Advanced Nonfiction: Writing the Nonfiction Book

MPW 925, Fall, 2008 Advanced Nonfiction: Writing the Nonfiction Book #39208 Tuesdays 4-6:40 p.m., WPH 200 Madelyn Cain-Inglese [email protected] [email protected] 323.874.7233

Course Description: The purpose of this class is to help you in the preparation of a nonfiction book. To that end we will work to create a nonfiction book proposal, a necessity in the sale of any nonfiction book.

Course Objective: You will outline your book, write the first chapter as well as write a précis, a review of promotion, a review of the competition, create chapter outlines of your book and an authors biography.

Attendance: Attendance is essential as each class is devoted to a specific topic. If an absence is unavoidable, the student must phone the instructor prior to the class. Classes start promptly and generally end at the stated time. Please do not come late or leave early as it is disruptive to the class. Unexcused absence(s) will result in a grade reduction or an incomplete grade.

Grading: Grades will be based on the following criteria: Attendance, active participation in class and meeting given deadlines for assignments are required to secure grades. Work of publishable material will receive an A. Work that is of excellent quality but which requires more rewriting will receive a B. Unpublishable work will receive a C grade or lower. Your grade will be based on the following: Attendance and participation 15% Written critique of other’s works 25% Homework (including revisions) 35% Final version of revised Proposal 25%

Workshopping: Each week we will review each writer’s work. Workshopping gives you, the writer, feedback on the content, tone and direction of your work. It allows you to find out what’s working, what needs retooling and to ask direct questions about your work i.e. “Did you understand what I meant by ______? Should I say more about ______?” It is each writer’s responsibility to offer insights into what they read, to neither remain silent nor to offer bland approval. We are here to excite the writer’s imagination with new ideas as well as support the writer on his or her creative journey. Offering our reactions to work can be a stimulating and creative experience for both the critic and the writer.

Overview: Since 85% of all books sold are non-fiction, a great way to become a published author is by writing a non-fiction book (75% of all non-fiction books are by first time writers). Virtually all non-fiction books, even those completely written, are sold via the proposal. The proposal provides a publisher with a quick, effective way of knowing three things: Is your book sellable in today’s market? Are you the person qualified to write this book? Are you a good writer?

Publishers look for a book proposal that excites them. They want to buy books; that’s their job. Your job is to convince them to buy your book.

STUDENTS WHO ARE REPEATING THIS CLASS WILL CONTINUE WITH THEIR SAMPLE CHAPTERS AND REWRITES OF OTHER SECTIONS OF THE PROPOSAL.

August 26: A discussion about the selling of books today plus a review of what goes into creating a proposal. We will identify and focus in on your topic. HOMEWORK: Researching your book idea in libraries, bookstores and online. Write the first two pages of your book. (Additional sequential two pages are due every week).

September 2: What is your competition? How do you create a niche? HOMEWORK: About the Competition.

September 9: A look at the necessary elements of an overview. How to research. HOMEWORK: About the Market.

September 16: Ways you can promote your book. HOMEWORK: About the Promotion.

September 23: Defending why you should be the person to write this book. Do you need to be an expert? HOMEWORK: About the Overview.

September 30: The importance of brevity. Condensing your idea into two sentences and two paragraphs HOMEWORK: About the Author.

October 7: Outlining your book. Techniques for outlining that are suited to your project. HOMEWORK: About the Outline. October 14: Interviewing techniques. HOMEWORK: Proposal Table of Contents & About the Manuscript.

October 21: . How to write your query letter. HOMEWORK: Create your query.

October 28: Finding an agent. How to search for someone to represent your work. HOMEWORK: Find five agents to pitch. Revised About the Competition.

November 4: Which chapter to write? Choosing what will be the most effective chapter. HOMEWORK: Revised About the Promotion.

November 11: Now that the basic elements are known, it is time to write your Précis. HOMEWORK: Revised Overview.

November 18: Organizing research materials, methods to safeguard your work. HOMEWORK: Revised Chapter Outlines.

November 18: How to proceed now that you know where you are going. The importance of flexibility. HOMEWORK: Revised Full Chapter, About the Manuscript & About the Author.

November 25: Your completed proposal is due to me no later than one week after the last class. If you wish to have your work returned to you over the break, you must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope, otherwise your papers will be left in your MPW mailbox.

PLEASE NOTE: EACH WEEK WE WILL SPEND TIME WORKSHOPPING YOUR MATERIAL TO DEFINE AND PERFECT IT. YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR READING AND COMMENTING ON FELLOW STUDENT’S MATERIAL IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.

Statement for Students with Disabilities: Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Statement on Academic Integrity: USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/ Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/

PLEASE NOTE: This syllabus is subject to change depending upon the needs of the class.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:

A Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker Bedford Books The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. & E.B. White Macmillan Publishing Stein on Writing by Sol Stein St. Martin’s Press On Writing Well by William Zunsser Quill – A Harper’s Resource Book The Craft of Research by Wayne Booth, et al. The University of Chicago Press Thinking Like Your Editor by Susan Rabiner & Alfred Fortunato W.W. Norton & Company How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen Writer’s Digest Books The Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book by Susan Page Broadway Books Synonym Finder by J.J. Rodale Warner Books 2008 Writer’s Market Writer’s Digest Books A Writer’s Guide to Getting it Right by Bill Bryson Broadway Books Woe is I by Patricia T. O’Conner Riverhead Books Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss Gotham Books Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Pantheon Book proposals contain seven key elements. In the course of this semester you will create:

*About the Book A one page précis which details the purpose of your book, identifies your audience, places the book on the appropriate shelf in the bookstore, and pitches the uniqueness of your book in a compelling way.

*About the Competition This section helps a publisher see how your book provides new material/insight on your topic by comparing and contrasting your book against those currently on the shelf.

*About the Author Publishers want to know why you are the perfect person to write this book. This section, effectively written, answers that question.

*About the Promotion It is critical in today’s market to know who is going to buy your book and how that audience is going to be reached. In this section you specifically lay out ways for the publisher to sell the book as well as what you also will do to help sell your book.

*About the Manuscript The length of your book and the timeline needed for completion are stated in this important section.

*Chapter Outlines Each chapter of your book requires a strong paragraph description detailing what will be included. This gives an editor of sense of the layout, and the scope of the book.

*Sample Chapters Two to three sample chapters, which provide the publisher with writing that whets their appetite, is essential to the sale of your book. Choosing what chapters to include is critical.

Clean, concise, compelling writing, coupled with unique approaches for selling your book will help you create a book that will sell. We will cover all these elements in the class.

*According to Writer’s Digest

There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith