Start with a story

"With nonfiction, you've got your material, and what you're trying to do is tell it as a story in a way that doesn't violate fact but at the same time is structured and presented in a way that makes it interesting to read."
That's quite a sentence from author John McPhee. Let's break it down to its basic elements:
1. Tell a story.
2. Don't violate facts.
3. Give it structure.
4. Present it well.
5. Make it interesting to read.
Some of this may seem easier said than done but it isn't if you take it one step at a time. Start by telling a story. If you can't do that, steps 2-5 are meaningless. If you can, steps 2-5 are not only possible but exciting.