How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 2025
A guide to your publishing path, writing outline, and first steps as an author.
Are you ready to write your nonfiction book?
Maybe you’re a speaker, executive consultant, or coach who wants to:
Demonstrate your subject matter expertise through client stories and research to set yourself apart.
Deliver a life-altering message or methodology that shifts how your industry and audience thinks.
Attract higher-ticket and more aligned clients who seek out your offers after resonating with your book and philosophy.
Whatever brings you here, welcome! Writing a book is one of the most profound and impactful projects you’ll endeavor – whether you want to publish a book to grow your business, share an important story, or amplify your impact.
But the book-writing process is overwhelming.
When you start researching, you’ll find endless (and often conflicting) advice on the publishing and writing process. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and wonder, “where do I even begin?”
This guide is here to simplify the process and help you take the right first steps to writing a nonfiction book. You’ll learn how to:
Choose your publishing path
Decide on your nonfiction book topic
Organize your ideas in a detailed outline
Build your reader audience
These are the foundational steps every aspiring nonfiction author should take before writing a single word. So you can write a book that’s aligned with your vision and positioned for success.
👋 I’m your guide, Allegra – a nonfiction book coach and developmental editor.
If questions come up as you read, you can book a free discovery call with me to get personalized feedback on your book idea, publishing path, and next steps.
Determine Your Publishing Path
If you’re planning to write a nonfiction book this year, your first instinct might be to dive straight into writing. But before you start putting words on the page, it’s essential to research and decide on your publishing industry path.
The first steps you take will look very different depending on which route you choose.
In some cases, you begin by outlining and drafting your book right away. In others, you first need to develop market-ready materials, such as a book proposal or sample chapters.
That’s why the first step is to explore is your publishing strategy, aka, how you plan to bring your book to market. There are three main paths to become a published author:
Self-publishing
Traditional publishing
Hybrid publishing
Let’s break them down.
Self-Publishing
Self-publishing means you act as your own publisher. You retain full ownership of your book and manage every step of the process — from editing and design to distribution and marketing.
Platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and BookBaby make it possible to publish your nonfiction book independently and distribute to audiences on your own.
Benefits:
You maintain complete creative control over your content, title, and cover design.
You keep a larger percentage of royalties from each book sale.
You can publish on your own timeline without waiting for approval from agents or publishers.
Drawbacks:
You’re responsible for all upfront costs, including professional editing, cover design, and formatting.
You’ll also need to manage marketing and distribution — or hire professionals to help.
You must monitor and ensure the quality of your book on your own.
Next Step:
If you decide to self-publish, start by researching reputable service providers or self-publishing agencies for editing, cover design, and formatting.
Since you won’t need to create a book proposal, you can move straight into conceptualizing, outlining, and writing your nonfiction manuscript.
I recommend starting with a Book Blueprint.
This is the signature method I use with book-coaching clients to lay the foundational elements of your book outline.
This includes your audience, core message, market positioning, publishing plan, and more. So you can start writing your full manuscript with confidence.
Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing means working with a publishing house that handles editing, design, printing, distribution, and some marketing on your behalf.
To secure a book deal, most nonfiction authors first partner with a literary agent, who pitches your book to publishers using a nonfiction book proposal.
Here are the key players and steps in this process:
Develop your nonfiction book proposal.
Write query letters.
Pitch literary agents.
Once you secure an agent, they pitch publishers on your behalf.
Benefits:
You gain credibility and visibility by being published under a recognized imprint.
Your publisher covers the production and distribution costs.
You have access to an experienced editorial and marketing team.
Drawbacks:
It can take 12–24 months (or longer) from pitch to publication.
You’ll need to give up some creative control and a portion of royalties.
The process is highly competitive — most publishers only accept agented submissions.
Next Step:
If you decide to pursue traditional publishing, your next step is to create a nonfiction book proposal (before writing your whole manuscript).
A book proposal is the document you use to pitch literary agents and publishers — it outlines your concept, market, platform, and more.
📘 Important note: This advice applies to narrative nonfiction and business books such as how-to guides, self-help books, leadership, or wellness titles.
If you’re writing a memoir, the general rule of thumb is to complete your manuscript first before pitching agents.
Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing blends elements of traditional and self-publishing.
You typically pay an upfront investment to the hybrid publisher, and in return, they provide professional editing, design, and distribution.
You maintain more control than with traditional publishing, while benefiting from a guided, done-for-you process.
