drachnid w
New member
I've been thinking about writing a non-fiction book, but I know that saying "I'm writing it for the greater good of humanity and everyone should read it" isn't going to get it published. 
Before I start committing to actual writing (which will probably take a couple years), I want to have a plan for eventually getting it published. I'm not doing any proposal writing right now or anytime soon, but I want to be ready down the road. Plus, it would help to have a clear idea in my head what my actual audience is when I do start writing.
I've got some vague ideas about audience and what would be "competing books," and general confidence that my book fills a unique slot in the market, and reasons why people would actually want to read it. But when it comes to getting any actual data to back up or clarify any of that, I'm at a loss. I've joined writersmarket.com, and it has lots of resources and suggests really knowing your market when you contact agents/publishers, but doesn't exactly give a how-to on doing market research. Aside from informally surveying friends of friends, what do I do? Anyone have recommendations?
Before I start committing to actual writing (which will probably take a couple years), I want to have a plan for eventually getting it published. I'm not doing any proposal writing right now or anytime soon, but I want to be ready down the road. Plus, it would help to have a clear idea in my head what my actual audience is when I do start writing.I've got some vague ideas about audience and what would be "competing books," and general confidence that my book fills a unique slot in the market, and reasons why people would actually want to read it. But when it comes to getting any actual data to back up or clarify any of that, I'm at a loss. I've joined writersmarket.com, and it has lots of resources and suggests really knowing your market when you contact agents/publishers, but doesn't exactly give a how-to on doing market research. Aside from informally surveying friends of friends, what do I do? Anyone have recommendations?