What if it's not a novel I want to write?

August 15, 2006 11:14 AM

I have found a ton of information both here and other places about the outline of a NOVEL, but not other types of books. What would be the general structure of an outline for a book that is: 1/3 history, 1/3 case-study/interviews/current applications, 1/3 how-to and NOT a novel. Useless information included inside :-)

XXXXX = The subject

I intend to write a book about XXXXX (which is a certain legal, non-mainstream, wildly misunderstood, often confused with something else, social subject and/or activity). I have done my research, compiled my sources, and have all the information ready to assist me in writing the book. I need to create an outline as a blueprint to build the book by prior to writing.

Through many years of practicing XXXXX and an actual love of XXXXX, it turns out that I inadvertently happen to be somewhat of an expert in the history of XXXXX, along with the practice, technical aspects and logistics of XXXXX as well.

I have had a rather popular online presence dedicated to XXXXX for almost six years, been involved with it for almost fifteen years and am called on frequently to provide advice or my opinions on the subjects dealing with XXXXX. It has been suggested to me on numerous occaisions that I should write a book about it. My research shows that there is not currently, and as far as I can tell has never been, a book published dealing solely with XXXXX. In passing, it has been mentioned in other books, but not as the book’s sole subject matter.

The subject matter will appeal to an audience that is a niche of a niche, so whether or not a book about XXXXX is commercially viable is not my concern. If I could self-publish even one copy and hand it to someone to needs/wants the information, I would be happy. I hope it would be successful, but have no real aspirations in publishing.

Please restrict comment to how a book such as this should be structured. Thanks in advance!

posted by sandra_s to writing & language (4 comments total)

Stephen King's "On Writing" might help you get a sense of how to do this. This is a book about writing well (a How-To), but it's also about his life story (a history). Besides the structure, the book itself would give you some brilliant tips for making your book a good one.
posted by Milkman Dan at 11:38 AM on August 15, 2006

Introduction: A probably short discussion of the reasons for writing this book. Here you define your purpose and your goals. If you are resolving a problem this is where you convince people that the problem is significant enough that it needs to be solved.

Section 1: (variable number of chapters) However much history and explanation you feel is needed. This is where you lay out all of the relevant terminology and background. Start simple and gradually build up to the complex stuff. Ideally by the end of this section your reader is sufficiently versed in the jargon and concepts of the field to follow the rest of the discussion.

Section 2: (variable chapters) How things are done now and what is wrong or right with doing things that way. You can present one method (and its critique) at a time, or all of the methods at once followed by general critiques. In general you want to locate specific praise or criticism with its specific subject; general praise or criticism after all of the methods that it applies to.

Section 3: (variable chapters) Your positive contribution to the field: how to understand and perform (or appreciate) the activity. It is important to show why your method avoids all of the pitfalls of the methods in the previous methods while also providing results that are at least as good as the ones obtained in the traditional or standard way. Don't assume that people will automatically agree that your method or interpretation is obviously and clearly superior to the methods you are trying to supplant.
posted by oddman at 1:00 PM on August 15, 2006

Just a word of warning: If you're thinking about checking Sandra's profile to try and figure out what subject "XXXXX" is actually standing in for, it's something NSFW.
posted by bcwinters at 1:13 PM on August 15, 2006

Hence the "XXXXX" :-)
posted by sandra_s at 1:21 PM on August 15, 2006