The Proposal

Whether approaching an agent or a publisher, always start off with a one-page query letter or e-mail (most people prefer the latter). This is your “elevator pitch.” If they respond positively, you will need a formal proposal, an instrumental document to sell the book idea. This consists of:

• Overview that summarizes the book, explaining the key ideas and themes, the market (who will buy it?), and why you are the one to write it (10 to 20 pages). Use your best writing – these pages should sing! 

• Chapter outline and description (1 or 2 paragraphs per chapter). Think of fun chapter titles and compelling summaries. And remember that these don’t need to be set in stone: you’re always free to change titles, consolidate chapters or add new ones. The publisher just wants to get a sense of the book’s structure. 

• Manuscript specifications explain the expected length of the book (word count – not page count), any illustrations, and how far you are along in writing it. 

• The competition. An essay on competing books, usually one paragraph per book, demonstrates who else has published in the field. Pick up to 15 books. An introductory paragraph should explain the uniqueness of your book, why there is nothing quite like it. You don't need to knock the other books, only show that you're aware of them. 

• The audience. Who will buy your book? Be specific – publishers need to know that there is an audience of book-buyers for your book. Is it NPR listeners? People who like to shop at farmers markets and cook? Women on a diet? 

• Marketing plan – the more detail the better. Throw the kitchen sink into this. 

• Author bio, highlighting your qualifications/platform for writing the book, and bibliography if you’ve published before. Got any awards or given talks that are on YouTube? Include them here. You can write this in the first person (I) or third person (he/she). 

• Sample chapter(s) from the book. Anywhere from one to three chapters: usually the opening chapter and another chapter that demonstrates your style.  

  

A few recommended books that can help you build proposals include Susan Rabiner & Alfred Fortunato, Thinking Like Your Editor, and Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published.

The way nonfiction works is that you write a proposal (including a sample chapter), you sell it to a publisher, and then you write the rest of the book. You don’t need to write the entire book to sell it, just a small part of it. The sample chapter demonstrates your writing style. Fiction is different: you have to write the entire book first before selling it.

You will need a proposal regardless of the type of publisher you approach. In these trying days for publishing, put a special emphasis on developing the marketing plan. This demonstrates that your book is commercially viable, and that you have a plan to reach consumers who will then buy it. We’ll covering marketing in greater detail next week.

Garrett Peck

www.garrettpeck.com