If you are publishing a nonfiction book such as a biography, history book, or guidebook without an index, then your book lacks one of the most important reference and sales tools available. And that, fellow scribes, is the overview and introduction sections of my christian nonfiction book proposal. This is one of the main differences between the fiction and the nonfiction book proposal. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. How to write a good nonfiction book proposal for submission 17 mar 2014 christian jennings, who is currently writing a book about the last year of wwii in northern italy, entitled if i live to see the dawn at war on the gothic line 194445. A book proposal cannot sell itself, so you must be prepared to find a literary agent to sell it for you. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. It breaks down what we are looking for as agents with useful examples and tips from our side of the desk. Mar 19, 2014 a 1 page minisynopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special with proposed word count and delivery date. 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. In contrast to conference or, to a lesser degree, chapter proposals, a book proposal. Youll discover how to navigate the insider world of publishing, get an agent, write a killer book proposal, finish your book on time, and leverage the power of book buying psychology. Creating a compelling book proposal is your first step to getting your book to the right publisher. For example, a 300page book would have a finished typeset index of 1218.
What is the accepted way of preparing and submitting a proposal for a nonfiction picture book, say for the middle grade market. Advice that i find myself giving out again and again as an agent is guidance on how to write a nonfiction book proposal. An index enhances the ultimate value of a book the ultimate value of your book is greatly enhanced by the ability of a good index to locate all the places throughout the work that address specific interests and concerns. May 28, 2017 a book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure theyre useful for our readers. To get your nonfiction book published, put together a strong proposal. 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. The most important aspect of the submission of a nonfiction book to publishers is the book proposal. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. 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.
Sep 10, 2017 for nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice. Jan 05, 2016 the appropriate length for a nonfiction query is somewhere between 1 and 1. Jun 09, 2010 what ive got ready, a completed manuscript with word count and a proposal. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary services. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. Nonfiction book proposal guide creative media agency, inc. For nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice.
Now in its fifth edition, it continues to be the best resource. She is a nonfiction book editor and doctor, proposal consultant, and an author coach and trainer as well as a book and blog coach. What ive got ready, a completed manuscript with word count and a proposal. The bukowski agency nonfiction proposal guidelines. Instead of writing the entire book, then trying to interest an editor or agent which. Soon, ill post and link to the book proposals other sections.
Though its written in place of an actual book, it should build a complete argument for the book idea. Dear pamela, memoir advice about your book proposal memoir. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items. For my best advice, check out my guide to writing a novel now available in audio and my guide to publishing a book. Nonfiction book chapter outlines a way with words writing. Instead, you write the proposal that describes what the book is about, why its interesting, and why it has an audience. The type of manuscript youve written will be one of the major differences reflected in how you present your proposal.
Jan 12, 2009 the index is the first thing i read when i pick up a book. Contains the title, author byline, and contact information proposal contents. This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i. Add in those samples, and youll have a complete proposal ready to be considered by a literary agent. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. How to write a book proposal is the resource for aspiring nonfiction authors. For example, the publishing platform reedsy includes detailed explanations of. Ive seen many authors confuse the two and create extra work for themselves. Dear pamela, memoir advice about your book proposal. Nonfiction book proposal guide ask yourself these questions and as you write your answers, your proposal will develop before your eyes. How to write a book proposal has been the goto resource for getting your work published for over 25 years. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. Speakup15 3 sample cover page a proposal title subtitle author contact information. How does it differ from a standard magazine article query.
Its a perk of nonfiction that you can sell a book on proposal before sitting down to the write the whole shebang, and often receiving an advance will. Michael larsens how to write a book proposal has been the respected standard in the field ever since it was first published. It also subtly says im on twitter, which shows im building platform. Ive already read larsens book, and it does have some samples in it. 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. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. Apr 30, 2012 for a nonfiction book, create a list of chapters, where you give each chapter a catchy title possibly also a subtitle and the page on which the sample chapter can be found later in your proposal. How to finally write your nonfiction book the new york times. 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. When i use the search tool that comes with an online article or an ebook, im often disappointed. 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. Mar 17, 2014 how to write a good nonfiction book proposal for submission 17 mar 2014 christian jennings, who is currently writing a book about the last year of wwii in northern italy, entitled if i live to see the dawn at war on the gothic line 194445. And the publisher will want to know how well positioned you are to do it. The ultimate value of your book is greatly enhanced by the ability of a good index to locate all the places throughout the work that address specific.
Nov 06, 2019 how to write a nonfiction book proposal. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel. A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. Its usually at least 20 pages long, often much longer. 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. A book proposal isnt more difficult to write than a magazine article or a short story, so if youre already writing articles or stories, maybe its time for you to consider writing a book proposal and becoming a published author of a book. You can find downloadable book proposal templates online. How to write a good nonfiction book proposal for submission. Aug 23, 2016 when i was struggling with my own memoir proposal which seemed harder than writing the darn book, eric maisel, author of the art of the book proposal, suggested i write a mini proposal. 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. Of course i am looking to see if my general topics are included but i am also looking to see if it is thorough enough to tell me it includes specifics and targeted details. Now, whether youre writing a novel, a picture book, young adult fiction, or any kind of nonfiction, plan on sending in a proposal either before or in conjunction with your manuscript.
