Advice that i find myself giving out again and again as an agent is guidance on how to write a nonfiction 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. How to write a book description for a nonfiction book. Sample book proposals if a literary agent responds to your query letter, heshe will want a nonfiction book proposal. Each heading within a book proposal answers a key question. Also note that agents and publishers each have their own submission criteria so the format of your proposal may need to change slightly.
Includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow. The sample chapter choose the strongest representative chapter that will best show how well. How to write book descriptions for fiction and nonfiction. This may be the most important element of the book proposal, as it will show the potential publisher or financier that your book. Have you got a nonfiction book idea and dream of securing a milliondollar deal all before writing the book itself. If your work isnt a narrative, then write or include a sample chapter that you. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. Thus far the outcome of this proposal was a contract for a second book. The writer hasnt articulated a clearly defined market or needor the writer has. Its usually at least 20 pages long, often much longer. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. 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. A multipublished author shares his proven book proposal template along. When nonfiction authors ask me, how can i write a book proposal or do i.
Query letters can take different forms but will all contain basic elements. In the nonfiction world, publishers will ask an author to submit this vital document and not the entire book. 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. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount.
In this section, you want to explain to people why they should. Feel free to use the headings and format of the template below. If you prepare a salable proposal, you can get paid to write your book. Now by combining these two definitionsthe demographic and the. You want it to be short, eyecatching and interesting. 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 that agents will love jericho writers. Although you should include at least two sample chapters in your nonfiction proposal, you should not. However, if you want it to emerge unscathed from the slush pile, your proposal must be clear, thoroughly. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. Nonfiction book proposals can top out around 5075 pages, not including sample chapters. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. Simply defined, a platform is the number of people whom you can.
Instead, you write the proposal that describes what the book is about, why its interesting, and why it has an audience. Most nonfiction books sell on the basis of a proposal not finished work. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. Writing an irresistible book proposal by michael larsen. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. Book proposal template nonfiction authors association. The purpose of the headline is to make the audience read further into your book description. If a literary agent responds to your query letter, heshe will want a nonfiction book proposal. Most nonfiction is sold via a book proposal a structured outline of the book you. Book proposals are used to sell nonfiction books to publishers.
952 379 518 1093 696 359 1007 1146 1053 1308 1139 1463 588 380 744 1141 968 1296 1246 326 819 248 34 679 43 1253 683 64 636 178 258 944 42 390 823