Writing Successful Self-Help and How-To Books

by Jean Marie Stine

If you follow only a third of Jean's advice, you'll have a successful book. --Jeremy Tarcher, Publisher Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc.

""After Jean reworked my first draft, paperback rights sold for $137,000."" --Timmen Cermak, M.D., author of A Time to The Road to Recovery for Adult Children of Alcoholics

Mastering the craft and understanding the mechanics of writing self-help and how-to books is the key to getting publishers to take notice of your work. Now, in the first guide to writing self-help and how-to books, Jean Stine offers an insider's view of this growing genre. Her easy-to-follow program takes you step-by-step through the complete writing process. You'll learn the importance
* Structure and Style
* Clear, easy-to-understand exercises
* Creating catchy and compelling titles, subtitles, and chapter headings
* Using lists, charts, and graphs to maximum effect
* Checklists and other interactive elements
* Writing a proposal that sells
* Negotiating permissions for quotations, photos, and illustrations
* Preparing your manuscript for presentation to a publisher

Genres: Writing, Self Help, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfectly adequate guide to writing and publishing a nonfiction “self-help” book.

It was required reading for a course that I’m taking on the same topic.

Solid 3.5/5 stars😐

[Adam Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great how-to for those of us who write how-to's. Starting with technical writing in the 90s, I have often wondered what the key elements of this expansive genre are. Stine lays them out here, clearly.

I would like an updated edition addressing modern complexities; otherwise, this would've earned 5 stars.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is going to prove to be invaluable.
Stine does an excellent job of organizing the book so that useful sections can be found when needed. The book is loaded with information and helpful stratagies. This book gives budding authors hope that their goals are not too far out of reach.

[Daniel Wieser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of date information on how to write a How-To book.
Still interesting to read because it got some great tips.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book. While it's full of some good information, there are two things that stand in the way of it being a great book.

First, the title is misleading. This isn't a book on writing a self-help/how-to book; it's a book on selling a self-help/how-to manuscript to a publisher. There is a little bit of information on writing, but the majority of the book is about writing a successful book proposal and formatting your manuscript properly. While it was interesting (and somewhat helpful) information, it wasn't what I was expecting from the book title.

The next big issue with the book is its age--written in 1997, it hasn't been updated, but the publishing industry has changed. Authors no longer type out manuscripts and mail them. Agents aren't an option when it comes to large publishers. And with the popularity and availability of self-publishing, authors now need platforms before they contact publishers. All of that information is either missing from this book or outdated. I'd love to see a second edition of this book to update; without an update, much of the information is worthless.

Overall, not exactly what I was expecting. There was some helpful material, but I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending this to a new author because they wouldn't know which information was good and which information was outdated.

[Vicki Lannerholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for those of us struggling to get organized with our writing, especially getting a book proposal together. Jean Marie makes it easy!

[Diana Flegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have used this book to coach and teach writers for 0ver ten years. Still stands as one of the top 10 writing resources on my list for the nonfiction writer.

[Tony Rogers Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Sue Schlesman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful advice--great book. I highly recommend it.