Expert to Author: Five Steps to a Published Nonfiction Book

About the event

Most people who want to write a book do the same thing: they sit down and start writing. And most of them stall out.

Marisa Solis and Elizabeth Dougherty have spent decades as book coaches and editors watching this happen — and helping writers get unstuck. Their diagnosis is simple. Writing the manuscript is only about 60 percent of authorship. The other 40 percent — including knowing why you're writing, who you're writing for, how your book is built, and who's in your corner — is the part nobody talks about. It's also the part that determines whether a nonfiction book gets finished.

In The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide: Plan, Write, and Publish Your Nonfiction Book, Marisa and Elizabeth lay out the full path from idea to published book. At Book Society, they're bringing the first and most important stretch of it into the room for a hands-on evening. This is not a lecture — bring a notebook, because you'll be putting pen to paper all night.

What we'll cover:

• Reflect on your "why." Not "what is your book about?" but "why are you writing it?" Dig past the goal to the value underneath — that's what carries you through the hard middle.
• Shift your mindset. What's your promise to your reader? Don't write a book about something. Write a book for someone.
• Tune in to your reader. Build a real reader profile and get specific about who will buy and benefit from your book. No book is for everyone.
• Map your reader's journey. An outline isn't a cage, it's a blueprint. Start structuring your reader's path through the book.
• Build your community. "Author platform" isn't a marketing chore — it's not writing in isolation. Map your inner circle before you leave.

You'll go home with pages of your own thinking, three pieces of homework, and a much clearer sense of what you're actually building.

Your ticket includes:

• A hands-on workshop led by Marisa Solis and Elizabeth Dougherty
• All workshop materials 
• Book signing and Q&A
• A glass of wine (or NA beverage), snacks and good company, Book Society–style

Option to pre-purchase The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide at checkout. A limited number of copies will also be available for purchase at the event.

Get your ticket here! booksociety.social/event-details/expert-to-author-five-steps-to-a-published-nonfiction-book

About the Speakers

Elizabeth Dougherty and Marisa Solis are decades-long book coaches and editors mission-driven to help aspiring authors change the world one book at a time. They are the coauthors of The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide: Plan, Write, and Publish Your Nonfiction Book. Through their boutique editorial services company, Book Structure Pros, Elizabeth and Marisa guide subject-matter experts through authorship. Services include book coaching, developmental editing, manuscript assessments, and book proposal development. They also offer customized workshops, webinars, and speaking events.