{"id":4934,"date":"2023-01-06T09:50:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T09:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.novlr.org\/?p=4934"},"modified":"2023-01-09T13:26:24","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T13:26:24","slug":"writing-business-books-strategies-for-creating-compelling-non-fiction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.novlr.org\/the-reading-room\/writing-business-books-strategies-for-creating-compelling-non-fiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing Business Books: Creating Compelling Non-Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Business books are instructional books that offer advice on how to be more successful at work or in business. They aim to offer the reader practical tips and wisdom about how to build a successful company, how to manage and lead teams within organizations, and how to get ahead at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business books almost always aim to help the reader solve a problem they might have, and as such, it\u2019s important that the title and cover make it really clear what that problem is, and that the book delivers on that promise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What goes into a business book?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An increasingly large portion of bestselling business books are focused on entrepreneurship and seek to deliver key lessons about how to set up and scale a new company. But most business books offer more generalized advice for the majority of people who work within companies and want help getting ahead in their career, whatever their industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business books explore things like how to develop successful habits, how to be productive, how to think more creatively, how to ensure your company is innovative, how to collaborate with others, how to manage people effectively, and how to be a good leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business books address both the \u2018soft\u2019 skills needed to get ahead at work, like how to talk to people, how to get along with a horrible boss, and how to pitch your idea or speak confidently. But they also cover the \u2018hard\u2019 skills you might need to succeed, like how to negotiate effectively and how to code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prove your worth <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most business books are practical – they use case studies, research, and personal experience to provide the reader with concrete advice they can apply to their own work situations. Lots of books in this genre use diagrams, illustrations, breakout boxes, and bespoke elements that break up the text and help to explain key concepts or highlight important steps the reader needs to take to improve a certain skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most business books are instructive in style with tips, tricks, and tools, they can also be more narrative-led. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autobiographies or biographies of great business figures are very popular with business readers. While you might not see breakout boxes outlining the top five steps to scaling your startup in a memoir or biography of a successful entrepreneur, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll still learn a lot from reading about these people\u2019s stories through revelations about the key turning points, failures, challenges, and wins on their path to success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who should write a business book?  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Business books are usually written by experts in their field, whether an academic who specializes in business studies, a seasoned entrepreneur who has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share, or a journalist who has researched a company or person to demystify their path to success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business books might have some crossover with psychology or smart-thinking books, careers, and personal development<\/a>, depending on their focus and approach.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for writing business books<\/h2>\n\n\n\n