6 Reasons Why You Should Write a Prescriptive Nonfiction Book
September 6, 2022
The term “prescriptive nonfiction” may not mean much to you, but there’s no doubt that you have come across this genre of books more than once.
A prescriptive nonfiction book is a guide, written by an expert in a particular field, which provides people with the knowledge to solve their problems and challenges. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to lose weight, save money, or improve your relationships, this book will teach you the steps necessary to succeed.
One of the best things about a prescriptive nonfiction book is that it gives readers step-by-step instructions on accomplishing specific tasks. It provides detailed information on how to perform particular actions. This kind of book is prevalent because it helps readers triumph in different areas of their lives.
Types of Prescriptive Nonfiction Books
Nonfiction books are generally either descriptive or prescriptive. We’ll be focusing on the two types of prescriptive nonfiction books:
- How-to books
- Self-help books
How-to Books
How-to books typically focus on teaching readers how to complete a task. These books usually include step-by-step directions on how to perform a particular action.
As an expert in a field like plumbing, for example, you should be able to write a how-to book on fixing a plumbing problem. Your book could include the best types of plumbing materials needed for a particular plumbing system as well as the steps to follow to successfully fix the plumbing problem.
Self-help Books
Self-help books, on the other hand, focus on helping readers understand themselves better. They often contain exercises designed to help readers discover new insights into who they are and how they live their lives.
For example, a self-help book on losing weight may contain exercises such as journaling, meditation, and workout routines.
Who should consider writing a prescriptive nonfiction book?
Anyone who wants to share their knowledge with others can consider writing a prescriptive nonfiction book. Such a person might be:
A professional writer who has experience creating content for websites, blogs, magazines, newspapers, and books.
If you want to be seen as an expert in your field, then creating prescriptive nonfiction content is one of the best ways to do it.
When people turn to search engines for information about a particular topic, they’re typically looking for someone who can help them solve their problem—they’re looking for answers.
If you can demonstrate that you know how to find answers by having some related articles published online, then people will see you as an expert in your field and will look to you first when they need help.
An expert in an area of study who wants to share their expertise with others.
If you’re an expert in an area, there are countless reasons why you might want to write a book.
From improving your professional image to building credibility among peers, writing is one of best ways to add depth to your expertise while also establishing yourself as an authority on a particular subject.
Because prescriptive nonfiction books deal with real-world solutions to problems, they are incredibly useful for generating new opportunities.
Someone who is passionate about a subject and wants to share their knowledge with others.
If you’re passionate about a subject and want to share your knowledge with others, writing a prescriptive nonfiction book can be a wonderful way to do it.
Being passionate about a subject means that you understand it in great detail. You become an expert because of your experiences, knowledge, and time spent on educating yourself about your topic.
6 Reasons Why You Should Write a Prescriptive Nonfiction Book
Writing a book isn’t easy, but it can be a great way to earn money and build a personal brand at the same time. While there are several reasons why you might want to write a prescriptive nonfiction book, we’ve put together some of the best:
1. Share knowledge with others.
If you have years of knowledge about a topic, then consider sharing it with others in your industry.
Writing and publishing a prescriptive nonfiction book can be very rewarding on both an emotional and monetary level. It should include key pieces of information that help people solve problems.
A prescriptive nonfiction book takes your specialized knowledge and puts it into an easy-to-understand format.
2. Teach others how to be successful.
If you have valuable, hard-won experience, share it with others. Whether you’re sharing an insider’s look at your industry or drawing on life lessons to help other people avoid common pitfalls, prescriptive nonfiction is a great way to put your expertise into words. If you want to know what topics will be popular in any given year, take a look at recent bestsellers.
3. Build a brand around your expertise.
By writing a prescriptive nonfiction book, you’re building your own personal brand and developing expertise in a field. Your name is on that cover, so you’ll have instant credibility among peers who see it in bookstores or who read it on their Kindles.
4. Be known as an expert in your field.
If you’re knowledgeable in your field, people will come to you for advice. They’ll refer their friends and family to you, and they’ll be more likely to buy from or work with you because they see you as an expert. A prescriptive nonfiction book can help position you as an authority figure in your industry and your advice can help your audience, too.
Writing a prescriptive nonfiction book can be useful in establishing you as an expert and building relationships with potential clients. Writing books is one of those tasks that everyone knows is good for business, but very few act on it. By choosing to write a prescriptive nonfiction book, you are establishing yourself as an authority who has something of value to say. Clients will see you as someone they should partner with because they know your expertise in your subject matter, and they believe in your message.
5. Get hired to speak at events.
As you’re writing and marketing your book, be sure to include that you are available to speak at events (book signings, conferences, and other occasions). Take advantage of free speaking opportunities if they arise. If you can secure paid gigs, even better! These types of engagements will help get your name out there and can lead to other opportunities.
6. Earn money from selling your book.
If you get enough people to buy your published prescriptive nonfiction book, you can make some money doing so.
If you have expertise in a certain area and want to share your knowledge with others, writing a book is an excellent way to get paid for it—and potentially land speaking engagements as well.