Benefits:
You receive professional support without needing an agent or approval process.
You retain higher royalties and some creative control.
Your book benefits from quality production and distribution through established channels.
Drawbacks:
You’ll still pay upfront fees, similar to hiring a publishing team.
Not all hybrid publishers are reputable — some operate more like vanity presses.
You may still need to lead your own marketing efforts after launch.
Next Step:
If you decide to go the hybrid route, start by researching credible hybrid publishers (such as She Writes Press, Greenleaf Book Group, or Amplify Publishing).
Review their submission requirements, service packages, and royalty structures carefully before signing a contract.
Bonus Publishing Tip: Tap Your Network!
When exploring how to publish your book, don’t overlook the connections you already have.
Some of the best publishing opportunities can come from your existing professional or academic network. For example:
One of my clients landed a deal with a business publisher through his professional network — a contact he’d met years earlier at a conference who later introduced him to the editorial team.
Another is collaborating with her alma mater’s university press, which is supporting her through the self-publishing process with their editorial and distribution resources.
Before you start pitching agents or researching hybrid publishers, take inventory of your own community.
Is there anyone in your network who has published a book recently? Ask if they are open to sharing their experience and any publishing contacts with you.
Decide on Your Nonfiction Book Topic
Your book idea, or core message, is the central theme that the rest of the book stems from. It’s the guiding light that you filter all of your ideas through.
Defining the one main idea for your book keeps your writing focused and digestible – which makes it easier to write and more likely to resonate with your audience.
To help my book-coaching clients, I developed a nonfiction book-idea formula.
Maybe your topic is already clear and that’s why you’re here. (If that’s the case, you can skip ahead to the next section. Still, you may want to read through this formula to double-check that you’ve chosen the right potential topic.)
The Book Idea Formula consists of three key areas:
Your expertise/what you want to be known for
The transformation you help your audience achieve
The way your book gets readers interested in your business
Let’s break these down.
1. Your Expertise/What You Want to Be Known For
This is your zone of genius aka the work you’ve spent years mastering, the ideas you’re regularly hired for, or the topics you could talk about all day.
It might be the heart of your current business or the area you’re ready to step into more fully.
Ask yourself:
What am I already recognized for?
What topics do I want to be associated with long-term?
If someone introduced me as “the go-to expert on _____,” what would I want that blank to say?
Your book is a chance to plant your flag and stake your reputation in the area you want to lead.
2. The Transformation You Help Your Audience Achieve
Your passion is important, but a successful business book also delivers a clear outcome for your reader.
What shift, insight, or result are you helping them create? (As it relates to your expertise).
The transformation should be clear, compelling, and relevant to the audience you want to reach.
Ask yourself:
What journey am I taking the reader on?
What pain point or challenge am I helping them solve?
What is the “before” and “after” for my reader?
Whether it's clarity, confidence, systems, healing, or inspiration, the transformation is the emotional and practical why behind your book.
3. What Will Get Your Readers Interested in Your Business
This is where your book connects to the bigger picture of your brand.
Do you want to attract more coaching clients? Sell out workshops? Be invited to speak on stages? Then your book should naturally lead readers toward those offers.
For example, if you want to launch a career as a motivational speaker, writing a technical how-to guide on talent development might not align with your goals – even if you could write it well.
Ask yourself:
What part of my business do I want to grow?
What kind of clients or opportunities do I want this book to attract?
What would I love to be asked to do more of after this book comes out?
You might be thinking, “But how do I choose just one focus when I’m an expert in many things?”
Give yourself permission to write multiple books over time (if you want to).
You don’t need to pack every idea you’ve ever had into this one. What you do need is clarity on the single, core message this book will deliver.
How to Create Your Book Map
Depending on your publishing path, you’ll start with one of two key documents:
A Book Proposal (for traditional publishing)
A Book Map or Outline (for self or hybrid publishing)
While these formats look slightly different, they share the same purpose: to organize your ideas and establish a clear foundation for your book.
Let’s talk about how to do that with a Book Blueprint.
Your Book Blueprint is the tool that helps you clarify your purpose, structure your ideas, and connect your message to your ideal reader.
Think of it as your pre-writing roadmap that ensures every chapter supports your larger goals.
Here’s how to begin building yours:
Part 1: Book Foundations
Define Your Why
Write one page about why you want to write this book — both the external motivations (career growth, impact, authority) and internal ones (personal fulfillment, legacy, clarity).
