One of the biggest challenges of writing nonfiction books is
corralling the volume of research I uncover. And then, there’s always way more information
than I can reasonably fit into the main text of the book. I used to get
frustrated, but I learned all of that “stuff” is valuable.
I’ll share examples from my work with the hope that they’ll
spark ideas for you.
My top 6 suggestions:
1. Front Matter/Back matter/end papers: I
always include an author’s note that explains how I came to the story and how I
researched it. I also include selected sources and suggested books, films,
websites, etc. so young readers can learn more. Sometimes we include a glossary,
or a diagram related to the book. For example, In the World of Whales has
a detailed diagram of sperm whale anatomy created by Jessica Lanan. Sometimes
content is even included on the endpapers. My editor and I knew we wanted to
include the life cycle of jellyfish in Jellyfish Scientist: Maude Delap and
Her Mesmerizing Medusas, but it didn’t fit in the back matter. Ellen Rooney
created a gorgeous illustration for the end papers.
2. Content for Classroom Teachers/Teacher’s Guides: Create materials for teachers. Sometimes publishers will create materials, as well. (Here’s an example my publisher created for Diving Deep). I’ve often shared my ideas in blogposts such as on Patricia Newman’s LitLinks. One post called Will it Sink or Float is a hands-on experiment that makes use of my first two books. How to Turn a Student into an Effective Science Communicator is a writing focused lesson that utilizes my second two books.
3. Blog posts: I love to include “insider details” related to the making of my book in blogposts. For example, on Sue Heavenrich’s blog, I shared details about how I kept track of my research while living and working on a research vessel to write A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone: Twenty-Four Days of Science at Sea. On Jonathan Roth’s blog, I shared how I prepared physically and mentally to be out at sea in the North Atlantic.
4. Stories for School and Library Visits/Other Speaking Engagements/Interviews: There’s always a fun story or fact that you want to include in your book, but it simply does not fit the narrative or the structure of the book. For example, Maude Delap, the focus of my next book is known for being the first person to raise jellyfish through their full life cycle (in rural Ireland from 1899-1900!) But there’s this amazing story about her hiring some men to help her bury a (stranded) whale carcass in her garden to help decompose the stinky flesh. She later sent the skeleton to the Natural History Museum in Dublin where it’s still displayed. Oh, how I wanted to put that in the main body of my book, but it simply didn’t fit with the story I was telling. I mention it in the back matter and I love to elaborate upon it when I do public speaking events.
5. Social Media Posts: One of my favorite things to do in the lead up to publication is prepare short posts for social media that share additional details/behind the scenes information. I’m preparing some of those right now for Jellyfish Scientist. I’ve visited the island where Maude lived, so I’m creating posts with photos and/or short videos that show where she went to church, where she lived, where she discovered the sea anemone that was named after her, etc. I’ll also share photos of me with some of the experts who assisted with my research. (I did this for A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone, if you want to see examples. Or, watch for my Jellyfish Scientist posts on Instagram, coming soon).
6. Write a New Book: Both of the books I have publishing this year are examples of this. I learned about Maude Delap while I was researching for another (not yet sold) book. Likewise, I learned the remarkable story featured in the book, In the World of Whales, while researching for my book Diving Deep. In this extraordinary story, a freediver was welcomed at the birth of a sperm whale. I immediately knew it had to be a book.
What ideas came up for you as you read this post? Brainstorm
a quick list while everything is fresh in your mind. As you continue working on
your book, jot your ideas down as they come to you. And save everything,
including drafts and dummies. Those are great materials for school visits!
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| Photo by Marley Parker |
Michelle Cusolito is the award-winning author of Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin, Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean, and Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone: Twenty-Four Days of Science at Sea. Jellyfish Scientist: Maude Delap and her Mesmerizing Medusas comes out in April, and In the World of Whales publishes in June. Her not-yet-announced sixth book is a “land-based” book. Yep. She’s branching out. Michelle teaches writing in the MFA program at Simmons University.
