As you are writing your nonfiction and/or reading appropriate nonfiction mentor texts, remember to pay attention to the back matter. Back matter is added by the author after the main text to add more information, clarify something from the text, or provide features that make it easier for the reader to use the book. They can include the Afterword, Author Note, Timeline, Map, Further Information, Source Notes, Further Reading, Bibliography, Glossary, Acknowledgments, and Image Credits. Which should you choose for your book, and why? Read more...

LWH:  Who else will help me teach my friends to write nonfiction?

A friendly duck named Steve Swinburne waddled up. 

SS the FD: I will help! I know all about turtles and beaks and wolves (oh my!)



A turtledove named Kelly Loughman the Holiday House Editor, a mockingbird named Lucas Miller (singer/science writer), and a bluejay named Kristen Fulton flew down.

KLFE the T: I will help!

LM the M: I will help!

KF the B: I will help!

And they did! Editor Kelly Loughman, and authors Steve Swinburne, Peggy Thomas, Lucas Miller, Kristen Fulton and several others will be part of a fabulous, fun, and very instructive conference for any chick or rooster who wants to become a Skillful Scribes of True Things. More faculty members are flocking to our conference--TBA!

Once upon a time, there was a little white hen. She was a clucker, a strutter, and a writer of nonfiction. All the other chickens in her henhouse were writing fiction. Little White Hen wanted to share the joys and thrills of writing about True Things. 

LWH: Who will help me put on a nonfiction conference?

Famous Conference Crow: Not I. We already have a nonfiction conference that works great without chickens.

Local Writing Organization Owl: Not I. Our fiction conference uses all of our volunteers. We cannot do two.

Foxy Conference Promoter: Not I. You are a chicken. I am a fox. You know what that means.

LWH: Fine, then I will do it myself!

And she did. Little White Hen called her conference NF 4 NF, "Nonfiction for the Nicely Feathered". She decided to have it October 9 - 12, 2014, in Texas, because that state is definitely for the birds. Little White Hen found some friendly fowl who were terrific writers of True Things. They were delighted to help pencil-wise poultry make the switch to nonfiction. 

First Little White Hen met a lovely and talented swan named Peggy Thomas. This sleek bird penned the definitive book on How To Be Top-O'-The-Barn with Factual Writing. It was reissued with a new title and a lovely green cover. Peggy's book is fun to read and Full of Tips for New Nonfiction Writers!

LWH: Will you help me put on a nonfiction conference?

PT the S: Yes, I will!