There are 10 lessons:

Lesson 1: Scope and Nature of Non-Fiction Writing

• Non Fiction Styles
• Types of Non Fiction Writing
• Academic vs Commercial Non Fiction Writing
• Text types in Non Fiction Writing
• Text Structure
• Pseudonyms

Lesson 2: Writing Forms and Media Options

• Sample Author Platform
• Using Fiction Techniques to Create Strong Non Fiction Texts
• Making a Story Memorable
• Hook the Audience
• Emotional Language
• Plain and Simple Language
• Writing for the Readership
• Ways to Publish/Share Non Fiction Writing
• Non Fiction Scripts – TV, Radio, Social Media, Advertising, Education, Voice overs, News

Lesson 3: News Writing

• Writing News
• Headlines
• Lede
• Key Point Summary in Digital Formats
• Reverse Pyramid
• News Coverage and Focus
• Conflict
• Proximity
• Prominence
• Impact
• Relevance
• Oddity/Human Interest
• Timeliness
• Newswriting for Different outlets
• Newspapers
• News Websites
• Broadcast News
• Newsletters
• Blogs

Lesson 4: Travel Writing

• Commercial Travel Writing
• Overused Descriptions in Travel Writing
• Holidays
• Special Events
• Travel Bloggers
• Adventure Tourism
• Lifestyle Blogging
• How to Travel
• Destination Pieces
• Adventure Travel
• Side Trips/Weekend Trips
• Literary Travel Writing
• Career Paths for Travel Writers
• How to be a Good Travel Writer
• How to Construct a Travel Piece
• Researching a Travel Piece
• How to Pitch a Travel Piece

Lesson 5: Memoirs and Biography

• Types of Memoirs – Confessional , Transformational, Portrait, Professional
• Diaries
• How to Write a Memoir or Biography
• Autobiography
• Research
• Biography and Profiles
• How to Pitch a Memoir, Autobiography or Biography

Lesson 6: Writing about Leisure Activities

• Introduction
• Niche or Widespread Writing
• Leisure and Hobby Writing
• Hobby Writing
• Sports Writing
• Craft Writing
• Garden Writing
• How to Pitch Leisure, Sports and Craft Writing

Lesson 7: Writing about Food and Diet

• How to Write about Food
• Constructing a Food Article
• Sensory Writing
• Recipes
• Informative Writing
• Types of Food Writing
• Nutritional R & D
• Allergies and Intolerances
• Recipes, Diet & Exercise
• How to Pitch Food Writing

Lesson 8: Writing about Wellbeing

• How to Write about Health and Wellbeing
• Grounding and Context
• Plain English
• Research
• Balanced Viewpoints
• Different Types of Health and Wellbeing Writing
• Health, Medicine and Complimentary Medicine
• Creative Therapies
• Exercise

Lesson 9: Fact Based Storytelling

• Storytelling at Work
• Storytelling with Data
• Sales and Marketing
• True Crime
• Historical Events
• Seeking Stories

Lesson 10: The Business of Non-Fiction Writing

• Successful Writers
• Collaborative Writing
• Delivering your Work
• Management and Opportunities
• Contracts and Publishers
• How to Make Writing More Profitable
• Syndication
• Intellectual Property Management
• Legal Systems
• Protecting Your Work – copyright, Issues
• Copyright Licencing
• Risks when Writing Non Fiction – specific, libel, defamation, slander, false light
• Fact Checking, Perspective & Time Shift
• Copyright Infringement
• Accuracy Errors
• Digital Rights Management
• Information Rights Management
• Electronic Books and Magazines
• Referencing
• Thinking Outside the Box

• Discuss the scope and nature of commercial and professional non-fiction writing for use in print, electronic and broadcast media.
• Distinguish between different forms of non-fiction writing used in different contexts including different industries and disciplines, being used in broadcast media, print media and electronic media.
• Formulate and create news writing for different applications.
• Formulate and create travel writing for different applications.
• Formulate and create biographical writing for different applications.
• Formulate and create craft, sports, hobbies, and related writing for different applications.
• Formulate and create food writing for different applications.
• Formulate and create wellbeing writing for different applications.
• Explain how to write fact-based stories.
• Explain how non-fiction writing is a business.

HOW TO START YOUR NON-FICTION WRITING CAREER

Developing a successful career as a non-fiction writer requires a business-like approach to writing. This means that writers should continuously build their author platform, look for opportunities to build their networks, and remain aware of how their work fits into the larger non-fiction market.

Networking does not have to be an obvious activity or take up excessive amounts of time. Within the writing sector, competency, consistency, and attention to detail are more highly valued than personality.

Freelance writers who can deliver work that meets the brief (on time) are sought after.

Let’s look more at some of the practical and business aspects of non-fiction writing.

Successful Writers
The successful writer should be aware of the commercial aspects of what they are writing. If you give them what they expect (or want), they keep employing you; but if you don’t, you reduce your chances of gaining ongoing work.

Writers tend to take ownership of their work; wanting to write what they want to write, rather than what a publisher may want them to. A writer with a successful style of writing, on interesting and successful topics, might decide to do something totally different, and write in a different way, which may not be what the publisher wants.

So, as a non-fiction writer, it is important to consider the balance between what you want to write and the following:

• Are you willing to be open minded about what you write?
• Are you willing to accept criticism?
• Are you willing to write to order?

Many people aspiring to be a writer have an idealised notion of what a writer is like and what sort of lifestyle they live. What do you see when you think of yourself as a writer – an enigmatic, slightly aloof character living a solitary life in a picturesque village in the countryside?

This romanticised image of the writer is common, but it is not what (in reality) your lifestyle is likely to be. Even if some writers do have this type of character, it also takes shrewdness, forbearance, positivity, flexibility a thick skin, common sense and business acumen to succeed these days as a professional writer.

Do writers have a particular personality type? If asked to describe a writer, I am sure most people would have a set idea or stereotype of what a writer is. Obviously not every writer will fit into the same stereotype.

A science fiction writer may have a different temperament to a travel writer, to a business writer, to a crime writer and so on. Jane Piirto of the University of Ohio carried out research using a personality test – the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. She found that writers score overwhelmingly high on the “understanding creativity” indicator (INFP).

People who scored highly on INFP are:

• Intuitive
• Feeling
• Intense feelings
• Introverted
• Creative
• Gifted in language
• Curious
• Perceptive
• Have a rich inner world
• Are often individualistic and original
• Prepared to work alone
• Dislike detailed and routine work
• Like to be appreciated for what they do
• “Focus on future goals.

Obviously not all writers are going to be the same. Not all writers are introverted or intuitive. Not all writers are able to work alone, as we have seen earlier in the chapter.

It really depends on their personality and what they want to write about. But this is a good indicator.

What writers write and how they write can tell us a lot about an author. If they are writing about a fictional character or a rainforest, some aspects of the writer’s personality will shine through, even subtly.

The same applies to non-fiction writers. Think about journalists. Many journalists will have a specific personality in their writing, particularly if they are writing editorials. Readers will follow non-fiction writers because they like their writing style.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.