A Non-Fiction Book Proposal is first and foremost a marketing tool. It
is your chance to convince an Editor—who has hundreds of projects to
sift through—that your book is extraordinary. It is sometimes your only
chance to convince an Editor that yours is a project worth fighting for,
worth paying for and worth committing a great deal of time to.
With clear
and engaging prose, you must make complex ideas and events accessible,
potentially prosaic details dramatic, real-life people larger than life,
and your story a compelling, vital tale.
The tone
and style of the proposal should be a model for the final book. It should
be immaculate and professional; no typos or spelling errors, laser quality
printing, etc.
While parts
of your proposal will be replicated in your final manuscript, note that
much of it is for an Editor's eyes only. Your arguments for why this book
is important need to be reasonable and persuasive; remember that your
Editor, too, must convince a board of supervisors that your book will
be an important and/or commercially successful book (or better yet, both)
that can compete in an overcrowded marketplace.
While organization
varies depending on the nature of your property, your proposal should
include most of the following:
- Overview/Summary:
Give a one-to two-sentence summary, followed by an expanded, two-to
four-page summary. Outline the basic story that your book will tell.
- The Market: Explain why this book is timely, important and unique. Identify
your target audience as well as specific trends in the publishing marketplace.
Generally
discuss aspects of the book's content and point out why this project
will stand out as original and commercial, and answer the questions
Why this Book? and Why now? Provide an annotated list
of competing titles already in the marketplace. Are any bestsellers?
If possible, provide numbers—research how many copies the publishing
house put into the marketplace. Discuss what distinguishes your book
and why it will be different—and better than the rest. In short, be
clear as to what will make someone buy this book as opposed to all other
books in the market.
- Author Bio/s:
These should read like book jackets. Highlight why you are especially
qualified to author such a work. Please include a selection of book
reviews if you are previously published.
- Promotability:
What are you, as the author, willing and able to do to promote this
book? List important media contacts, professional associates or associations,
lecture activities and media appearances etc. that you plan to utilize
to promote your book. List any and all awards or exposure you and/or
your story has received in the media, and note any upcoming events you
and/or your story might naturally plug into. Include information about
your Publicist, if you have one, and highlight if any
sponsors have committed to a book tour. If
you maintain a website, point out its success.
- Format:
Describe the look of the final book: the approach, organization, content
and format. Discuss book length, any illustrations or photographs required,
anticipated delivery date, etc. Describe the mechanics of your project.
- Table of Contents:
List the anticipated chapters of your final book.
- Outline:
Expand on your table of contents; list all anticipated chapters and
provide short summaries of each.
- Introduction, Preface and/or Forward: Aim
to open your finished book with this. Introduce the reader to your topic;
infect the reader with your purpose, passion and enthusiasm. Read examples
in similar books already in the marketplace. Point out if another person
has committed to writing the introduction and provide a brief bio of
that person.
- Sample Chapters:
Normally, include the first three chapters or first 40 pages. You can
provide later chapters if there is a bona fide reason to do so. Demonstrate
that you can write professionally and deliver acceptable, publishable
prose. Without compelling, well-written sample chapters, it is almost
impossible to sell a Non-Fiction Proposal.
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