Overview, endorsements, length and delivery date, competing and complementary books, target audience, about. Nonfiction book proposal classes in nyc and online. By jane friedman if you wrote a nonfiction book 20 years ago, your greatest competition. This is the nittygrittythe part where you learn exactly how to get published. Nonfiction book proposal classes in nyc and online gotham. Table of contents in a book proposal swenson book development.
A checklist of book proposal essentials to go through before you. The index is the first thing i read when i pick up a book. How to make an index having made an index for several different nonfiction print books over the years, i have a set of suggestions for how to create an index. Addressed to the appropriate agent with titlegenreword count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. So when it comes to nonfiction especially, the book proposal is a happy. Nonfiction book proposals can top out around 5075 pages, not including sample chapters. Below are some examples of real book proposals that have actually sold to publishers. When writing about an indepth nonfiction topic, you also should consider including subheadings in your table of contents to help your readers. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Nonfiction book proposal is open to writers of any level.
Usually the deadline for index submission is three weeks from receipt of page. How to write a book proposal, 4th edition writers digest. A marketing plan is a vital element of every nonfiction book proposal. There are several books available on writing book proposals. 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. Nonfiction book proposals in the digital age to sell an agent or publisher on your nonfiction idea, its more important. Example of a good nonfiction query letter nathan bransford. I could read about something for a week and not figure it out.
Preferably, these would be proposals that resulted in actual published works. For fiction, include several chapters in the book proposal, and the entire manuscript in a separate file. So i explain that an index is an indispensable tool for almost every nonfiction book. Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. Use the proposal to sell your book to potential literary agents, editors, and publishers. The appropriate length for a nonfiction query is somewhere between 1 and 1. Im available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and coaching. C 1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title, publisher and date of publication together with a note on. I dont know why people wont post these, but it gets back to what i was talking about with elitism in publishing. Memoirs can cover most any subject of human interest.
How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. When i was struggling with my own memoir proposal which seemed harder than writing the darn book, eric maisel, author of the art of the book proposal, suggested i write a miniproposal. Madeleine morel, literary agent, 2m communications ltd. There are a couple instances of being able to sell a fiction book on proposal. Dont publish a nonfiction book without an index write nonfiction. Plenty of writers also pitch memoirs with only a proposal and sample chapters. It is true that most nonfiction readers, librarians, and researchers will browse the index before. The anatomy of a compelling book proposal the bindery. Jul 29, 2011 there are several books available on writing book proposals. Make sure your proposal is as polished as possible by including the following. 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. I am looking for complete examples of nonfiction book proposals. I also had a onepage overview which included other similar books already in the marketplace and how mine was different.
To begin this document, start with a list of your chapters. My contact information makes it easy to get in touch with me and check me out online. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal logline. Preparing a book proposal for submission to a publisher or an agent requires you write a table of contents toc. In case some of you might be that way, too, here is a handful of examples of things that have to do with the publishing industry. 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. You may also want to organize your book further into sections or parts. Elements of a successful nonfiction book proposal dummies.
Your average prescriptive nonfiction book runs in the neighborhood of. Most book agents call this section of a nonfiction book proposal the competition section, but i prefer to call is the competitive advantages section. This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. I offer a selfstudy course on nonfiction book proposals. With timeless advice and cutting edge updates on a changing industry, this newly revised edition is a musthave for every nonfiction book writer. 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.
In such cases, the query really ends up being a cover letter and doesnt have to be labored over that much. I am also curious about the actual format in which these are generally submitted ms word, pdf, etc. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. If publishing a memoir is your goal, its a good idea to write a proposal to sell your work. A one page cover letter or query letter is sufficient. Five basics of nonfiction book proposals fresh ink book editing. But its still a good idea to name your book from the outset. Although this is an academic textbook, the proposal demonstrates the basic requirements of a successful pitch for any nonfiction book, including an excellent chapterbychapter summary. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold. If you look on the internet, you will have a very hard time finding actual book proposals. If you can send the book proposal along with the query, you should. The good news is that almost every nonfiction book published is sold by a proposal. Aug 11, 2017 instead, you write the proposal that describes what the book is about, why its interesting, and why it has an audience.
As a hybrid author, she also has published 17 books independently. This should be an outline of the book concept you plan to propose. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. 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. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. That reinforces the idea in your mind and in the mind of publishing agents that your book is different and in some ways better than similar titles in your genre. How to write a nonfiction book proposal nathan bransford. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. 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. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount. A 1 page minisynopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special with proposed word count and delivery date. 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. 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.
Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel updated. Jan 15, 20 preparing a book proposal for submission to a publisher or an agent requires you write a table of contents toc. Include two of the chapters you feel best represents your writing style and the content of the book you are writing. The fifth edition of how to write a book proposal sets a new gold standard for aspiring authors. A memoir is a personal story that provides a snapshot of a particular time and place in your life. For a nonfiction book, create a list of chapters, where you give each chapter a catchy title possibly also a subtitle and the page on which the sample chapter can be found later in your proposal.
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