What Separates Nonfiction That Gets Signed From Nonfiction That Doesn’t

After years of representing nonfiction authors, I’ve come to believe that the books most likely to get signed — and most likely to sell — share one quality above all others: they pair an original idea with stories readers can’t shake.

That sounds simple. It’s not.

Ron Friedman’s latest book, Superteams, is a compelling example of how standout nonfiction gets made. To write it, Ron surveyed thousands of employees and built his findings into memorable stories and visual frameworks sharp enough to earn the attention of publishers — and a cover story in Harvard Business Review.

I had the privilege of working closely with Ron on this book, and I invited him to share his process directly with writers who are building their own nonfiction proposals.

On Thursday, June 25th at 4pm ET, Ron and I will be hosting a free live session:

From Big Idea to Book Deal:

How to Research, Structure, and Sell Your Nonfiction Book

We’ll cover how to identify and refine a nonfiction idea with commercial potential, how to use original research to strengthen your argument and differentiate your book, and how to build a chapter outline and proposal that agents and editors take seriously.

The masterclass is completely complimentary. To join us, purchase Superteams and register at lucindaliterary.com/nonfiction-masterclass-ron-friedman. We’ll use the book as a case study throughout the session and send you the Zoom link before the event — along with a recording if you can’t make it live.

We hope to see you there.