You have a great idea for a book. You’ve envisioned the plot, the main characters and supporting characters, the setting, the rising conflict, the resolution, the themes, etc. You’ve even come up with a few potential titles! You’re really proud of your ideas and you want to share your story with others; hence why you’ve decided that you want to turn it into a book. Good for you!
Before you become the next CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, JK Rowling, or Charlotte Bronte (insert whomever your favorite author is and who you most aspire to be like), the first thing you need to do is set yourself up for success. A lot of writers assume that coming up with – and writing – the story is all that really needs to be done in order to become a published author. While that’s certainly a big part of the equation, becoming a published author involves a lot more than that. In an industry where the competition is really steep, and one in which many topics, themes, and genres are over-saturated, in order to achieve success, you need to plan ahead. But what does that planning entail? Well, it starts with writing a great book proposal.
A book proposal serves as your portal to the publishing world. It can be the difference between having your story picked up by a publishing house and shared with the world and sitting buried on a publisher’s desk somewhere, underneath a stack of tons of manuscripts that have been submitted from hundreds of other writers. But what exactly is a proposal? Why is it important? How do you go about writing one that will grab the attention of prospective publishers and lead to success? We’re glad you asked!
In an effort to help you find the success that you desire and deserve, below, we’ve provided the answers to the above questions, and have included some simple tips that you can use to craft a thoughtful, attention-grabbing book proposal.
Demystifying the role of a book proposal
A book proposal is kind of like a job application for authors. It’s a document that shows your intention for creating a well-crafted book that has the potential to become a big hit with publishing houses. In short, a proposal aims to show a publishing house why they should pick up and invest in your story, and share it with the world.
A book proposal isn’t your entire book, nor does it showcase all of your ideas. Rather, a proposal is a brief summary of the main idea of your book. It feature a few sample chapters on the topic/subject matter that you intend on covering, as well as a marketing plan for the title that you are proposing to a publishing house. In other words, a book proposal sets you, the author, and your idea for a book, apart from the dozens of other authors and countless other books that publishing houses receive on a constant basis. In short, a book proposal is a big deal and is one of the first and most important steps in the publishing journey. As such, if you’re serious about becoming a published author, you need to make sure that you craft a great book proposal.
Essential ingredients for a successful nonfiction book proposal
In order to write a great book proposal, you need to know what to include in the document.
The specific content that should be included in your book proposal depends on several factors, including the submission guidelines of the specific publisher you intend on sending it to; however, the following is a basic overview of the most basic elements that should be included in a book proposal.
- A title page. It should include the full title of the book you are proposing, as well as your name.
- Overview. Include a brief summary of your book, providing the publisher with a big-picture overview of the content and intention of your story. Think of the overview as a “hook” that will entice prospective publishing houses to seek more information and keep on reading. When crafting your overview, think: “If someone were reading the back cover of my book, would they be enticed to read the book based on the information provided?”
- Biography. Some call this an “about the author” section. Either way, it should be concise, brief, and to the point. Include any other works you’ve had published, as well as any other relevant experience. Your bio should aim to convince the publisher that you are the right author to write the book. Important: Be sure to include a photo.
- Outline and table of contents. You’ll also want to include a list of proposed chapters, including their titles, as well as a brief summary of what each chapter will be about. The summaries should be short; no more than a paragraph.
- Sample chapter(s). Typically, a proposal also includes a sample chapter of the book that you’re proposing. The chapter should provide the publisher with a sense of your writing style and it should deliver on the promise of the completed work. If you’re attempting to publish your first book, this is especially important, so as to convince the publishing house that investing in your writing would be worth their while.
- Competitive analysis of other titles. You should also include a list of books that have already been published that are similar to the book you are proposing. Include a short blurb that compares each book to your own. The aim is to highlight why your book has the potential to be more appealing to readers than the comparable titles, yet it should also differentiate your book.
- Target market. You’ll also want to highlight the audience you’re aiming to target with the book you’re proposing.
- Marketing plan. Include solid steps that publishers can use to market your book.
- Additional info. If you’d like, you can also include any other details that you feel are pertinent; important stats, expected word count, etc.
A great book proposal can be the difference between publishing your book and becoming a successful author and remaining an amateur writer. With the tips mentioned above, hopefully you will be on your way to publishing your writing and sharing it with the world.