Do you need to outline your nonfiction book?
You want your book to feel natural and organic. You want it to sound like you and wonder if you really need an outline. Can’t you just start writing and see what happens?
A free-form approach works for some writers, but especially for nonfiction books connected to the work you do in the world, an outline is essential for organizing your ideas.
In fact, there are many benefits to outlining your project that can help you feel MORE creative.
While you can try this free-form approach, for most writers (especially first time authors!) trying to wing it makes the book much harder to edit later on.
Outlines make it easier to finish your book
With a solid outline, you know when your project is finished! You’ll set out a clear goal for yourself and when the sections are all filled out, you know you’ve reached the finish line. Even if you have to change, edit, or tweak things at the end, the outline helps you finish your book.
You know what to work on when you ‘don’t feel like writing’
Rather than waiting for the fickle winds of inspiration to strike, your outline can be a helpful tool to keep you working on your project even when you’re not in the mood to write. And in fact, if you show up to write, you’re more likely to hit your creative flow (which you would have missed if you just skipped your writing session for the day)
Outlines create healthy boundaries that nourish your creativity
Many creatives resist structure, deadlines, or specific directions. You might have a belief that these so-called rules will diminish your creative flow. Yet even in the world of art with a capital A, it’s a well-known phenomenon that boundaries INSPIRE creative solutions and allow inspiration to flourish.
The same is true of your nonfiction book outline: it can be a sacred structure that supports your creative process.
So yes, an outline is a vital part of the book writing process for most authors writing nonfiction books. Doing this work at the beginning of your project sets you up for success by allowing you write a book that’s easier to edit and connects with your community of ideal readers.
Watch the full video here:
For more videos on writing, editing, and self-publishing, be sure to subscribe to my channel on YouTube.
Have a question about writing and self-publishing? Leave a comment on this post so I can answer you (and make a video about it!)
ready to write your nonfiction book?
Save yourself countless hours of searching to figure out how to navigate the self-publishing journey by downloading this free step-by-step guide.
Having self-published 40+ nonfiction books and guided journals, I’ve distilled the process into an easy to follow checklist.
Download it for FREE, now!
I'm Leah Kent, a writer, book coach, and book designer.
I help radiant, creative visionaries just like you to bring their books and sacred body of work to life.
Click here to learn how we can work together to write the book that embodies and amplifies your visionary message.