Your book proposal should give the new harbinger editors a clear and specific idea of what your book is about. These specifications are preferred by editors for editing and tracking changes. Edit, edit, edit, and proofread, proofread, proofread. Sample query letter the query letter sample below will help you create a successful query letter of your own, so you can get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. To write a self help book, you do need to have experience, whether its professional or personal. To sculpt your proposal into its best self, weve recruited the aid of the top developmental editors on our marketplace and provided a book proposal template for you. A proposal keeps you right on track because it contains the theme, table of contents, chapterbychapter synopsis as well as a sample chapter. The book outline template for a romance novel is different than the outline for a selfhelp book. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency it is a lot of work to create a good book proposal, but it is one of the most important aspects of landing a reputable publisher michael christian penname. Not only is a proposal the first step in gaining the positive attention of an agent or acquisition editor, but also a book proposal helps you in many other ways. This article is part of a series called get a literary agent. As mentioned in my discussion on how to get published, if youre interested in writing a book length work of nonfiction, you dont need to write the entire manuscript before you make the sale. Only after you finish your proposal can you provide the following hooks for the first page of your proposal. Nonfiction selfhelp book template a few notes about this template.
Query letter sample literary agents and literary agencies. This page will direct you to some examples of book proposal sections so that you can put together a winning book proposal. Each heading within a book proposal answers a key question. The first step in any book outline is deciding which type of outline you will need. Instead of writing the entire book, then trying to interest an editor or agent which. This form contains a summary of the book, its aims, its goals and main features. Its important for the reader to feel inspired as they read. William cane has a helpful website for writing proposals. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. It also provides an overview of you as a potential author, with a focus on your expertise and qualifications to write the book you are proposing and your author platform within the. Imagine if you were an agent or an acquisitions editor and received a proposal for a book about creating change in peoples lives and the author described the market for her book this way.
Though this book was published in 2001, it gives you an idea of ten actual proposals that worked. Its a big responsibility and there are chances of getting inconsistent midway if you dont proceed with a novel outline template. Literary and commercial fiction, including young adult. The core of the publishing process is the book proposal. 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. What follows is a brief description of what the editors in the higher education department might expect of a proposal for a new textbook and how they will consider it for publication. Overview describe your book in two or three paragraphs 500 wo. If work proposal forms suggest the type of job an employee will be doing and how theyll be doing it, then a book proposal form suggests what an author is going to write about and how long it should take him to go about writing and revising the drafts. 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 write a nonfiction book proposal and why you. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. A good place to find a downloadable nonfiction and fiction book proposal template is. Query letter sample below reveals how you can double your chances of getting the attention of book agents and publishers. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. Because they will have been led through self tests. Scrivener lacks integration with reference management softwarethough users have found ways to handle citations, it doesnt work seamlessly. Writing a query letter for your self help or howto book.
Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. For full and real sample proposals, we recommend checking out. These sample chapters are the main evidence that you will be able to deliver a publishable manuscript. When writing a self help or howto book, it should be written in a positive tone. If you want your proposal returned, you must include sufficient postage. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully.
Psychology self help books have a major audience of mental health professionals, and big publishers miss out by ignoring people who buy a lot of books and whose wordofmouth recommendations are important to sales of your book. Whether it is fiction or nonfiction there are some key aspects to writing a book outline template free. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. For additional information, an excellent book to read is how to write a book proposal. How to write a killer query letter for selfhelp and how. Make sure you catch every error, and use the cleanest, whitest paper you have. If your proposal is for a picture book, you must include the illustrations. There are outlines for fiction and nonfiction, and for short books and text books. Be sure to remove the key question and explanation beneath each header. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. Use the chapter that will most effectively make them feel that way. A book proposal serves as a brief but indepth overview of your book idea, your approach to the topic, the book s organization and flow, and a sample of the writing. While anyone can write a self help book on any subject they choose, if you want yours to be successful, you need to back it up with life experience at the very least.
