Short description:

This book offers comprehensive directions to crafting academic nonfiction that is both rigorous and captivating, filling a critical gap in the genre. While academic nonfiction plays a vital role in fostering knowledge-based societies and driving economic growth, there has long been a need for a resource that helps authors create works that are as engaging as they are informative. Designed for both aspiring and established writers, this book provides practical advice and innovative techniques to elevate nonfiction writing. It covers everything from selecting marketable topics and developing effective writing habits to managing time and navigating the complexities of the publication process. Unlike most writing guides, it emphasises how to infuse nonfiction with the allure and engagement necessary to reach a broad audience without compromising accuracy or depth. With short, digestible chapters, insider tips on proposal writing, and insights into the peer review process, this book serves as a step-by-step roadmap to transforming academic writing into compelling works. Essential for writers aiming to produce nonfiction that not only informs but also resonates with readers, this resource is an indispensable tool for creating impactful scholarly work.

  R. Sooryamoorthy is a Professor & Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and a Research Fellow at the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in STI Policy, Stellenbosch University. He has taught at institutions in India, Canada, and Sweden and is the author or editor of 23 works, including Sociology in South Africa, Independent Africa, Dependent Science, and African Societies: The Changing Sociological Landscape (all with Palgrave).

Long description:

This book offers comprehensive directions to crafting academic nonfiction that is both rigorous and captivating, filling a critical gap in the genre. While academic nonfiction plays a vital role in fostering knowledge-based societies and driving economic growth, there has long been a need for a resource that helps authors create works that are as engaging as they are informative. Designed for both aspiring and established writers, this book provides practical advice and innovative techniques to elevate nonfiction writing. It covers everything from selecting marketable topics and developing effective writing habits to managing time and navigating the complexities of the publication process. Unlike most writing guides, it emphasises how to infuse nonfiction with the allure and engagement necessary to reach a broad audience without compromising accuracy or depth. With short, digestible chapters, insider tips on proposal writing, and insights into the peer review process, this book serves as a step-by-step roadmap to transforming academic writing into compelling works. Essential for writers aiming to produce nonfiction that not only informs but also resonates with readers, this resource is an indispensable tool for creating impactful scholarly work.

Table of Contents:

Part I: Foundations of Writing Non-fiction.- 1. Nonfiction Horizon.- 2. Fading Boundaries.- 3. It?s About Discipline; And More.- 4. The Gauntlet.- 5. What Subject?.- Part II: Crafting and Developing Content.- 6. Readers First.- 7. Time, Space, Schedule.- 8. On Target.- 9. Tech-Savvy.- 10. Material?Quality Matters.- 11. AI?Bane or Boon?.- Part III: Writing, Refining, and Polishing.- 12. Read, Reflect, Synthesise.- 13.  and Credibility.- 14. Tailoring Data.- 15. Crafting Content.- 16. First and Last, and Titling.- 17. Data-laden Chapters.- 18. Structure, Format.- 19. Refining.- Part IV: From Manuscript to Market.- 20. Reaching Out to a Publisher.- 21. Shaping the Proposal.- 22. Peer Review?Insider Insights.- 23. Reviews In, Responses Out.- 24. In Production.