Podcast 3 | Fiction, Nonfiction, Education, and Children’s Books — What Genre Should You Choose?

Podcast 3 — Fiction, Nonfiction, Educational Books, and Choosing Your Genre

Should you write fiction, nonfiction, an educational book, a cookbook, or an illustrated story? Author Jonathan David discusses choosing your direction, developing an original voice, and starting with smaller projects before writing a full-length book.

Podcast Highlights

My recommendation is to begin with an idea you want to explore and use a writing process that fits the material. I write across different categories, including fiction, mathematics and physics, cookbooks, children’s books, and self-help. Each type of book has a different workflow.

For some nonfiction projects, I record a podcast, extract the transcript, and use AI assistance to clean up punctuation, grammar, and repetition. Then I review the text myself. For fiction and technical writing, I write directly. For cookbooks, I record the cooking process and use the transcript to organize recipes. For illustrated books, I begin with my own stories, characters, and designs.

The central recommendation in this episode is to start small. Complete and refine a manageable piece, then gradually increase the length as you develop your style and revision process.

About these notes: The following instructions organize the personal methods and recommendations discussed in the podcast. Watch the video for the original conversation.

Step-by-Step — Choosing Your Direction

1. Start with the idea you want to write about.
   Decide what you want to tell, explain, teach, or demonstrate. Your starting point might be a fictional situation, a subject you understand, an original recipe, or an illustrated story.
2. Choose the book category that fits the material.
   Consider fiction, nonfiction, educational writing, cookbooks, or illustrated books. If you already know what you want to write, focus on finding a workable way to develop and organize it.
3. Let your interests and voice shape the genre.
   For fiction, I recommend developing the idea in a way that reflects you. My own fiction often blends philosophical, scientific, and thriller elements. You can begin with a specific genre or let a blend of genres emerge as you write.
4. Choose a process you can make your own.
   You can observe how I create different kinds of books, try parts of that workflow, and adapt them. Pay attention to which methods help you express your ideas and finish your projects.

Step-by-Step — Turning a Recording into Nonfiction

5. Record yourself discussing a focused topic.
   Use a podcast or spoken recording to explain the material in your own words. In my nonfiction workflow, this recording becomes the source for a chapter.
6. Extract the transcript.
   Convert the recording into text so you can review the discussion as written material. Recording length and final chapter length will vary with speaking pace and editing.
7. Clean up grammar and punctuation.
   I use AI assistance for this stage. Keep the instructions focused on cleaning up the transcript while preserving the ideas and voice of the original recording.
8. Remove unnecessary repetition and organize the material.
   Identify repeated passages, unfinished thoughts, and sections that would flow better in a different order. Review any proposed cuts or rearrangements before accepting them.
9. Read and listen to the revised chapter.
   Check that it sounds natural, communicates your meaning, and moves clearly from one point to the next. Make your own adjustments before treating the chapter as finished.

Step-by-Step — Other Book Workflows

10. For fiction, write the story directly.
    I type my fiction myself and sometimes share my screen while writing. Develop your idea in your own words, then review the writing as the story grows.
11. For mathematics and physics, work through the material directly.
    I also use direct writing and screen sharing for technical books. Build the written explanations and supporting work through a process you can review carefully.
12. For a cookbook, record yourself preparing the recipe.
    Capture the cooking process so you have a record of what you used and what you did. In my workflow, the recipes begin with my own cooking demonstrations.
13. Extract the ingredients and numbered cooking instructions.
    Use the transcript to organize the recipe into an ingredient list and a sequence of actions. I use AI assistance to assemble this material, then review it against the actual demonstration.
14. Select screenshots to illustrate the recipe.
    Capture useful views of the preparation or finished food. If you use AI-assisted images based on those screenshots, review them for accuracy before including them in the book.
15. For illustrated books, develop your story, characters, and designs.
    I begin with my own ideas and artwork, using Canva for design work. Establish the story and visual direction before assembling the illustrated pages.
16. Use your designs as references for additional illustrations.
    In my process, AI helps develop scenes and backgrounds from my original designs. Review the resulting pages for consistent characters, appropriate details, and a clear connection to the story.

Step-by-Step — Start Small and Build Toward a Book

17. Begin with approximately 500 words.
    My recommendation is to start with a short piece you can manage. For fiction, write a short story. For nonfiction, choose a focused topic or passage.
18. Complete the revision process on that piece.
    Read it, improve the wording, remove unnecessary repetition, and check the flow. Practice finishing a manageable project before expanding the scope.
19. Increase the length gradually.
    The progression I suggest is: 500 → 1,000 → 2,000 → 4,000 → 10,000 words. Use these as practice milestones while developing your writing and editing process.
20. Revise as you write.
    I recommend reviewing manageable sections during the project so you do not leave yourself with a large accumulation of material you have never revised.
21. If a long draft overwhelms you, return to smaller projects temporarily.
    Keep the existing manuscript. Practice completing shorter pieces, develop a more manageable process, and return to the longer draft with that experience.
22. Develop a repeatable writing routine.
    Notice how you work best: how you generate ideas, write, review, and finish. Apply what you learn from shorter projects when you are ready to take on a longer book.
23. Expect different reader reactions.
    Readers have different tastes. Consider feedback while deciding how to preserve your voice and communicate the kind of story or information you want to share.

Disclaimer: My videos and podcasts express personal opinions and are intended strictly for entertainment; commentary may include speculation, hearsay, satire, or fictional material and should not be treated as verified fact or professional advice. Fictional works may contain mature themes and are recommended for audiences 18 and older.