Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Dale L. Roberts’ “How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours” is an ambitious and practical guide that promises to transform your writing process. I found this book to be a treasure trove of actionable advice and time-saving techniques.

Roberts breaks down the daunting task of writing a nonfiction book into manageable steps, making it accessible for both novice and experienced writers. The book is structured around a clear, step-by-step system that guides readers from the initial idea to the final manuscript. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific aspect of the writing process, ensuring a comprehensive approach.

What makes this book stand out is Roberts’ engaging writing style. He combines practical tips with motivational insights, keeping the reader inspired throughout the journey. The inclusion of voice dictation tips and transcription methods is particularly innovative, offering modern solutions to speed up the writing process.

While nonfiction books typically don’t focus on character development, Roberts’ own journey and experiences as a self-published author add a personal touch to the narrative. His anecdotes and real-life examples provide a relatable context, making the advice feel grounded and achievable.

Roberts introduces several unexpected concepts in the form of unconventional writing techniques and productivity hacks. These elements not only make the book more interesting but also challenge readers to think outside the box and adopt new strategies for efficient writing.

The originality of Roberts’ approach lies in his ability to demystify the writing process. By breaking it down into a series of simple, actionable steps, he empowers readers to tackle their writing projects with confidence. His emphasis on maintaining clarity and flow through effective outlining is particularly noteworthy.

“How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours” is a must-read for anyone looking to streamline their writing process and produce quality work in a short amount of time. Dale L. Roberts has crafted a guide that is both practical and inspiring, making it an invaluable resource for aspiring authors. Whether you’re looking to write your first book or improve your writing efficiency, this book offers the tools and insights you need to succeed.

I really don't get the point of writing a book in only 24 hours, but of course fast is good, and there are some good tips here. The book only deals with the text, however, not the content, disposition, layout, illustrations, etc., but it does include a few editing and publication tips.

This is a book on the logistics of how to write the first draft of a non-fiction book in 24 hours. This isn’t a book on how to structure a non-fiction book or hone your topic.

Dale is clear that before starting to bash out that first draft in 24 hours, a significant amount of thought and work will need to be done to collate all your research together as well as devising a clear and detailed outline/plan of the book with chapter headings, key points per chapter, key things to mention, etc.

A large chunk of this book discusses how to physically get a book down in 24 hours with discussions on touchtyping, dictation and transcription. Again, Dale urges you to experiment then get good at your chosen method so that you can generate those words fast (given the average length of a book, you’re looking at at least 1000 words per hour). There’s also a chapter on avoiding distractions, getting your meals prepped in advance, etc.

Then, having got your first draft bashed out, in all its rough’n’ready glory, the book covers the ‘what next’ steps. Dale covers off his editing process, including rough rates (in US$) of what US editors might charge. He also touches on the importance of beta readers and ARC readers (like me!) to write reviews and generate. The book concludes with an overview of marketing/promotion before a wrap-up conclusion and a list of recommended resources.

Dale is clear that he’s comfortable using AI to help with drafting his marketing copy and blurb for the cover. Readers will have their own ethical views on the use of AI by authors.

A quick read which gives you a roadmap for what it would look like to get a first draft bashed out very, very quickly. However, I think this will only be possible if you’re writing something which is not detail/research heavy. If I were to write a non-fiction book myself, it would be historical and based on archival/manuscript/primary source research. That said, the concept of getting your first draft done quickly so you can focus your efforts on editing it then promoting it still stands.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If I ever get round to writing a non fiction book in 24 hours this would be a good guide. Of course it is only the first draft of a book that you write in 24 hours, but the book is useful for that, giving ideas to get it done quickly.

How to Write a Nonfiction Book in 24 Hours by Dale L. Roberts is remarkable in the fact that it was produced over the course of a single day, proving that Roberts does, in fact, practice what he preaches. I understand that this is part of a series dedicated to self-publishing, and there are certainly many strong takeaways contained in these pages.

Self-publishing is an avenue that I never really gave much thought to, though Dale makes a compelling case by outlining the numerous advantages of cost benefit and expediency, to name only a few. I was intrigued, too, by Dale's tips on the editing process, and by the value of ARCs and beta readers. I will certainly rely on his expertise should I ever take the leap into self-publishing. 3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and One Jacked Monkey LLC for an ARC of this title.