesson Planning
Subjects Center
Teaching Grammar
Leadership Resources
Parent Newsletter Resources
Advice from School Leaders
Programs, Strategies and Events
Principal Toolbox
Administrator's Desk
Interview Questions
Professional Learning Communities
Teachers Observing Teachers
Tech Lesson Plans
Science, Math & Reading Games
Tech in the Classroom
Web Site Reviews
Creating a WebQuest
Digital Citizenship
All Online PD Courses
Child Development Courses
Reading and Writing Courses
Math & Science Courses
Classroom Technology Courses
A to Z Grant Writing Courses
Spanish in the Classroom Course
Classroom Management
Responsive Classroom
Dr. Ken Shore: Classroom Problem Solver
Worksheet Library
Highlights for Children
Venn Diagram Templates
Reading Games
Word Search Puzzles
Math Crossword Puzzles
Geography A to Z
Holidays & Special Days
Internet Scavenger Hunts
Student Certificates

Newsletter Sign Up

Search form

Make writing a book report on a work of non-fiction a little easier with this template.

Click here: bookreport_nonfiction-download.doc to download the document.

EW Lesson Plans

EW Professional Development

Ew worksheets.

top education news, lesson ideas, teaching tips and more!

No thanks, I don't need to stay current on what works in education!

SchoolNotes.com
The Educator's Network

Writing Non-Fiction Book Reports & Comprehension: What Was? Book Series Club

Teacher Bethanie BA English & Writing TESOL Cert.

What's included

1 live meeting, class experience, us grade 3 - 6, beginner - intermediate level, learning goals.

Other Details

Learning needs, pre-requisites, supply list.

Teacher expertise and credentials

Bachelor's degree in english from marylhurst university, associate's degree in music or theatre or arts from columbia gorge community college, associate's degree in science from columbia gorge community college, live group class, financial assistance , outschool international , get the app .

More to Explore

Classes by age , classes by grade .

Book Report Nonfiction Template

Make it easier to dissect the different sections of the story by editing and customizing this book report nonfiction template from Venngage.

Design style modern
Colors light
Size Letter (8.5 x 11 in)
File type PNG, PDF, PowerPoint

One of the most important parts of reading is understanding the meaning and essence of the book. Dissecting the story into sections and identifying the focal points of each part is crucial to memory retention and reading comprehension. If you want to make reading more fun and enjoyable, a book report outline can help you achieve this goal. A book report nonfiction template can help readers, especially kids, understand and recall the parts of the book better. Non-fiction is a kind of writing based on facts, not fantasy. Non-fiction books talk about events, people, biographies, or historical events that occurred in real life. When reading non-fiction literature, you must always be objective about your approach. Unlike fantasy and make-believe, non-fiction literature relies on facts that trace back to real-life events. Thus, you must always be objective when discussing non-fiction literature. This is where this book report nonfiction template from Venngage becomes handy. Members of academic institutions such as teachers, educators, and librarians can use this book report nonfiction template to create professional-looking, high-quality book reports. Instead of making kids and students write

Related education

Free Template: Preschool Progress Report

IMAGES

Book Report Template
Amazing How To Write A Nonfiction Book Report College Level Quality Control
Nonfiction Book Report Template (2)
Nonfiction Book Report Outline by Leslie Niswonger
Nonfiction Book Report Template
Nonfiction Book Report Template (1)

