Daniel J. Tortora

Resources for Nonfiction Authors

120+ articles for authors on writing, publishing, and book marketing—by nonfiction editor and book coach Daniel Tortora.

Posts in Coaching

Working with a Traditional Publishing Book Coach: Eric’s Story

Working with a Traditional Publishing Book Coach: Eric’s Story

How a book coach helped Eric successfully get a traditional publishing contract.

Authors, Coaching, PublishingDaniel J. TortoraJune 2, 2026agents, author query letter, author tips, big 5, book coaching, book notes, book proposal, business books, nonfiction, publishers, traditional publishing, university presses

Choosing BISAC Codes for a Book for Increased Discoverability and Sales

Choosing BISAC Codes for a Book for Increased Discoverability and Sales

Learn how to choose the right BISAC categories so your book lands on the right shelf (and in the right carts).

Authors, Coaching, PublishingDaniel J. TortoraMay 25, 2026author tips, BISAC codes, bookstores, IngramSpark, libraries, ebooks, print books, audiobooks, traditional publishing, metadata

Nonfiction Book Proposal Sample Chapters: Tips and FAQs for Traditional Publishing

Nonfiction Book Proposal Sample Chapters: Tips and FAQs for Traditional Publishing

Read this if you’ll be sending sample chapters when pitching your nonfiction book (query or book proposal) to a traditional publishing company.

Authors, Writing, Publishing, CoachingDaniel J. TortoraJune 6, 2024agents, book coaching, book proposal, copy editing, developmental editing, traditional publishing, big 5, nonfiction, publishers

What Does a Book Writing Coach Do? Author Book Coaching Services Explained

What Does a Book Writing Coach Do? Author Book Coaching Services Explained

A book coach is your mentor, teacher, co-strategist, accountability partner—your personal trainer for your author journey.

Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Writing, CoachingDaniel J. TortoraDecember 11, 2022book coaching, book marketing, book proposal, book titles, first draft, front matter, nonfiction, parts of a book, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writing

Nonfiction Book Logline/Elevator Pitch Tips and FAQs for Authors

Nonfiction Book Logline/Elevator Pitch Tips and FAQs for Authors

To take your book to the next level (pun intended), you need to master the art of the elevator pitch.

Authors, Marketing, Publishing, Writing, CoachingDaniel J. TortoraNovember 8, 2022author tips, Amazon Author Central, book descriptions, book loglines, book marketing, book proposal, self-help books, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writing, selling ebooks, book coaching

Kobo Self-Publishing: Pros and Cons for Ebook Authors

Kobo Self-Publishing: Pros and Cons for Ebook Authors

Self-publishing your ebook on Kobo with Kobo Writing Life—and whether to publish direct or with Draft2Digital, IngramSpark, or PublishDrive.

Authors, Publishing, CoachingDaniel J. TortoraOctober 4, 2022ebooks, self-publishing, author tips, Kobo Writing Life, Draft2Digital