My guide to nonfiction writing is now available on Kindle.

By Kevin S. Giles

Reading about writing nonfiction isn’t the same as doing it yourself.

I learned that through trial and error.

Somewhere in the midst of writing “Jerry’s Riot: The True Story of Montana’s 1959 Prison Disturbance,” I decided that after I published, I would write a concise book to help writers avoid common pitfalls.

Some years went by. As I wrote and published “One Woman Against War: The Jeannette Rankin Story, I renewed my desire to help fellow writers launch their own nonfiction stories.

Finally, I got around to it.

My short book, Eight Essential Secrets for Beginning Nonfiction Writers, draws on my personal experience. It can be read in an hour or less. I didn’t want to encumber nonfiction writers with volumes of advice. Instead, I give them straightforward tips to put to work right away.

Successful nonfiction requires diligent research, a deep pool of accurate facts and a flair for storytelling. It also requires focus because success depends on the quality of the idea.

I spent a blur of evenings and weekends working on my nonfiction books. Sometimes I became discouraged at all that work ahead of me. In those moments I reminded myself that I had embarked on a long journey. Every few steps took me closer to the end.

Do you have what it takes to write nonfiction?

Are you curious, relentless, enduring and inspired? I’m betting so. None of us know until we try.

Find Kevin's books on Amazon (and leave a review, please!)

Western Montana native Kevin S. Giles wrote the popular prison nonfiction work Jerry’s Riot, the coming-of-age novel Summer of the Black Chevy, and a biography of Montana congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, One Woman Against War, which is an expanded version of his earlier work, “Flight of the Dove.” His new novel, Headline: FIRE! is the third in the Red Maguire series. Masks, Mayhem and Murder is the second. The first is “Mystery of the Purple Roses.” More information is available at https://kevinsgiles.com.