A book about a topic that might seem to have a small audience might still be a viable project. Five basics of nonfiction book proposals fresh ink book. Mar 05, 2018 for help with your nonfiction book proposal, start here. Identifying your audience will help shape your book throughout the writing process and ensure better sales when it comes time to market and promote your nonfiction book. Addressed to a specific editor by name spelled correctly, followed by a topic sentence, a paragraph developing your topic, the audience for your book, and your qualifications to write on this topic. How to write a book proposal and why you should read this. Although you should include at least two sample chapters in your nonfiction proposal.
Have you got a nonfiction book idea and dream of securing a. Think of your book proposal as a business plan that must make a. Overview describe your book in two or three paragraphs 500 words or less. Tucker has sold over 5 million books as a 4x nyt bestselling author and is the cofounder of scribe. In addition to a sample chapter, a nonfiction book proposal typically includes an overview as well as competitive books, audience, specifications. Writing a winning nonfiction book proposal 32 30 before you actually begin writing a book, you have to decide two things. Describe similar books and sites popular with your target audience. Basic tips on book proposals your book proposal should include the following elements. Each header is a necessary element in a complete proposal. What other groups and types of readers will also be interested. Its unusual for a nonfiction book to be written on spec and then sold, and for that reason crafting a proposal requires a skill that is separate from, but not independent of your ability to write the book.
It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. For instance, a table of contents or sample chapters may not yet be written, so. How to write and sell the novel of true events, by peter rubie quill driver books, 2009 the proposal is a description of, and sample of a proposed book. The headings on the sample proposal template below cover the critical elements of. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. It is by david sanford, a published author, editor, and literary agent for more than 300 books who now serves on the leadership team at corban university. Even if you never plan to write a book proposal, you should be familiar with whats here, as it reveals the sort of data publishers analyze when deciding whether.
She helped us choose the right agentwho ultimately landed us a 6figure book deal with charles scribners sons. For example, according to the book proposal, holistic tarot was 156,000 words. How to write a memoir book proposal memoirs are just getting more and more popular in what i call this age of the business celebrity. My book on how to write was a nichetype book for a nichetype audience. Add in those samples, and youll have a complete proposal ready to be considered by a literary agent. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require. Agents are looking for something more specific when it comes to nonfiction. Most nonfiction is sold via a book proposal a structured outline of the book you. May 08, 20 a book about a topic that might seem to have a small audience might still be a viable project. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. A cover sheet with the books working title and your name as youd like it to appear on the book centered in the middle of the page, book proposal typed in the upperleft corner, and your name. Who is your core audience, the most likely purchasers of this book. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal logline.
You are basically making an argument about why your nonfiction product is a marketable commodity for a publishing house to spend resources on and get a strong return on investment. Thinking like your editor, nonfiction book proposals. When nonfiction authors ask me, how can i write a book proposal or do i need a proposal if i write a howto book. How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers write. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. Target audience who is your core audience, the most likely purchasers of this book. For more information about writing nonfiction book proposals, see the following articles. All good nonfiction book proposals should contain the following, and query.
A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. This includes the target audience, competitive titles, and the selling points of your book. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. I read a book about how to put together a proposal. These are the readers who are champing at the bit to get a book like yours. Provide two sample chapters of the book so that we can get a sense of your writing style and its suitability for the target audience. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. Agents and editors dont want to see a completed book nonfiction book most of the time. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book.
Its the core reader you write for, that woman or man you picture as you craft your words on the page. How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers block party. Though its written in place of an actual book, it should build a complete argument for the book idea. I also sold a book off the back of a nonfiction book proposal that had multiple publishers bidding for the rights, and ended up being sold to harpercollins for. Since we recently discussed the role of a synopsis in a fiction proposal i thought it important that we address what the nonfiction author needs to provide. Novelists and poets still typically need a full manuscript for publishers to consider, but for nonfiction books its quite the oppositepublishers and agents dont even necessarily want an. This is an updated version of a story that was previously published.
Its this time that allows those of us who have achieved a level of success in our chosen field of practice to accelerate our success on. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers dummies. Your book outline is the structure of your book, and thus incredibly important. Hi shamrock838, when i submitted the proposal for my middle grade nonfic cryptic canada, i sent a cover letter explaining the focusslant of my book, the projected word count and my writing credentials.
