Elizabeth Dougherty (MSJ98)

Many experts dream of writing a nonfiction book. Few do it. The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide: How to Plan, Write, and Publish Your Nonfiction provides a clear road map for turning expertise into a well-crafted book that can transform readers’ lives. Based on decades of publishing experience, book editors Elizabeth Dougherty (MSJ, 1988) and Marisa Solis provide a step-by-step methodology for writing advice-based nonfiction (the reader has a problem, and the author has a solution).

The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide covers what most writing guides don’t and what most aspiring authors skip: key foundational work that saves time, effort, and sanity. From refining the concept and organizing the content, to identifying the target audience and building an authentic author platform, this guide details what needs to happen to publish a book. Twenty-five hands-on assignments help authors stay focused and move forward with confidence, empowering them to complete their manuscript and get their message out into the world.
Solis and Dougherty are the cofounders of Book Structures Pro, a boutique editorial services firm that specializes in working with subject matter experts writing consumer and professional advice-based nonfiction.