Example fiction book proposal

This executive summary of the whole book could be what helps sell, or not sell, your idea. This week, well look at the form and function of a standard fiction book proposal in more detail. Use the proposal to sell your book to potential literary agents, editors, and publishers. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require. In the case of a nonfiction book, the book proposal in written first before you write the whole book. Writing a great book proposal is how to sell your book to a publisher. Dont try to use reason or logic to argue that it would be better a different way. Step 2 is to develop a picture in your mind of how your book concept might be put into either your pitch verbal or query written appeal. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. And i believe that what youre about to read is the fastest, easiest way to get the best possible editor, publisher, and deal for your book. The headings on the sample proposal template below cover the critical elements of a thorough proposal. Macgregor literary fiction book proposal page 2 the manuscript title. If your book proposal template convinces the publisher, then they will contract and pay you to write the book.

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. Pdf writing a nonfiction book proposal a primer for the. If you prepare a salable proposal, you can get paid to write your book. Proposals are usually 1415 pages long and include the information about the series, a long pitch, elevator pitch, marketing plan, comparison analysisits basically to sell yourself and your book. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. Here are some elements that create a successful fiction book proposal and if you re. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary. Singlespace the entire proposal except the sample chapters which need to be doublespaced.

Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. This begins with a brief dramatic anecdote which is meant to get the reader, in this case the editor at the publishing company, interested in the material. A proposal generally includes one to three sample chapters from your novel. A nonfiction book proposal most often contains some form of the following, although many publishers and agents have specific guidelines for submitting nonfiction proposals. Immediately after this anecdote, you should describe in two or three sentencesno morewhat the book will be about. Here is the process i follow with all nonfiction book proposal clients. Its primarily a sales and marketing tool for you, and for your book. The purpose of either is to elicit a request for your proposal. Yes, the first synopsis may have to be changed after you finish the novel, but having the synopsis gives you something of a road map. It takes me months to finish writing a book proposal.

Your fiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. Its course of action includes various formatting actions and instructions that are catalogued periodically. It is not an absolute formula to be followed blindly. Below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. Putting together your proposal proposals have three parts. Submitting an already written nonfiction book as a proposal is a great way to almost guarantee you will not get a book deal. This page will direct you to some examples of book proposal sections so that you can put together a winning book proposal. Youre going to have to essentially sell them your book, sending them a document that contains details about your qualifications, a chapterbychapter outline, and most importantly, how your. You would never do a proposal for a board book, for example unless for some strange reason thats how the publisher youre targeting wants board books submitted. Dont forget that a fiction book proposal does more than just explain what your novel is about.

Below are 3 examples from real proposals to real agents. Fiction book proposal for literary agents literary agencies. How to write a book proposal that sells publishizer medium. Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold. This fiction book proposal template is a guideline on how to create a publishing proposal for fictional books. This isnt a great example of a marketing plan, for instance. There are a couple instances of being able to sell a fiction book on proposal. Everyone who teaches on the book proposal says you need one. Different rules apply to writing a book proposal for fiction books, so make sure to do more research if youre writing a book proposal for a fiction book.

Addiction and cancer memoirs, for example, are common, and will put you. It is up to the author working with the agent to prove that a sizeable target audience for the book exists, to sharply define this target market, and to evaluate competitive books if any in the marketplace. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. Thats top secret information until the book actually gets. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. Last week, we discussed what a fiction book proposal is, and why you need one. In addition to your core target audience, who might be the next most interested targets. For example, if you were writing a wwii novel, you would want your comp. Everything you need to know to start writing a book proposal for your nonfiction book.

Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. Here are some elements that create a successful fiction book proposal and if youre. Those two to three singlespaced pages of agony will never be seen by anyone else but editors and agents, so why. The writing may be brilliant in the sample chapters, but the author has not completed the. Be sure to keep in mind, though, that this is only a hypothetical book proposalan example. She is a nonfiction book editor and doctor, proposal consultant, and an author coach and trainer as well as a book and blog coach. In a novel, the entire book is written first, then trying to find an editor or publisher. How to write a novel synopsis with an example jericho. 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. It should outline your plot in neutral nonsalesy language and demonstrate a clear story arc. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. Your pitch offers the publisher the opportunity to acquire a nonfiction book, authored by you.

Using the form below, youll submit your proposal draft and book a onehour call. When you hear book proposal, most people think nonfiction. Writing a fiction book proposal how to create an effective pitch. Writing a nonfiction book proposal a primer for the firsttime nonfiction book writer. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book.

In some ways this outline is creating an architectural design of a bridge. A good book proposal will include sample pages or chapters, but never more than two or three, where the agent or the editor. How to write and sell the novel of true events, by peter rubie quill driver books, 2009 the proposal is a description of, and sample of a proposed book. You should have a book proposal written for the series too. Quite likely you reach that publisher via a literary agent, so the first pair of eyes on your work will be those of an agent, but either way, your final target is a publisher. Sometimes literary agencies and publishers will require you to submit a fiction book proposal, even if your book is already written. A wellwritten fiction book proposal helps agents and publishers understand why youre. 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. Here is a good example of a nonfiction book proposal. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. Make sure your proposal is as polished as possible by including the following. Contains the title, author byline, and contact information proposal contents. A marketing plan is a vital element of every nonfiction book proposal. In order to illustrate these principles, lets create a book proposal.

Agents are looking for something more specific when it comes to nonfiction. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. In this post, ill cover the critical elements of an average but thorough proposal. Guidelines for your nonfiction proposal hartline literary. 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. A synopsis is a 500800 word summary of your book that forms part of your agent submission pack. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. 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. Guidelines for your fiction proposal hartline 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. Learn how to write a book proposal that gets results. To get your nonfiction book published, put together a strong proposal. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template.

You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. Every fiction book proposal must include a synopsis. 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. Finding hope and healing for your heart after loss. When someone is pitching a work of nonfiction, a proposal outlines includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. How to write a book proposal the creative independent. Ive written and published several nonfiction books, so i had to study many articles, white papers, and books about how to write a book proposal along. How to write a childrens book proposal, by crystal bowman. 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. Writing a fiction book proposal independent publisher. This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i.

During that call, well discuss your proposal and overall book concept. As an example, i include here one of my own proposals, for my book the. Also, if you want to write a fiction book proposal, please. As with the fiction synopsis, there are no shortcuts here. Elements of a successful nonfiction book proposal dummies. Seven key elements to writing a fiction book proposal. If you write the synopsis first, you will have a framework on which to write your story. Though its written in place of an actual book, it should build a complete argument for the book idea. How to write a book proposal for fiction writing tips oasis. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers dummies.