How to Become a Textbook Writer

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By Jeanne Grunert
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Write textbooks.

If you like to write and are an expert in a given subject, you may want to explore becoming a textbook writer. While some textbooks are written by staff employed by the publisher, other publishing companies seek freelancers to write chapters or entire books. You don't need to be a teacher or a scholar in a subject. What you do need in order to become a textbook writer is a strong, clear writing style and excellent research skills. Here are tips to get you started in the profitable world of textbook writing.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Internet connection
Computer
Strong research skills
Bachelor's degree (minimum); Masters or higher degree preferred

Step 1

Evaluate your writing skills. Textbook writers must be able to read, understand, and write about many subjects. Your research skills must be sharp. A clear, concise writing style is essential, as well as excellent grammar and spelling skills.
Step 2

Choose a subject with which you are familiar. If your passion is science, consider the many potential topics you can write about: biology, earth science, human anatomy, etc. Mathematicians may find their passion in fractions, while history buffs love the American Revolution. Know what you enjoy and what you are an expert in so that you can share your passion.
Step 3

Find textbook publishing opportunities. Read websites such as Deb Ng's freelance writing gigs, Craigslist, Writers Weekly, and other sites that pull writing jobs from the many job posting boards out there. Look for ones marked textbook writer, education publishing, etc.
Step 4

Develop a strong clips file of writing in the field in which you are interested. Write for eHow and other sites on these topics, and save your links and clips. Polish your resume and cover letter and submit your credentials and applications to textbook publishing ads. There are usually a few each month.
Step 5

Visit the major publishers' websites such as McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin, and others. Look through their job postings to find freelance opportunities and submit your application. It can takes months to get a response, but they are read (I was a manager at a major K-12 publishing company and can testify that I read every application, but HR often took a while to respond.)
Step 6

If you'd prefer to pitch publishers on your own concept, begin with an outline. Develop a strong premise for your textbook. Be sure that you have excellent academic credentials or a unique slant to the book. Create an outline, synopsis, and sample chapters. Pitch your book to markets appropriate for the subject and age level. You can find publishers in Writers Market or online.
Step 7

It will take a while to find work as a textbook writer, but once you have a few jobs under your belt, publishers may seek YOU out for work. Slow and steady pursuit of your goals helps you accomplish them.
Step 8

Explore additional opportunities in education writing. SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, ACT, LSAT, MCAT....all the standardized tests breed prep books, and publishers need test questions. Many publishers pay $5 per question. While this doesn't seem like a lot, if you can write steadily, the money easily adds up. Again, you can find these opportunities through the many job posting blogs and websites for writers. See the Resource section for links.

Comments

kaytay said

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on 3/25/2009 textbook writers are in demand. I wish I was an expert in an area that I could write about

chava812 said

on 3/16/2009 A unique way to make a living writing perhaps - one we don't often want to consider as our goal in life, but perhaps one better suited to many of us. Here, here, on having perfect grammar and spelling to write a textbook!