Not too long ago, I dusted off an ancient book idea and used chatGPT to turn it into an outline and a book proposal. That was a huge weight lifted, because I don’t have the time and energy to focus on the project and it’s a decades-old mess of notes I’ll probably never get around to.
- Sudowrite for fiction (and memoir or literary nonfiction)
- Jasper (best for sales copy writing and business nonfiction)
This week, I used my shiny new outline and tested whether Sudowrite (built for fiction) could handle it. And it does… it does really well. It writes nonfiction better than I do – at least in terms of tone and style. But it also repeats a ton, adds fluffy scenebuilding or unrealistic scenarios… I tested several different versions and will probably end up generating 3x the content, in different styles, and then piecemealing it altogether. Which is a ton of work. But still easier than starting from a blank page and adding all your own content.
It does make things up, so you’ll need to fact check all the research or sources – and you’ll probably still need a book editor or developmental editor at least for the major stuff… but it does a very good job of taking mediocre ideas and presenting them together in the best possible (commercial) ways. It’s like having a writing assistant that works for peanuts, and it can even learn your writing style and voice.
Navigating the process of writing a nonfiction book can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, the advent of AI-powered tools has drastically simplified the process. This comprehensive guide will take you through each step, providing detailed instructions and resources to streamline your writing journey.
Step 1: Choosing Your Topic
Every nonfiction book starts with a topic. This should be something you’re knowledgeable about, passionate about, or willing to research extensively. To ensure there’s a market for your topic, you can use AI-powered market research tools like SEMRush or Ahrefs to find popular keywords and analyze the competition.
How to Accomplish This:
- Brainstorm topics you’re passionate about.
- Use AI tools like SEMRush to research keywords related to these topics and analyze the competition.
- Based on the research, refine your topic.
Step 2: In-depth Research
Once your topic is finalized, you need to research extensively. Google Scholar can help find academic resources, while BuzzSumo allows you to see the most-shared content on your topic.
How to Accomplish This:
- Use Google Scholar to find academic resources related to your topic.
- Use BuzzSumo to analyze popular content on your topic.
- Take notes and save useful resources for reference.
Step 3: Developing a Detailed Outline
Next, create a detailed outline for your book. AI tools like Jasper and Copy.ai can generate an initial outline, which you can then refine. Here are some nonfiction outlines.
How to Accomplish This:
- Enter your book’s topic into Jasper or Copy.ai.
- Generate an initial outline.
- Refine and arrange the sections to create a detailed roadmap for your book.
Step 4: Writing Your Draft with AI
With your outline in place, you can begin writing. Use AI writing tools like Jasper to help create the initial drafts of your chapters.
How to Accomplish This:
- Break your outline into smaller sections.
- Enter each section into Jasper and generate the initial draft.
- Refine the content to align with your tone and style.
Step 5: Editing and Proofreading
Editing and proofreading are crucial to your book’s success. Grammarly is an excellent AI tool that can help identify grammar, spelling, clarity, engagement, and delivery issues.
How to Accomplish This:
- Copy your content into Grammarly.
- Review the suggestions and make the necessary changes.
- Repeat this process until you’re satisfied with your content.
Step 6: Book Design
The final step is designing your book cover and formatting your manuscript. Canva can help design a professional book cover, while tools like Vellum and Kindle Create can help with formatting.
How to Accomplish This:
- Use Canva’s book cover templates to design your cover.
- Import your manuscript into Vellum or Kindle Create to format your book.
- Review the final product to ensure it meets your standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How reliable is AI-generated content?
While AI-generated content can be impressively accurate, it’s not flawless. The author needs to review the content for accuracy, tone, and consistency.
2. Can AI replace human authors?
No, AI can aid the writing process, but it cannot replace human authors. It lacks creativity and emotional understanding—vital aspects of compelling writing.
3. Is it ethical to use AI for writing?
Yes, using AI for writing is ethical as long as you use it as a tool and don’t plagiarize content. Be transparent about your use of AI and ensure the final content is unique and accurate.
By integrating AI tools into your writing process, you can focus more on the content’s quality and less on the manual labor. With this guide, you’ll be well on your way to producing an engaging, informative, and successful nonfiction book.
- Get Sudo write here! (best for book writing)
- or check out JasperAI (best for sales copy/nonfiction)
- Get an editorial critique of your first 5000 words (to make sure it’ll sell)
Nonfiction book cover designs
I’ve also been playing around with midjourney AI for book cover design, and I just finished a huge package of 100 nonfiction book cover templates.
I’m a philosophy dropout with a PhD in Literature. I covet a cabin full of cats, where I can write fantasy novels to pay for my cake addiction. Sometimes I live in castles.
