How to write an educational book

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How to write an educational book

By The Guardian Masterclasses

Date and time

May 9, 2015 · 10am - May 10, 2015 · 4pm GMT+1

Location

The Guardian

Kings Place 90 York Way London N1 9GU United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Contact the organizer to request a refund.

Description

Make the most of your expertise – share your knowledge in a stimulating, fulfilling (and possibly profitable) way

Whether it's Eats, Shoots and Leaves making grammar gossip worthy or What to Expect When You're Expecting taking the stress out of pregnancy, a great instructional book inspires as much as it informs. Whether your personal passion is knitting, plumbing, taxidermy, spelunking or conversational Farsi, this lively weekend shows you how to turn your own experience and expertise into a book that can make a real connection with an audience. And one which can be as much fun to write as it is to read.

Taught by bestselling author Cathy Presland, this course tackles everything you need to know to translate your knowledge and enthusiasm into text, from identifying a target audience and your most valuable lessons, to finding your tone of voice as an author and, perhaps most importantly, keeping your writing schedule on track no matter how busy the rest of your life is. You'll leave the course with a synopsis for your book, advice on the next steps to take, and the confidence to get cracking.

Course description

This supportive, practical masterclass offers an overview of planning, writing and publishing a 'how to' guide book on any subject. Mixing classroom tuition with practical exercises, each attendees will finish the weekend with a completed outline and structure plan for their own book. Topics covered over the weekend include:

  • The spark – what is inspiring you to write, and how that shapes the book you are writing
  • Understanding who you are writing for, and what they want to know
  • How to package what you know for maximum value
  • What's in a name – the art and science of creating a title that captures the imagination. People do judge a book by the cover!
  • Frameworks and flow – how to organise your content into an outline
  • Structure and storytelling – how to bring information, inspiration and storytelling together to make your content engaging and accessible
  • Making time to write, and seeing it through to the end
  • Publishing options – the pros and cons of approaching the industry or self-publishing your book

This course is for you if…

  • You're passionate about a personal expertise and want to share your knowledge
  • You currently write for a niche or hobbyist blog that you want to publicise or monetise
  • You're a specialist writer or journalist who writes short practical articles and would like to turn your hand to something more ambitious

PLEASE NOTE that while no professional writing experience is necessary, attendees should be familiar with the basics of writing for an audience.

Tutor profile

Cathy Presland is the bestselling author of 'Write! Stop Waiting, Start Writing', and a mentor to entrepreneurs and professionals who want to write non-fiction books, whether to help reach more people, raise their credibility or spread their message. Cathy has taught thousands of people through her highly-regarded online and offline training programmes on writing and self-publishing.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

Organized by

Welcome to Guardian Masterclasses – a unique programme of learning embedded within one of the world's most forward-thinking media organisations.

We offer a broad range of short and long courses across a variety of disciplines from creative writing, journalism, photography and design, film and digital media, music and cultural appreciation.

Harnessing the expertise and specialisms within the organisation, our courses are led by first class and award winning guardian professionals whilst also drawing on the skills and expertise of other leading figures at the forefront of the creative and digital industries.

The programme is aimed at anyone interested in personal or professional development whether that be refining your skills, focusing your ambition or simply broadening your mind and gaining inspiration.

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