Here are some practical tips to help you get started on your non-fiction writing project, along with three examples to illustrate how you can bring these ideas to life.
We’ll start with the practical tips
Commit to your project. As Jim Rohn once said,
“Motivation is what gets you started. Commitment is what keeps you going.”
Without commitment there will be no action. Make you project a priority and schedule time to work on it.
Choose a comfortable place to write. Some prefer to use technology; others choose to handwrite their first draft in a dedicated notebook and transcribe it later. Whatever method you favour, it’s important to develop a system for labelling, storing and retrieving your work, which includes photographs and other relevant documentation.
Invest in a pack of Post It notes.
Decide on the focus of your story. Establish a clear start and endpoint for your project to maintain focus and prevent digressions.
Structuring your project – three examples
Use your Post It notes to map out the elements of your story. Capture each idea, event and their significance on separate Post It notes, and add a little detail about the context of the time and the people involved. Assign working titles to each of these topics and place these notes in order on a blank page.
Or create a mind map to guide the structure and development of your project.
Alternatively, reflect on and make a list of the key events and moments that will form the backbone of your narrative. This will form the plan that will guide the shape of your project.
To illustrate, here is as example for capturing a travel story. There are four basic components to consider. The planning phase; the reality of the trip – the adventure; a reflection on the trip – what you’ll document, and how you will structure your travel story.
The planning phase
Most of us spend considerable time planning the details for our trips. This includes but is not limited to:
• Who we’ll travel with.
• Where we’ll go and why.
• What we’ll do on route and when we get to our destination.
• When we’ll go on this trip and why.
• Transport options/choices.
• Accommodation.
• Budget.
• Luggage – what we’ll take with us and what we’ll bring back.
• Travel insurance.
If travelling with others there are likely to be countless discussions to refine the details.
If you have chosen to write about this topic, take the time to uncover the story that led to your trip. Cast your mind back, reflect on the planning stage and jot down some of the details. What were your expectations once you’d made the arrangements?
The reality of the trip – the adventure
• What took place?
• What did you experience? Refer to the memorabilia you would have collated along the way e.g., postcards, maps, tickets, photos etc. Chart your experience.
Reflection on the trip – what you’ll document
Be selective when choosing what you’ll write about. Consider your initial plan and compare it with the reality of the trip. Focus on the highlights, the enjoyable moments, the mishaps, and the unexpected. What was interesting, funny, frightening, surprising? Include geographical details, the customs the practices, and the historical background if relevant. Incorporate your personal insights – what you experienced, how you felt, the lessons learned, and the impact your travel adventure and the characters you met along the way have had on you. Bring your story to life with colourful examples. You can also use dialogue, photos and other pertinent memorabilia.
Structuring your travel story
Like structuring a speech, a story can be divided into three distinct parts. Refer to Aristotle’s three-part structure as a guide: The beginning, the middle, and the end.
The introduction. This is where you set the scene providing a sense of time, place, situation, and where you determine the focus of your story.
The body of your story (the content). This is where you share your adventures, your personal experiences. The reality of the trip is based on your personal insights, reflections and reactions. Capture the essence of your unique experiences using examples and photos. Be sure to eliminate irrelevant and unnecessary information. Consider the reader. Your narrative must be engaging – not read like a train timetable.
The conclusion. Conclude with a summary of the highlights of trip, reflections on the lessons learned, and key takeaways – what you’d do the same or differently next time around. Or this may be a reflection on your younger self – curious, confident, energised, invincible.
In summary, these practical tips will help you to get started on your non-fiction writing project and maintain momentum with your non-fiction writing project. Give it a go and embrace the experience with an open heart.
Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her non-fiction books, including Penning Your Past are available in paperback, Kindle, and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Penning Your Past: A Writer’s Guide eBook : Robertson, Angela: Kindle Store
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