This helps you stay connected to your deeper purpose throughout the writing process — especially when momentum dips.
Establish Your Credibility
Why are you the right person to write this book? In one page, capture your unique perspective, experience, or framework that makes your voice essential to the topic.
This strengthens your author brand and lays the groundwork for your book proposal or marketing messaging later.
Clarify Your Core Message
What’s the main point or promise of your book? Summarize it in one or two sentences.
This is the heartbeat of your project — everything else should tie back to this central idea.
Visualize Your Book’s Shelf Placement
Imagine your book in a bookstore. Which section is it in — leadership, self-help, business, personal development, wellness?This exercise helps you identify your genre and ideal audience segment for positioning and marketing.
Explore Title Ideas
Brainstorm at least ten title and subtitle combinations, then highlight your top contender.
Your working title doesn’t have to be final — but thinking about it early helps you define your tone and target reader.
Part 2: Your Potential Readers
Define Your Ideal Reader Profile
Who is your ideal reader? Consider their age, location, profession, income, education level, and other key demographics.
This builds a clear picture of who you’re speaking to — the more specific you get, the stronger your connection will be.
Understand Their Inner World
What keeps them up at night? What do they want most? What’s holding them back?
Your book should meet them at the intersection of their biggest challenge and deepest desire.
Describe Their Transformation
What problem or pain point does your reader have when they come to your book — and what will change for them by the end?
This helps you frame your content as a journey of growth, not just a transfer of information.
Research Comparable Titles
List ten books that speak to a similar audience or topic. Narrow that list to the five that best contextualize your book.
Knowing your “comp titles” helps you identify what’s missing in the market — and where your book fits in.
Plan How You’ll Reach Them
How will you connect with your readers — through speaking, podcasts, social media, newsletters, partnerships, or your existing clients?
Your outreach strategy ensures your book gets read by the right people.
Part 3: Design a Structure
Choose Your Framework
Select a structure that fits your book’s content — linear, thematic, chronological, or problem-solution. Decide whether it will follow a chronological order or different timeframe.
Our structure is the skeleton that holds your ideas together — you can always refine it later.
Draft a Simple Table of Contents
Sketch out your chapter outline or main sections in one page. Keep it high-level for now.
This gives you an aerial view of your content and flow before diving into the writing.
Name Your Chapters
Create clear, engaging chapter titles that reflect each section’s purpose or promise.
This helps you start thinking like a marketer — each chapter should capture attention and curiosity.
Summarize Each Chapter
Write one sentence describing what each chapter covers and why it matters to the reader.
Doing this early ensures every chapter serves a purpose and moves the reader closer to the transformation you promised.
As you finalize your mind map, also consider where you might include real-world examples or case studies that bring your ideas to life.
A well-placed case study shows readers how your methods work in practice and the transformation you help clients achieve. This goes a long way if you’re hoping that your non fiction book generates leads for your business.
Build Your Audience
Building your audience is one of the most important steps to launching a successful book. You’ll need an engaged readership no matter which publishing path you choose.
While traditional publishers help with distribution, they still expect you to bring a platform. Outlining your audience size and marketing plan is a key part of a strong book proposal and often determines whether you’ll land a traditional book deal.
If you’re self-publishing, the responsibility for generating awareness and sales rests entirely on you. Either way, your audience is the foundation of becoming a well-known author.
Marketing and audience-building are key.
If you don’t have a way to reach your target audience yet, I recommend starting a blog or newsletter to start testing your ideas and building your reader community (especially your email list!).
Substack is a great place for this because it’s an online database where you can get in front of new people and collect email subscribers at the same time.
Work With a Nonfiction Book Coach to Help You Write and Publish Your Book
As a nonfiction book coach and developmental editor – I help entrepreneurs, speakers, and consultants like you turn your expertise into a brand-building nonfiction book.
Working together is the bridge between where you are now and either landing a traditional book deal or self-publishing your book.
A few ways I can help you:
Book Blueprint. Clarify your book idea, ideal reader, market positioning, and core structure — the foundation for a book that stands out.
Writing Coaching. Receive editorial feedback, accountability, and monthly check-ins to help you stay focused and on track.
Nonfiction Book Proposal. Develop a market-ready proposal designed to capture the attention of literary agents and publishers.
Want support to write a nonfiction book in 2025? Book a free discovery call to learn how I can best support your writing and publishing journey.
I can’t wait to help you bring your book to life!