If this is an unsolicited paper proposal, you must include a self addressed, stamped envelope to receive a reply. Articles on how to find and choose a literary agent, advice, tips. The template is actually free to download from this very page. Ideas for books are as varied as the books themselves. Writing in cyberspace, by moira allen, was submitted to allworth press in 1998, and became the book.
There are a couple of downsides for scientific writing, however. I offer a self study course on nonfiction book proposals. How to organize your work with the help of book outlines. Writing book proposals or book proposal writing help. Start by explaining the main problem that your book addresses. In how to write a book proposal 4th edition, michael larsen answers the question of which chapters with send one that best blends freshness and excitement. Writing a great book proposal is how to sell your book to a publisher. The truth is that writing a book proposal is hard work, but the exercise of doing so will inevitably help prepare you for successwhether you plan to pursue a traditional book contract of self publish your work. How to write a book proposal that agents will love. If the tone of your book is laidback and easygoing, your proposal should be too.
Your proposal on a page you will write the first page of your proposal last. Write your proposal in a similar style to your completed book. It takes me months to finish writing a book proposal. Manuscript critiques, book proposals, marketing materials. A strong book proposal will not only help you sell your idea, but it will also help you sell the book when it finally makes its way to market, whether you traditionally publish or self publish. Memoir and narrative nonfiction, self help, spirituality. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Book proposal, 4th edition by michael larsen to create strongest possible proposal for your book. Now, this guide and the book proposal template complement one another, so youve got two ways to go about this. In the general self help market, a huge and everpopular area of publishing, book title, will appeal to readers wanting to improve their ability to.
Ben bella publishes niche market books, works by celebrities and experts in their fields, pop culture books, and anything that is associated with a brand. They arise in all sorts of different situations, but generally a book concept is written down into a proposal form. Creative intenet strategies to advance your writing career first edition 1999, second edition may 2003. A thorough book proposal evaluates the audience for the work, how it will stack up against the competition, and why the book will succeed in the. Before i share the ideal structure for book queries with you, i need to make sure you understand something. Feel free to use the headings and format of the template below. When writing a self help or how to book, its advisable to first obtain a publisher and then write the book, unless you will be self publishing. The book outline template for a romance novel is different than the outline for a self help book. My favorite is michael larsens how to write a book proposal. At least two highlypolished sample chapters of the book you will deliver. Send an outline, one or two chapters, and a self addressed stamped envelope sase to carole stuart, barricade books, 2037 lemoine avenue, fort lee, nj 07024. 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. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount.
This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i. How to submit a professional book proposal guilford press. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. He also suggests asking yourself, how you want editors to feel about your writing and your book when they finish reading your chapter. So this book proposal template is meant to give you a birdeyes view of the process. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel. Using unique features, such as selfassessments, discussion questions, and customizable plans, this 50,000word nonfiction book offers christcentered healing and hope to these women, helping them discover that they are different, not defective, so they can reframe their sensitivity as a godgiven strength rather than a weakness. A book outline template is the ultimate tool to help you create the best outline for your next project. Think of book proposal forms as similar to work proposal forms.
The proposal is the key to making your really book come to life for your publishing partners. We try to respond within four weeks of receipt of materials. Its really not a difficult process and simply involves getting a proposal out to publishers for their buyin and input. Dissertations online dissertation proposal, phd dissertation. Special instructions appear in brackets and red text like this. Your book proposal should include the following elements. Follow this stepbystep template to craft a great blurb or summary and the ultimate persuasive pitch 1. The following articles will help you with nuances but i also recommend purchasing a book on how to write a book proposal. Include any subhead or taglines that your book s title may contain. Book proposals are used to sell nonfiction books to publishers. Following are examples of two successful book proposals. If you want your materials returned, please include a self addressed, stamped envelope. Submitting a textbook proposal to oxford university press guidelines for authors we are very pleased that you are considering writing for oxford university press. Fiction book proposals are different than nonfiction proposals.