Take It from Me
An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch

Quotes

One of Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of the Year

“If you’re a nonfiction writer trying to get your book published, this book will no doubt be an essential resource.”—Lit Hub

“Alia Hanna Habib is the best literary agent any writer could ask for and I feel immeasurably lucky to have her in my corner. Alia knows the publishing industry better than anyone. Her expertise, thoughtfulness, and brilliance have changed my life. Her debut book, Take It from Me, is a masterclass in showing aspiring writers how to approach and navigate the publishing process. It is an invaluable resource. If you are looking to publish your own nonfiction project, this will become the most important book in your library.”—Clint Smith, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How the Word is Passed

“Take It from Me is a letter from a master agent. Alia Hanna Habib takes what nonfiction writers need and crave from agents—encouragement, tactical savvy—and delivers it on the page, making her precious skills and knowledge accessible to everyone.”—Jodi Kantor, co-author of She Said

“Aspiring authors couldn’t hope for a better guide to writing and publishing a non-fiction book. Take It from Me is a map, a tool-kit, and a trove of information that demystifies the publishing process written with humor, warmth, and smarts.”­—Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees

“Nonfiction publishing is a world of strange customs and opaque folkways, where it can feel impossible for outsiders to understand how things work. Until now, when Alia Hanna Habib is here to shrewdly, wisely, and hilariously demystify the whole process and deliver all the inside dope. I can’t be the first to say this, but I really, really wish I had this book when I was starting out.”—Robert Kolker, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road

“Take It from Me feels like a conversation with your smartest, most honest friend in publishing—funny, incisive, and all-in on helping your nonfiction dream take flight. Alia Hanna Habib doesn’t gate-keep—she invites you in, offering the most practical, no-nonsense roadmap I’ve seen for nonfiction writers. Straight talk, sharp insight, and a deep generosity of spirit. Essential reading.” ­—Adrienne Brodeur, bestselling author of Wild Game

“At times Take It from Me feels almost novelistic—with human drama, history, and the possibility of achieving something that, once mystical, now becomes reassuringly concrete. Habib is a warm, funny, inspiring guide through a process that is rarely treated with such scrutiny and respect.”—Rachel Aviv, New York Times bestselling author of Strangers to Ourselves

“Readers who want to publish books of their own will flock to this volume, but even those without literary ambitions might be interested in Habib’s explanation of the process. . . . Essential.”—Library Journal, starred review

“A nitty-gritty, roll-up-your-sleeves how-to . . . Habib lifts the curtain on how agents decide what books to represent and how editors choose titles to acquire, as well as offering detailed explanations on everything from author advances to what to expect as publication day nears. For aspiring nonfiction authors, it’s a must.”—Publishers Weekly

“With Habib's generous, kind, playful, and welcoming prose, this is a perfect book for anyone feeling interested in writing but intimidated by the institutions.”—Booklist

“A fascinating braid of personal guidance and practitioner interviews . . . Habib[’s] counsel, presented with the clear-eyed pragmatism (but none of the cynicism) of an industry veteran, stands out in a congested market of books on writing . . . even the published author, will . . . find value in these pages. . . . An invaluable resource for aspiring and professional writers alike.”—Kirkus