How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers write. In this blog post, youll find a description of the overview and introduction sections of my christian nonfiction book proposal, for blossom. How to write a book proposal the creative independent. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. A one page cover letter or query letter is sufficient. It takes me months to finish writing a book proposal. I got two posts in before realizing the series would be far more helpful to folks if i actually coached a writer through the process of crafting a book proposal. Ive written and published several nonfiction books, so i had to study many articles, white papers, and books about how to write a book proposal along. As a hybrid author, she also has published 17 books independently. May 28, 2019 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. How to write a nonfiction book proposal understanding the. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. 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. It serves as a business plan for your book that proves to an agent or editor why your book will be successful when published.
How to write a book proposal includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow. Writing a great book proposal is how to sell your book to a publisher. For fiction, include several chapters in the book proposal, and the entire manuscript in a separate file. Dont try to use reason or logic to argue that it would be better a different way. For fiction writers a proposal if fairly easy compared to what nonfiction writers have to do. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or. Submitting an already written nonfiction book as a proposal is a great way to almost guarantee you will not get a book deal. There are a couple instances of being able to sell a fiction book on proposal. Instead of writing the entire book, then trying to interest an editor or agent which. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure theyre useful for our readers. In this comprehensive yet accessible guide, you will learn exactly what a proposal is, what it must contain, and how to pull yours together into an informative, persuasive selling package. The good news is that almost every nonfiction book published is sold by a proposal. Sep 10, 2017 for nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice. Use this list alongside how to write a book proposal, 4th edition by michael larsen to create strongest possible proposal for your book.
Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. Nonfiction book proposals bookends literary agency. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require. Andy warhol, saint apollonia suite 1984 for all of these reasons, quite a mouthful will make a perfect gift for any general interest nonfiction reader. In fact, for my travel adventure memoir, ive been working on the proposal onandoff for the last two years, and even then, my agent is asking for a rewrite. How to come up with a working title for your nonfiction. May 08, 20 as a hybrid author, she also has published 17 books independently. Agents are looking for something more specific when it comes to nonfiction. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. Aug 01, 2017 writing a proposal for a work of nonfiction may be intimidating and sometimes frustrating, especially if youre unsure about the information you should include and how to structure the proposal. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount.
I have always used a oneto fiveparagraph description of the project. Oct 25, 2016 a book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. Writing a winning nonfiction book proposal 32 30 from my experience, a great book proposal needs to include five distinct elements see fig. In december 2012 i started a series of posts on how to write a book proposal. The anatomy of a compelling book proposal the bindery. A one paragraph, inanutshell description of the project or idea.
Though its written in place of an actual book, it should build a complete argument for the book idea. Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. Get an agent interested before you write the proposal october 7, 2017 by lynette padwa lots of firsttime nonfiction authors are thrilled to learn they dont have to write an entire manuscript to acquire an agent and hopefully a publisher they just have to write a book proposal. The nonfiction book proposal is a combination of a description of the booktobe and a marketing document. Ive written and published four works of nonfiction and have been involved as a ghost or behindthescenes editor on a couple of other things too. However, if you create a proposal thats divided into the following four sections, in the following order, every agent or publisher that you submit fiction book proposal to will be happy. Authors often spin their wheels and look at multiple sources for guidance on this task.
Apr 24, 2019 as bookends builds our nonfiction list i am getting an increasing number of questions about what goes into a nonfiction book proposal. Once youve mastered the query letter its time to move on to the book proposal. 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. Aug 15, 2018 the book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. So youve got a brilliant idea for a nonfiction book. How to write a nonfiction book proposal nathan bransford. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. 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.
The 8 essential elements of a nonfiction book proposal by. Write your nonfiction book proposal the get published series. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. 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. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. Start with the working title of the project along with your name, email, and phone number. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. And keep in mind, if you are writing narrative nonfiction, like a memoir, you should think of your work as fiction. A nonfiction book proposal is a required document if you want to land a traditional book publishing deal. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. Even more so than practical nonfiction, your narrative or memoir proposal needs to serve as a microcosm for your book as a whole, so the proposal has to be a tight and exciting read, and capture the arc of the book. Book proposal template nonfiction authors association. Speakup15 5 secondary audiences who, in addition to the target audience, might read or purchase this book.
A commonly accepted structure for a nonfiction book proposal broadly follows this outline. Using these book proposal templates is advantageous for the readers as well as their authors. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. The nonfiction book proposal that won me a publishing. In addition to your core target audience, who might be the next most interested targets. Write a winning nonfiction proposal is a wellresearched, practical toola book proposal tutorialthat will teach you, stepbystep, how to create the kind of nonfiction proposal that gets you noticed by agents, editors, and publishers. Further differentiating those genres into different categories and subcategories makes it easier for the readers to pick only materials that suit their taste. The bukowski agency nonfiction proposal guidelines. A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. Klems june 28, 2012 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. Add in those samples, and youll have a complete proposal ready to be considered by a literary agent. Different rules apply to writing a book proposal for fiction books, so make sure to do more research if youre writing a book proposal for a fiction book. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary services. After a brief contest of sorts i decided to work with gary neal hansen.
Youve taken the time to evaluate it and think your book could potentially take the world by the storm. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal logline. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. The most important aspect of the submission of a nonfiction book to publishers is the book proposal.
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. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in entrepreneur, businessweek, and wired magazine. Name of book, name and contact info for the author page 2. Using demuths own proposalwriting method, shes sold well over a dozen books to major publishing houses. The art of the nonfiction book proposal writers relief, inc.
She is a nonfiction book editor and doctor, proposal consultant, and an author coach and trainer as well as a book and blog coach. This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers digest. Thats top secret information until the book actually gets. 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. Typically because you are selling the authors platform as much as you are selling the idea. Dec 19, 2011 she is a nonfiction book editor and doctor, proposal consultant, and an author coach and trainer as well as a book and blog coach. 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. Include two of the chapters you feel best represents your writing style and the content of the book you are writing. Fiction book proposal for literary agents literary agencies. The following is an excerpt from write a book without lifting a finger by mahesh grossman, available at. A one paragraph, in a nutshell description of the project or idea.
How to write a nonfiction book proposal become a writer today. Jun 18, 2008 in general, the nonfiction book proposal is designed to give editors a wellorganized, detailed sales pitch describing what your proposed book is about and how it will make money for the publishing company. As agent adriann ratan suggests in her how to write a nonfiction book proposal, the goal is to make buying your book as easy for the publisher as possible. Writing a proposal for a work of nonfiction may be intimidating and sometimes frustrating, especially if youre unsure about the information you should include and how to structure the proposal. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. In general, the nonfiction book proposal is designed to give editors a wellorganized, detailed sales pitch describing what your proposed book is about and how it will make money for the publishing company. Chapter name once youve finished writing your proposal, and before you seek feedback on it, use this list to make sure your proposal is ready for you to push the send button. The letter you send to an agent to get him to request your book proposal is a query letter.
To aid us in our presentation of your book project, we ask authors to prepare a carefully detailed and compelling proposal regardless of whether you have a completed manuscript. Addressed to the appropriate agent with titlegenreword count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. In addition to proving your credibility, you should also show the publisher that youre able to bring the money. I offer a selfstudy course on nonfiction book proposals. Nonfiction book proposals can top out around 5075 pages, not including sample chapters. For nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice.
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