How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. Your book hook includes three pieces of information. This page will direct you to some examples of book proposal sections so that you can put together a winning book proposal. Please single space the proposal and use a 12pt font. Copyright page samples you can copy and paste into your book. Nonfiction book proposal guide creative media agency, inc. Your fiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. Unless its a serious or refer ence book, your title must tell and sell. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. Speakup15 5 secondary audiences who, in addition to the target audience, might read or purchase this book. Sample chapters 3 double spaced include three sample chapters that o cast the vision and scope of this book o demonstrate the authors best craft and skill for a proposal for a novel, this is the most important part of the proposal by far.
You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. With all of this information, youll likely end up with a book proposal thats dozens of pages long. 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. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. 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. If its a narrative book like a memoir, it could be a compelling paragraph from your book but only use it once in your proposal. Every single one of those books sold off the back off a simple book propo. As such, business planning software such as business plan pro from palo alto software can be very effective in helping you outline and fill in the book marketing plan for your fiction book proposal. Use this list alongside how to write a book proposal, 4th edition by michael larsen to create strongest possible proposal for your book. A proposal generally includes one to three sample chapters from your novel. When nonfiction authors ask me, how can i write a book proposal or do i need a proposal if i write a howto book. Below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript.
Guidelines for your nonfiction proposal hartline literary. Everyone who teaches on the book proposal says you need one. Sample book proposals if a literary agent responds to your query letter, heshe will want a nonfiction book proposal. Last week, we discussed what a fiction book proposal is, and why you need one. Nonfiction book proposal guide ask yourself these questions and as you write your answers, your proposal will develop before your eyes. Guidelines for your fiction proposal hartline literary. Knowing how to write a fiction book proposal is less about business and marketing and more about following instructions. This book introduces the feathered residents of a suburban garden in the north east of. 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. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. This week, well look at the form and function of a standard fiction book proposal in more detail. Others might prefer that you follow the fiction submission guidelines minus a query letter. Also, if you want to write a fiction book proposal, please. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency.
The author, andy ross, is a literary agent who has worked with authors and publishers in creating proposals that have led to book contracts. Such templates also contain key stuff that acquires the immediate attention of the viewers as to. The following is an excerpt from write a book without lifting a finger by mahesh grossman, available at. Book proposal and manuscript template author toolkits. A book proposal helps an agent or an editor learn more about an author than a. 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 book proposal that agents will love jericho writers. You might find it helpful to think of your query letter as an executive summary of your fiction book proposal. Add in those samples, and youll have a complete proposal ready to be considered by a literary agent. In order to illustrate these principles, lets create a book proposal. Below are 3 examples from real proposals to real agents.
The bukowski agency nonfiction proposal guidelines. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. In a novel, the entire book is written first, then trying to find an editor or publisher. Samples of a long page and a short page are provided so readers can copy and paste them into their own book files, ready for customization. Writing a fiction book proposal can be tricky, because not all literary agencies and publishers have the same requirements. 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. With the success of the hunger games and its forthcoming film, readers are looking for more books with serious and fantastical subject matters. If your book proposal template convinces the publisher, then they will contract and pay you to write the book. A one page cover letter or query letter is sufficient. 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.
This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i. 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. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Writing a fiction book proposal independent publisher.
The type of manuscript youve written will be one of the major differences reflected in how you present your proposal. Think of book proposal forms as similar to work proposal forms. In addition to your core target audience, who might be the next most interested targets. As mentioned in my discussion on how to get published, if youre interested in writing a booklength work of nonfiction, you dont need to write the entire manuscript before you make the sale. If a literary agent responds to your query letter, heshe will want a nonfiction book proposal.
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. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require. Book proposal guidelines for fiction sonfire media your fiction proposal document should include the sections listed below. Your book outline will serve no purpose if you are not able to follow it. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold. If youre an unpublished writer, you might be asked for a full manuscript and a full book proposal before your work will ever be considered. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template tucker max tucker has sold over 5 million books as a 4x nyt bestselling author and is the cofounder of scribe. A sound bite statement is the essence of your novel or nonfiction book idea in 40 words or less. Book proposals are information packs used by authors to pitch their nonfiction books to publishers and agents. If you can follow these tips and make sure you dont skip any submission guidelines, then youll be taking the first steps on your journey toward becoming a published author. 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. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel. Chapter name once youve finished writing your proposal, and before you seek feedback on it, use this list to make sure your proposal is ready for you to push the send button.
Macgregor literary fiction book proposal page 3 marketing dystopian is a popular subgenre among teens right now. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items. Fiction book proposal for literary agents literary agencies. In the nonfiction world, publishers will ask an author to submit this vital document and not the entire book. Ive written and published four works of nonfiction and have been involved as a. It is by david sanford, a published author, editor, and literary. Plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses are the three usual topics to. Unlike query letters, actual copies of book proposals are difficult to find. Those two to three singlespaced pages of agony will never be seen by anyone else but editors and agents, so why. A fiction book proposal is really just a longer version of a literary agent query letter.
The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal will lead you through the steps to constructing a convincing book proposal that will make the best case possible for your project. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. However, if you want it to emerge unscathed from the slush pile, your proposal must be clear, thoroughly researched, and ironclad. Tucker has sold over 5 million books as a 4x nyt bestselling author and is the. In this post, ill cover the critical elements of an average but thorough proposal. 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. The purpose of either is to elicit a request for your proposal.
How would one know what to do when filling out that template. If work proposal forms suggest the type of job an employee will be doing and how theyll be doing it, then a book proposal form suggests what an author is going to write about and how long it should take him to go about writing and revising the drafts. A manuscript layout template for fiction and nonfiction. Query letters can take different forms but will all contain basic elements. In the case of a nonfiction book, the book proposal in written first before you write the whole book. Example of nonfiction book proposal keeping up with the jackdaws. Below is a sample book marketing plan outline for your proposal, to give you some ideas of what to include in the marketing plan for your book. The headings on the sample proposal template below cover the critical elements of a thorough proposal. Answer these three questions and youll cover the basics. If your book is fiction, include a brief, but exciting plot summary. A medical history textbook was proposed by robin anderson to prenticehall in january 2003. The most important aspect of the submission of a nonfiction book to publishers is the book proposal.
Be sure to keep in mind, though, that this is only a hypothetical book proposalan example. In this webinar, bestselling ghostwriter barry fox focuses on a few key elements of an effective nonfiction book proposal that will grab an agent or publisher by the scruff of the neck. Every fiction book proposal must include a synopsis. Hints for a great cover letter the steve laube agency. A book proposal samples will explain the purposes and objectives for creating a book.
Sometimes you have to query before sending the book proposal. Includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. Writing an irresistible book proposal by michael larsen the golden rule of writing a book proposal is that every word in your proposal should answer one of two questions. Ive written and published four works of non fiction and have been involved as a ghost or behindthescenes editor on a couple of other things too. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. Im working hard to finish my historical nonfiction book on north korea and the cold war. Book reports will depend on the grade level and take many different forms. Overview describe your book in two or three paragraphs 500 wo. Nonfiction book proposals can top out around 5075 pages, not including sample chapters.
They contain everything a prospective publisher needs to know about a book, including its contents, target market, how it will be promoted, and commercial potential. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. Why should a publisher invest in your book, and why are you the person to write it. How to write a book proposal jane friedman check submission guidelines of the agent or publisher. It is not an absolute formula to be followed blindly. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully.
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