Better Writing

Writing a Book in a Non-Native Language

As a nonfiction book editor, I’m often asked whether it’s possible to publish a book as a non-native speaker or […]

Introduction or Preface: Is There Really a Difference?

When you’re writing a nonfiction book, you might wonder what the difference is between an introduction and a preface. Do […]

How to Write a Nonfiction Book: 10 Simple Steps

We’ve all heard the saying “Everyone has one good book in them” or some variation. In fact, the original quote […]

3 Mistakes Article Writers Make

As an editor, I can tell you why your articles don’t get a lot of views Here at The Book Shelf, […]

Essential Writing Hacks for Neurodivergent Writers: ADHD/Autism

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed (and subsequently smashed) the ‘Myth of the ‘Natural’ Writer’ and discussed the absolute best thing […]

How to Embrace Writer’s Block

How to Embrace Writer’s Block

by Peri Cimen We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve been staring at a blank Word document for days or hit […]

How Can I Become a Better Writer?

How Can I Become a Better Writer

by Shelby Jones Writing can be a minefield and many would certainly prefer to traverse great fields of potential dynamite […]

10 Self-Help Clichés to Avoid in Your Writing

Whether you’re writing a self-help book, a personal development blog, or even an inspirational podcast script, your primary goal is […]

Why Nonfiction Needs to Have a Narrative

Guest post: By Shazeen Iqbal, The Writer Vending Machine A nonfiction book is a unique journey where the author communicates factual […]

Can I Use Quotes in My Book? Copyright, permissions, and plagiarism…

As a nonfiction author, you may want to quote other people in your book—be it to set a certain tone, amplify your […]

How Not to Write a Book: 5 mistakes to avoid when writing nonfiction

As a nonfiction book editor, I see my fair share of great first drafts, but also some pretty average ones. A mediocre […]

Top 3 Capitalisation Errors

In the last few guides, we looked at the top five grammar errors and the top three punctuation errors. But there’s another area […]

Top 3 Common Punctuation Errors

So, we’ve looked at the most common grammar errors. But what about punctuation? Some of the most heinous crimes against writing […]