With nonfiction, there is a different thrust. Your objective is to convey information in a simple and forthright manner. It is necessary that you thoroughly understand your topic. This doesn't mean that you can't write about things you don't already know (as mentioned earlier in this book when William Zinsser's Writing to Learn was cited); it simply means that you must be willing to do the necessary research to learn all about the subject.

The market for articles is extensive. Newspapers and magazines need articles, both local and national, general audience and trade. Also, there are a number of Web sites that pay for articles on various subjects. You can search online for Web markets.

The word length for each will vary depending on the market. Consult the publisher guidelines to determine how long each piece (or each book) should be.

Features

Features will normally be for newspapers or magazines, although it is possible to extend an idea for a feature into a book-length project. Included among features are short biographies.

How To

There is a huge market for instructional books if you are able to convey information clearly and in a concise and logical, easy-to-understand format. Get into the habit of creating an outline for everything you write, and you'll find that your overall writing is much more on point and focused — a talent especially important when writing this type of book.

There is also a healthy demand for how-to articles that will show people how to accomplish a particular task. Naturally, these won't be covered in as much depth as they would in a book, but it is still possible to convey a lot of useful information in a thousand words.

Biography

Biographies are writings about a particular person's background. It is an exposé of the trials and tribulations that person has undergone, studying the factors and events that made this person who he or she was or is.