COMMENTS

Non Fiction Book Report: A Student's Brief Guide to Writing Them
The thought of a non fiction book report may bring to mind early school days. In fact, a parent could easily use this article to help their kids complete one of these report assignments. However, even college students may be asked to review or report on a nonfiction book. Thankfully, the standards for what makes a perfect analysis paper doesn't change across grade levels. The content itself ...
Writing a Book Report in Seven Steps
Are you having trouble writing your book report? Don't worry, you've come to the right place. We're going to give you seven easy steps that'll help you write the perfect book report.
How to Write a Book Report, With Examples
Writing a book report can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Learn how to write a book report, with examples.
How to Write a Book Report: A Step-by-Step Guide
A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we'll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.
How to Write a Nonfiction Book Report for College
Learn expert techniques for writing college nonfiction book reports, with insights from "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks".
How to Write a Nonfiction Book Report
Structure your essay using an outline. The introduction to your report should include the author's name, year of publication and reason for writing the nonfiction novel, if applicable. Hook the reader in the first sentence with an interesting opening, and summarize in a line or two the main theme of the novel to set up the rest of your report ...
How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example)
Tips on how to write a book report for school, plus an in-depth book report example and book report checklist for students.
Book Reports
Book reviews are most often a college assignment, but they also appear in many professional works: magazines, newspapers, and academic journals. If you are looking to write a book review instead of a book report, please see the OWL resource, Writing a Book Review.
How to Write a Nonfiction Book (8 Key Stages)
Writing a book may seem like a daunting process, but it's not so bad. Learning how to write a nonfiction book is something you can do.
Non-fiction Book Report: We Know the Secret
The Non-Fiction Report Definition. It is a kind of book report when your task is to write about a nonfiction book. Many genres are depending on the discipline you study and the requirements of the particular instructor. You may read historic literature, philosophy pieces, self-help books, books about science, space, famous people, and so on.
Writing About Non-Fiction Books
Writing About Non-Fiction Books. At some point in your college career you may be asked to review a non-fiction book to enable you to learn more about some aspect of your course work. The assignment is demanding because you are required to describe and evaluate an author's contribution to a subject that you may know little about.
How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 2024: The Ultimate ...
Discover the secrets to writing a nonfiction book! Learn tips and tricks to create an engaging and well-researched piece of work.
Nonfiction Book Report Templates and Ideas for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade
Book reports are such a great way to encourage the use of many different reading skills with the same text. With one nonfiction text, students can practice skills like identifying main idea and details, analyzing text structure, finding nonfiction text features, summarizing, quoting, paraphrasing, finding the author's purpose, citing text evidence, etc. The list goes on and on!
How to Write a Nonfiction Book: A Step-by-Step Guide for Authors
Writing a nonfiction book requires careful planning and specific writing techniques. Learn how to write a nonfiction book from Boni Wagner-Stafford.
How to Write a Nonfiction Book
How the Nonfiction Authors Association can help you write your book: Connect you with ghostwriters, editors, and book coaches. Download our free report: How to Write a Nonfiction Book (Fast!) Consider our Author Toolkit on Writing Nonfiction. Read our blog posts about writing nonfiction. Listen to our free weekly podcast events.
PDF Quick Reference Guide to Writing a Nonfiction Manuscript
You've decided to write a book. Congratulations! Now what? When you're first setting out to write a book— particularly if it's your first book—it can be difficult to know where to begin. The idea for your book may have been burning in your mind for years, or perhaps you've just gotten the idea from clients or colleagues urging you to write something that could benefit your business or ...
How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 6 Steps
The waiting period is over, it's finally time to write that manuscript. Learn exactly how to write a nonfiction book in this comprehensive guide!
Non-Fiction Book Report Template
Streamline your book report writing with our pre-made template! Cover all the crucial aspects of the book including plot summary, character analysis, and personal opinions. A must-have resource for efficient and effective reporting.
How to Write a Nonfiction Book: 9 Nonfiction Book Structures to Consider
Nonfiction requires a bit more focus, though. And depending on what kind of nonfiction book you're writing, some structures will work better than others. Below, we'll break down nine nonfiction book structures you should consider when determining how to write a nonfiction book that works for your subject matter and target readers.
DOC Non-Fiction Book Report Template
Make writing a book report on a work of non-fiction a little easier with this template.
Writing Non-Fiction Book Reports & Comprehension: What Was ...
Test Prep. Writing Non-Fiction Book Reports & Comprehension: What Was? Book Series Club. In this ongoing weekly book report club, students will first read the What Was? or Where Is? book of the week before class, then review the book in class while creating a strong book report. Teacher Bethanie BA English & Writing TESOL Cert.
Book Report Nonfiction Template
A book report nonfiction template can help readers, especially kids, understand and recall the parts of the book better. Non-fiction is a kind of writing based on facts, not fantasy.