Last week, I made a list of thirty-seven questions every fiction writer should ask herself before sending her novel out the door. This week, I’ll do the same for non-fiction. Whether you’ve written a how-to book, a business bible, or a parenting guide, here are thirty-seven ways to make sure your book is the best it can be before you show it to the world.
For the book as a whole, ask yourself:
-Is my book organized in a logical way?
-Does the order of chapters make sense?
-Do I know my key messages and have I expressed them clearly?
-Can I describe my book in ten words or less?
-Can I identify where my book would be shelved in a bookstore?
-Do I know my target audience?
-Have I tailored my language and writing style to appeal to this audience?
-Can I name other books that are similar to mine?
For each chapter, ask yourself:
-Does this chapter have a clear purpose?
-Does this chapter have a compelling title and subtitle?
-Have I communicated my key points clearly?
-Have I covered my subject in enough detail?
-Have I gone into too much detail?
-Have I included compelling anecdotes, examples, or facts?
-Am I confident about the points I’m making?
-Would I be willing to defend these points in a radio or print interview?
-Do the paragraphs flow logically?
-Have I eliminated vague language and run-on sentences?
-Is the style consistent throughout?
For the nit-picky details, ask yourself:
-Have I included accurate citations for my sources?
-Have I fact-checked my information?
-If I’ve quoted numbers or statistics, am I positive they’re accurate?
-If I’ve conducted interviews, am I positive I haven’t misquoted anyone?
-Have I checked the copyright laws about quoting from books, song lyrics, movies or TV shows?
-Do I hold copyright or have I gotten permission for any images or photographs used in the book?
-Have I gotten someone to proofread my work?
-Do I need a copyeditor to help me fix errors in grammar, usage, language and style?
-Is my manuscript formatted correctly?
-If there are charts or images, do they fit nicely on the page?
-Have I made an index or had it made by someone else?
-Are the fonts and font sizes consistent throughout?
-Are the key points boxed or highlighted? Should they be?
For the title, ask yourself:
-Does my title convey the book’s promise in the most effective way?
-Is my title vague, confusing, offensive, or awkward to say out loud?
-Will I regret this title when it’s time for radio interviews?
-Does my title speak to my target audience?
-Will my title make people want to read the back cover?
