Visual aids in nonfiction, such as charts, diagrams, and images, can elevate your blog posts or book by clarifying complex concepts, engaging readers, and breaking up dense text. The “catch” is that creating and using visuals involves visual thinking, a different kind of thinking than many (verbal) authors are skilled at. It also requires strategic planning and attention to legal details. We’ve discussed why you should use visual aids in nonfiction writing. Here’s how to effectively incorporate visuals in your writing—and the best tools to help you along the way.
Why Visual Aids in Nonfiction Matter
Visual aids enhance the reader’s experience:
- They can simplify complex ideas into easily digestible formats.
- Visuals can support your text with clear, compelling illustrations or data.
- They add visual interest to keep readers engaged.
Including visuals can make your book more impactful and memorable. You just need to be sure they are effective.
Tips for Using Visual Aids in Nonfiction
Work with a professional.
While it’s helpful to experiment with visuals during the writing process, your book’s final interior design should always be handled by a professional. Here’s why:
- Professionals ensure your book meets industry standards for formatting and design.
- They create polished visuals that align seamlessly with your book’s content.
- They can optimize images for print and eBook formats, avoiding issues like pixelation or misalignment.
Collaborate with your designer to refine visuals you create, ensuring they meet professional standards while capturing your original intent.
Use visuals during the writing process.
Seeing concrete representations of your ideas can spark creativity and clarify your vision. Here’s how to use visuals as part of your writing process:
- Create mockups or drafts of charts, graphs, or other images to visualize key points.
- Use placeholders and inspiration boards to guide your narrative structure.
- Don’t worry if your initial visuals don’t make it into the final book—what matters is how they help you develop your content.
Mockups and drafts are tools for writing, even if they’re later adjusted or replaced by a professional.
Using Images Legally
Before using any visual in your book, ensure you have the legal right to do so. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Copyright: You must have explicit permission to use any copyright-protected material. If something is clearly in the public domain, you may use it.
- Trademarks: Avoid using images containing logos or trademarked elements without authorization.
- Derivatives: Even if you alter an image, you may still need the original creator’s permission to use it.
Failing to secure the proper rights risks legal action, including lawsuits for copyright infringement or trademark infringement. When in doubt, check it out. Start with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to see if something you want to use is listed. If it is, you must get permission if you want to use it. If it’s not, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. In that case, consult a trademark and patent attorney before you decide to publish anything with that image. Using it for your own personal inspiration while you write is fine, but publishing it is not.
Tools for Creating Beautiful Visuals
These tools can help you draft great visuals to keep you on track during the writing process or to create placeholders for professional designers to refine:
Canva
A versatile graphic design platform with templates for charts, infographics, and visuals.
Best For: Mocking up ideas, creating placeholders, or experimenting with layouts
Try Canva.
Lucidchart
An intuitive tool for creating diagrams, flowcharts, and organizational visuals.
Best For: Illustrating processes, hierarchies, or systems
Explore Lucidchart.
Piktochart
A user-friendly tool for creating data visualizations, including infographics and graphs.
Best For: Representing statistics or data-heavy concepts
Check out Piktochart.
Microsoft PowerPoint
A familiar tool for drafting visuals like slides, charts, and diagrams.
Best For: Simple, quick visuals to refine later with a designer
Learn about PowerPoint.
Adobe Illustrator
A professional-grade tool for creating custom, high-quality graphics.
Best For: Authors with advanced design skills or working alongside a designer
Explore Adobe Illustrator.
Google Drawings
A free, simple tool for creating basic visuals.
Best For: Quick sketches or placeholders for more polished designs later
Try Google Drawings.
Royalty-Free Resources
When creating or sourcing images, consider using royalty-free platforms that provide legally safe visuals. These are some options:
- Unsplash: High-quality stock photos.
- Pexels: Free images and videos.
- Freepik: Graphics, illustrations, and templates.
Even when using royalty-free platforms, check licensing terms to ensure proper usage.
A Relationship with Your Designer
To be clear, people are not tools. Your relationship with a designer can be a great tool, however. Once you’ve drafted your visuals, share them with your professional designer. Collaboration ensures these:
- Your visuals meet publishing standards.
- Ideas are refined into high-quality graphics.
- Your book’s overall design remains cohesive and polished.
Your designer is your partner in turning your creative drafts into professional-grade elements.
Final Thoughts
Visual aids in nonfiction are powerful tools for clarifying ideas, engaging readers, and adding polish to your nonfiction book. You can draft visuals during the writing process and ensure your final book is designed by a professional. Always prioritize legal compliance and creative collaboration to make your images both impactful and legitimate.
At Best Nonfiction Book Coach, we guide authors in creating content that’s clear, compelling, and professionally designed. Let’s work together to bring your book—and its visuals—to life.
TL;DR:
Visual aids in nonfiction are important and must be handled carefully if you want to make your writing effective and avoid legal and financial trouble.
Call to Action
Download our PDF titled Why You Should Care About Copyright Law.
