How to Write a Successful Nonfiction Book

On-demand, self-paced coaching for
writing better, faster, and with more confidence

ENROLL NOW

Wouldn’t it be great to feel confident in your ideas and your ability to reach your reader when you sit down to write?

Wouldn’t you love to make timely progress through your manuscript, or write a clear and compelling first draft? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have two highly experienced editors and ghostwriters—of NYT and WSJ bestsellers—help you develop your nonfiction book, step by step?

That’s exactly what you’ll find in this expert-led, self-paced course, offered through the exceptional Teachable platform. With each lesson, we will work to make your writing process easier and your decisions clearer. We’ll help you feel less overwhelmed and more focused.

We’re Lari Bishop and Sally Collings—editors, ghostwriters, and coaches who have written more than 50 books between us and coached authors through many, many more. And in this course, we share our decades of experience producing successful nonfiction books to help you do the same. Here’s how.

Through your successful nonfiction book, we’ll help you
achieve your goals, build your reputation and brand, and expand your influence.

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BETTER
DECISIONS

Know exactly what you’re writing, who you’re writing for, and why they care.

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FASTER
DRAFTS

Don’t waste time on content that doesn’t align with your goals or your readers’ needs.

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COMPELLING CONTENT

Avoid the most common pitfalls—lack of clarity, balance, and reader engagement.

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STRONGER
PITCH

Develop the pieces you need for a strong book proposal.

Discover how to develop the essential elements of good nonfiction and make the entire writing process easier.

We’ll help you

  • Get to know your reader and develop a clear message and a compelling promise
  • Leverage market research and plan for platform development.
  • Discover your authentic author persona and writer’s voice.
  • Structure your ideas and create an outline you can actually use
  • Start writing engaging content!

These are the same elements we tackle with every book we write—and that editors and agents want to see. In their enthusiasm to dive into writing, many authors skip over the essentials, and it shows. But when you cement them early in your writing process, the benefits are huge.

The most important writing decisions you’ll make are here, and we’ll guide you through them.

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This course can help, regardless of where you are in the writing process.

Just starting your book development journey? This course is perfect for you!
Have you started building your ideas, but aren’t making great progress? This course can definitely help.
Have you been working on a draft that isn’t coming together, or feels too big or unfocused? This course can help.

What will you get with this course?

16 detailed video or audio lessons, most with both of us in conversation
An incredible workbook and guide—in Google Doc or Microsoft Word format—with the exercises we use with our clients and robust guides to the ideas we share in the lessons
Lifetime access to the course, to use with your next book and the next
Access to an online writers’ group where you can find peer support from authors like you, occasional expert interviews, and more
A money-back guarantee in the first 30 days if you decide you just aren’t learning enough or getting access to enough resources to make it worth it, all through your Teachable account portal. No questions, no hassle.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PRICING, CURRICULUM, AND HOW THE COURSE WORKS

Meet your writing coaches.

Hi, I’m Lari Bishop.

For more than 25 years, I’ve worked as an editor, ghostwriter, and writing coach. I specialize in the development of ideas and the creation of all forms of written content, but especially books. As a ghostwriter, I’ve written more than twenty-five books, including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and national bestsellers. I began my journey in book publishing with John Wiley & Sons and then spent almost a decade with Greenleaf Book Group, a hybrid publisher. I love the opportunity to work across genres, especially leadership, personal development, psychology, and public policy. And telling engaging, human stories is essential to the work I do. I hold an economics degree from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in journalism from New York University. I live in Austin, Texas, and escape to Maine, where I grew up, as much as possible.

Hi, I’m Sally Collings.

With 20+ years’ experience in book publishing, I know what makes a great book—and I know how to write them. Former non-fiction publisher for HarperCollins and editorial director for Amber Books, I now work as a ghostwriter and developmental editor, crafting award-winning books and bestsellers for the world’s leading publishing houses as well as for private clients. I have a passion for creating stories with a purpose. My specialty is writing tactical, informative books that rely on first-person accounts to bring home their message. My author clients are represented at a number of agencies, and have published with HarperBusiness, St. Martin’s Press, Simon & Schuster, and Chronicle Books, or have successfully published independently. Born in Australia, I now call Northern California home, and I get my kicks running through the Santa Cruz Mountains.