From a story on niemanstoryboard.org by Bryan Denson headlined “So you want to write a book? Have a strong story and resilient ego”:

All the great writers have proffered wisdom on the craft, the best-in-show quote being Norman Mailer’s: “Writing books is the closest men come to childbearing.” But the literary sages have offered scarce advice to serious long-form journalists on plotting, writing and, most importantly, selling a nonfiction book.