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. 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. Now, this guide and the book proposal template complement one. Book publishing proposal template for ms word proposal. A one page cover letter or query letter is sufficient. And, before you get too far, its worth knowing that writing a book proposal is not the same as a query letter which is what you would write to attract a literary agents attention. Get a free guide to help start your nonfiction book. The rest of the book contains a sample book proposal, query letter, agency contract, nonfiction book proposal checklist, information on formatting a proposal, a section on authors rights and various references. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. But just as important, it will be an immense help to you as you begin writing the book. My contact information makes it easy to get in touch with me and check me out online. Hermon christian writers conference and inviting me to send the full proposal.
Ill start with the must haves and then explain the optionals. For fiction, rough out the entire plot in a few pages. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel. In this way, they write an average looking proposal which has no energy to persuade the reader. Every proposal has to have a standard set of sections, and then there are some that are optional. For most acquisition editors, this is a very important part of the proposal. Sample query letter actual letter that landed a book deal hi name of person, i would love to speak with you about my new book kick start your success and its ability to become a market phenomenon. Finding hope and healing for your heart after loss. The following is an excerpt from write a book without lifting a finger by mahesh grossman, available at. In a novel, the entire book is written first, then trying to find an editor or publisher. 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. I offer a selfstudy course on nonfiction book proposals.
How to write a good nonfiction book proposal for submission. A book proposal is created by a person who loves to read books, composing books, do research proposals or engaged into business of selling books. In this blog post, youll find a description of the overview and introduction sections of my christian nonfiction book proposal, for blossom. Literary agents, query letters, book proposals bookbaby blog. Classic wisdom for unpublished authors seeking traditional publication has been this. Thats top secret information until the book actually gets. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template.
A book proposal samples will explain the purposes and objectives for creating a book. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. Unlike the narrator in most womens travel books, im not looking for love or running from a relationship. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. Christian jennings is the author of five nonfiction books and is currently at work on 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 1944. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items. The appropriate length for a nonfiction query is somewhere between 1 and 1. If youre writing nonfiction, you need a book proposal plus two or three sample chapters. Heres a sneak peek at the question dear pamela will be answering in september. How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers digest.
For years, ive offered a lengthy guide on how to write a query letter for. Specifically, it will guide you in your selection of appropriate vocabulary and. Book proposals are used to sell nonfiction books to publishers. Many were great, but super lengthy and time consuming to read. 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. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples.
In this paragraph of your query letter, write a pitch for your book. A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. One big difference between query letters for fiction and nonfiction is that. I found this advice once offered by former writers digest publisher jane friedman who rejected and approved proposals over. Agent query letters that actually worked for nonfiction galleycat. If youre writing a memoir, who knows everybody has a. This article is part of a 17part series called get a literary agent for authors of all genres scroll below to learn how to write a book proposal for any genre or category. This is the section where you lay out the basic idea of the book and discuss. Have you tips, techniques or other advice on how to craft a nonfiction book proposal for submission. I m deep in the thrill of starting a new project right now, an 80s memoir about houses. In just a page or two, you will discover all the information necessary to research and compose the material for each of the 12 primary sections in a nonfiction book proposal. 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. Thus far the outcome of this proposal was a contract for a second book.
A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal logline. If you are thinking about the synopsis of your bookfor your own clarity, for a book query to an agent, or for a book proposal to a publisher, youll definitely want to read this advice column. So, the writer should be able to write a good proposal. The organization of the book is broken down into three chapters. A book called a journey of selfdiscovery would be unpublishably bad. 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. Once you find an agent you would like to represent your book, the pitch letter is the next step in the. It takes me months to finish writing a book proposal.
This article explains important differences between writing a fiction proposal and a nonfiction proposal. Many writers focus on the content of the book and pay no attention to the proposal. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. Hints for a great cover letter the steve laube agency. In the case of a nonfiction book, the book proposal in written first before you write the whole book. The fast track course on how to write a nonfiction book. 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. If youve had experience submitting novels to literary agents and publishersquery letter, synopsis, sample pagesyou may think you know all you need to know about submitting your selfhelp book or other nonfiction project. To write a killer query, you need a onepage letter with three basic sections or paragraphs.
Agent query letters that actually worked for nonfiction. Click on the actual articles to see an example of how to format your manuscript. This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i. Only in a query letter, cover letter, or synopsis do you get to single space your writing.
Now you need a fabulous query letter to grab an agent or a publisher so they ask you. How to write a book proposal its a lot easier once you realize there are different types of book proposals. It also subtly says im on twitter, which shows im building platform. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. If your book proposal template convinces the publisher, then they will contract and pay you to write the book. Sample query letter the best way to locate these is to examine books in your genre. Travel is a good exampleits print sales have declined by 50 percent. 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. Start by creating a table of contents, a formal outline, and a brief description of specific chapters. Plenty of writers also pitch memoirs with only a proposal and sample chapters. Much of the advice out there about how to write a query letter is oriented toward novels.
Keep your proposal focused on the gist of your book and the target market, with an eye toward conveying the subject matter in the most interesting and relevant fashion in order to hook the reader. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold. Example of a good nonfiction query letter nathan bransford editing. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. I created this book to compel people to take the right action for their successnow. Instead of writing the entire book, then trying to interest an editor or agent which. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. But sending too much will put you in the ill read this someday, when i have the time pile. Sample query letter nonfiction authors association. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Use these guidelines as your template, with each section on their own pages. Writing a great book proposal is how to sell your book to a publisher. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. 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 wolf literary. Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. With a proposal, your query letter becomes a cover letter. 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. If youre writing a novel fiction, you need a complete manuscript. Each heading within a book proposal answers a key question. But it does mean that every single page and line and word in that proposal functions as a writing sample. How to write a book proposal that agents will love jericho writers. How to write a book proposal posted on july 2, 2015 by karen kelsky you all know that the book proposal is the cornerstone to a successful tenure track career in most areas of the humanities and social sciences. What ive got ready, a completed manuscript with word count and a proposal.
So today im sharing the query i sent to literary agents with the hopes that it will help you create your own pitch letter. Find out who is publishing the majority of books in your. Most nonfiction is sold via a book proposal a structured outline of the book you intend to. There are lots of book publishing proposals in line that a. In such cases, the query really ends up being a cover letter and doesnt have to be labored over that much. Last week, i was feeling really good about how much i had accomplished a sample chapter and prologue, an overview of the book for a book proposal until i decided to really map out what it. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount. Includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow. For nonfiction, include every major issue youll cover and the basics of what youll say about it. Next, include sample chapters to highlight your writing style and overall aesthetic. The idea for the limitation is to keep what you send under 50 pages of text. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. Dear pamela, memoir advice about your book proposal. Hermon requested the proposal, and id love your help in placing this book.
Advice that i find myself giving out again and again as an agent is guidance on how to write a nonfiction book proposal. Proposal cover letter addressed to the appropriate agent with titlegenreword count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. How to write a nonfiction query letter eschler editing. To write a book proposal, provide an overview that describes the books themes, content, and organization. How to write a book proposal for literary agents and. Each section of a nonfiction book proposal is briefly described so you understand what content to include and how to write it effectively. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. 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 help fund research andor travel.
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