If you also consider the potential of selling your book internationally, the audience grows larger. Ive seen many authors confuse the two and create extra work for. How to write a winning nonfiction book proposal colorado. How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers digest. Who is the target audience and what makes your book unique and worthwhile for them. Nonfiction book proposals can top out around 5075 pages, not including sample chapters. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. Nonfiction book proposal guide ask yourself these questions and as you write your answers, your proposal will develop before your eyes. A book proposal is a regular part of publishing a nonfiction book for most writers.
Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. Ill provide a sample proposal and give you examples of what to do and what. Dont start writing your book without first creating the structure. The first proposal i wrote was for a book about my favorite museum in san francisco, musee mechanique, for chronicle books. If you think your book is for everyone, you are setting yourself up for failure.
Nonfiction book proposal outline the following are some guidelines to help you. For most acquisition editors, this is a very important part of the proposal. You want to demonstrate that you know your stuff and that you are the right person to be writing and promoting books like this. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel updated. A toptier book proposal steps away from the writers vantage point and provides an indepth discussion about why readers will buy the book. In the process of writing my own nonfiction book proposal earlier this year thanks to my year of amazing pledge, i searched everywhere i could for tips and advice on how to write a nonfiction book proposal. Sep 24, 2014 whats more, you have several audiences. As a hybrid author, she also has published 17 books independently. Thinking like your editor, nonfiction book proposals anybody. This is one of the main differences between the fiction and the nonfiction book proposal.
Every proposal has to have a standard set of sections, and then there are some that are optional. The outline proposal should be as full as possible to enable the most effective evaluation and feedback on the project. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. The audience for this book will be middle to uppermiddle class christian parents with at. We prefer to receive book proposals through email as file attachments in pdf format. Speakup15 5 secondary audiences who, in addition to the target audience, might read or purchase this book. If you are submitting a requested proposal for fiction also unusual, you may use the same elements. What is their size, its rate of growth, and the number of. Nonfiction book proposal outline for sounds true i. A nonfiction book proposal isnt just a truncated manuscript.
A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in entrepreneur, businessweek, and wired magazine. If you start writing without a good outline template, the process will take forever and your book. Nonfiction book proposal guide creative media agency, inc. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. Nonfiction book proposals always answer these three questions so what. If you write fiction, you may be asked to write a book proposalfor a short story anthology, a writing book, even a series. Its this time that allows those of us who have achieved a level of success in our chosen field of practice to accelerate our success on an ongoing basis through the creation of a book. As much as you love writing, this is not designed to be an epic. It was not acceptedthe sales team thought the project was too localinterestbut writing that proposal gave me the template and approach that i went on to utilize again and again, ultimately with much success. Outlining a nonfiction book is slightly different than a fiction project, as youll need to start with creating a compelling reason for your audience to accept what you are sharing. Nonfiction book proposal template speak up conference. Writing a winning nonfiction book proposal 32 30 from my experience, a great book proposal needs to include five distinct elements see fig. The following is a template for completing a nonfiction book proposal.
The proposal was for my nonfiction pop culture book about the history of black women on tv. Last week, i was feeling really good about how much i had accomplished a sample chapter and prologue, an overview of the book for a book proposal until i decided to really map out what it is going to take to get this project done. I found this advice once offered by former writer s digest publisher jane friedman who rejected and approved proposals over. Reader benefits what specific benefits will the reader experience upon reading this book. You may think that the work youve begun on your book should be enough to sell it but publishing, as youve probably gleaned by now, is a cooperative. By jane friedman if you wrote a nonfiction book 20 years ago, your greatest competition. Some industry insiders refer to this as the statement of need or evidence of need that an untapped niche or strong demand exists for this type of book.
I m deep in the thrill of starting a new project right now, an 80s memoir about houses. In addition to your core target audience, who might be the next most interested targets. I often say, you only need a book proposal if you want to get your book published. For help with your nonfiction book proposal, start here. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. Addressed to the appropriate agent with titlegenreword count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. Publishers require prospective authors to submit either a proposal a longer document providing additional editorial and marketing information about your book or a query letter a onepage letter of introduction inviting the publisher to ask for more details about your project. If your book proposal template convinces the publisher, then they will contract and pay you to write the book.
