Some athletes make great broadcasters; many do not. The challenge with nonfiction is that it isn’t just about your writing fundamentals, but also about how well you communicate your knowledge of the book-selling game. You need to be great in the booth.
For science-related nonfiction, the fundamentals that should be evident in your sample chapter(s) include strong research and persuasive writing skills, a distaste for jargon, ease with storytelling techniques borrowed from fiction, and undeniable subject matter expertise.
But if you want to receive an agent’s goal—your query and proposal should demonstrate a deep understanding of the commercial potential of your book. That involves three big M’s.
