How to Write a Successful Nonfiction Book
An Insider’s Guide to Writing Better, Faster, and with More Confidence
Wouldn’t it be great to feel confident in your ideas and your ability to reach your reader when you sit down to write?
Wouldn’t you love to make timely progress through your manuscript, or write a clear and compelling first draft? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have two highly experienced editors and ghostwriters—of NYT and WSJ bestsellers—help you develop your nonfiction book, step by step?
That's exactly what you'll find in this expert-led course that offers on-demand writing coaching. With each lesson, we will work to make your writing process easier and your decisions clearer. We'll help you feel less overwhelmed and more focused.
We're Lari Bishop and Sally Collings—editors, ghostwriters, and writing coaches who have written more than 50 books between us and coached authors through many, many more. And in this course, we share our decades of experience developing successful nonfiction books to help you do the same. Here's how.
Through your successful nonfiction book, we'll help you achieve your goals, build your reputation and credibility, and expand your influence.
- Better decisions: Know exactly what you're writing, who you're writing for, and why they care.
- Faster drafts: Don't waste time on content that doesn't align with your goals or your readers' needs.
- Compelling content: Avoid the most common pitfalls—lack of clarity, balance, and reader engagement.
- Stronger pitch: Develop the foundation you need for a strong book proposal.
Discover how to develop the essential elements of good nonfiction and make the entire writing process easier.
- Get to know your reader and develop a clear message and a compelling promise
- Leverage market research and plan for platform development.
- Discover your authentic author persona and writer’s voice.
- Structure your ideas and create an outline you can actually use
- Start writing engaging content!
These are the same elements we tackle with every book we write—and that editors and agents want to see. In their enthusiasm to dive into writing, many authors skip over the essentials, and it shows. But when you cement them early in your writing process, the benefits are huge.
The most important writing decisions you’ll make are here, and we’ll guide you through them.
What will you get with this course?
- 16 detailed video or audio lessons, most with both of us in conversation, so you get more than one perspective
- An incredible workbook and guide—in Google Doc or Microsoft Word format—with the same exercises we use with our clients and robust guides to the ideas we share in the lessons
- Lifetime access to the course, so you can use it with your next book and the next
- Access to an online writers' group where you can find peer support from authors like you, occasional expert interviews, and more
Still have questions?
Get started now!
Frequently Asked Questions
About Lari Bishop:
For more than 25 years, I've worked as an editor, ghostwriter, and writing coach, specializing in the development of ideas and the creation of all forms of written content, but especially books. As a ghostwriter, I've written more than twenty-five books, including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and national bestsellers. I began my journey in book publishing with John Wiley & Sons and then spent almost a decade with Greenleaf Book Group, a hybrid publisher. I have worked in a wide variety of nonfiction genres, including business, personal development, psychology, and public policy. I hold an economics degree from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in journalism from New York University. I live in Austin, Texas, and escape to Maine, where I grew up, as much as possible.
Here's what some of the people I've worked with have to say about me:
"I was lucky to have Lari Bishop as my editor. She helped me find simplicity on the far side of complexity and make tough decisions about my content and brand." —Tasha Eurich, NYT bestselling author, leadership expert and coach
"Lari Bishop's contributions to The Constant Choice were immense. Our struggle to weave story and philosophy into an engaging book was solved with her guidance and care." —Peter Georgescu, Chairman Emeritus of Young & Rubicam, author, speaker
About Sally Collings:
With 20+ years’ experience in book publishing, I know what makes a great book—and I know how to write them. Former non-fiction publisher for HarperCollins and editorial director for Amber Books, I now work as a ghostwriter and developmental editor, crafting award-winning books and bestsellers for the world’s leading publishing houses as well as for private clients. I have a passion for creating stories with a purpose: leadership strategies for family businesses, member stories for a charity, a father-son health odyssey. My specialty is writing tactical, informative books that rely on first-person accounts to bring home their message.
My author clients are represented at a number of agencies, including Park & Fine Literary & Media, Talcott Notch Literary, The Palgon Company, and Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Some have published with HarperBusiness, St. Martin’s Press, Simon & Schuster, and Chronicle Books, while others have successfully self-published their books or worked with leading hybrid publishers.
Born in Australia, I now call Northern California home, and I get my kicks running through the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Here’s what clients and editors say about me:
“Sally Collings came in after I had written three chapters in seven months and took the reins and crossed the t’s and dotted the I’s and asked the good questions that needed to be asked without ever getting in the way.”
Shay Butler, digital entrepreneur & vlogger, author of bestselling Fat Dad, Fat Kid
“Sally finds solutions and meets deadlines. She is a pleasure to work with. A brilliant editor.”
– Philippa Sandall, co-author of New York Times bestselling New Glucose Revolution book series