How to write a book proposal the creative independent. Its primarily a sales and marketing tool for you, and for your book. A nonfiction book proposal most often contains some form of the following, although many publishers and agents have specific guidelines for submitting nonfiction proposals. I also had a onepage overview which included other similar books already in the marketplace and how mine was different. Anticipate the editors needs by using the proposal writing process to learn a. That means painting the picture of yourself as an expert in your specific field even if youre a selfproclaimed expert. Breaking down the nonfiction book proposal the business. It must have a one or twopage overview of the book, a chapterbychapter synopsis, an author bio section, an analysis of the audience for the book, and marketing and promotion sections. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel. If you have the time and want more detailed guidelines, get one of the many excellent books on writing proposals from the writers shelf at your library or local bookstore.
How to write a book proposal that agents will love jericho writers. Youre going to have to essentially sell them your book, sending them a document that contains details about your qualifications, a chapterbychapter outline, and most importantly, how your. A small hobby or interest could have hundreds of thousands of potential readersand thats just in the united states. Nonfiction book proposals always answer these three. Preparing a nonfiction book proposal will not only give you a map for determining key.
I found this advice once offered by former writers digest publisher jane friedman who rejected and approved proposals over. Need to segregate different genre of books, but unable to do so. Here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have. Nonfiction book proposal guidelines thinking ink press. Think of this as the copy that would go on the back cover of your book or in the publishers catalog, or as the brief. Define your target audience nonfiction authors association. Ill start with the must haves and then explain the optionals. Who, in addition to the target audience, might read or purchase this book.
Many were great, but super lengthy and time consuming to read. Also, according to the proposal, the title of the book is tarotanalysis. A marketing plan is a vital element of every nonfiction book proposal. She is a nonfiction book editor and doctor, proposal consultant, and an author coach and trainer as well as a book and blog coach. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to. Include your name and email address or phone number. Lisa also guided me and my coauthor stepbystep to write a topnotch book proposalone that several agents and publishers were excited about. Most publishers have guidelines for how they want your material to arrive, regardless of. Wait no further because our readymade book proposal templates are designed to overcome such obstacles. In the case of a nonfiction book, the book proposal in written first before you write the whole book. Unlike fiction, where an author must have a completed manuscript ready before they approach a publisher or agent, a nonfiction author only needs to develop a proposal to submit to publishers andor agents. Include the first one or two chapters not the introduction, but sample. Writing a nonfiction book proposal a primer for the firsttime nonfiction book writer by scott mendel updated february 2018 it will probably seem obvious to you that the nonfiction book proposal is a tool your agent will use to sell your work at the best possible terms, and to secure the strongest possible.
Instead of writing the entire book, then trying to interest an editor or agent which is how it works with novels, you write the proposal first. Oct 25, 2016 a book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. How to outline a nonfiction book with free template. It is up to the author working with the agent to prove that a sizeable target audience for the book exists, to sharply define this target market, and to evaluate competitive books if any in the marketplace. Include a sample chapterusually the best choice is the first chapter, and it should be engaging right from the start. That was a twobook deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template tucker max tucker has sold over 5 million books as a 4x nyt bestselling author and is the cofounder of scribe. Nonfiction book proposals in the digital age to sell an agent or publisher on your nonfiction idea, its more important. Nonfiction book proposal outline for sounds true aws. Dec 05, 2019 it must have a one or twopage overview of the book, a chapterbychapter synopsis, an author bio section, an analysis of the audience for the book, and marketing and promotion sections.
Unlike a work of fiction, which must be completed before you send the query, a proposal is the correct way to approach a publisher for a nonfiction book. What you want to say, and to whom you want to say it. A great nonfiction book proposal will show that you have thought through your idea, and more importantly, it will show that you know how to turn this idea into a book. A standard proposal includes a title page, overview, description of the audience for the book, an analysis of competitive titles, a plan for how the author will promote the book, an author bio, the table of contents for the book, short summaries of each chapter, and three sample chapters. A book proposal is an essential document used in publishing circles to describe the purpose and scope of a potential publication. The outline proposal the first thing you as an author should do is to prepare an outline proposal for your new book and send it to the appropriate commissioning editor. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. May 28, 2017 a book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. Stephanie chandler is the founder of the nonfiction authors associationand nonfiction writers conference, and author of several books including the nonfiction book publishing plan and the nonfiction book marketing plan. Nonfiction book proposals in the digital age to sell an agent or publisher on your nonfiction idea, its more important than ever to show where your book will fit inand what will make it stand outboth in print and online. It needs to be focused, accompanied by supporting materials, and.
589 772 1463 699 65 1484 555 1103 170 728 641 82 909 1667 1034 1496 582 820 822 522 1089 61 935 1203 1340 494 1654 686 657 494 1143 591 1300 301 296 1405 801 418 1014 1068