It is by david sanford, a published author, editor, and literary. Copyright page samples you can copy and paste into your book. Hints for a great cover letter the steve laube agency. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel updated. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. They arise in all sorts of different situations, but generally a book concept is written down into a proposal form. As a parting gift, we created this book proposal template so that you can visualize it. Your book proposal deserves your focused time and attention.
How to write a book proposal that agents will love jericho writers. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. Unlike a work of fiction, which must be completed before you send the query, a proposal is the correct way to approach a publisher for a nonfiction book. You might find it helpful to think of your query letter as an executive summary of your fiction book proposal. 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. Fiction book proposal for literary agents literary agencies. If i like those, then i read the synopsis to see, the rest of the story, especially if the proposal and sample chapters have left questions unanswered.
A one page cover letter or query letter is sufficient. 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. In a novel, the entire book is written first, then trying to find an editor or publisher. Jun 22, 2017 last week, we discussed what a fiction book proposal is, and why you need one. A great nonfiction book proposal will show that you have thought through your idea, and more importantly, it will show that you know how to turn this idea into a book. Because of this, and because agents are very busy people, the writer kept the letter brief and to the point. Writing a winning non fiction book proposal 32 30 from my experience, a great book proposal needs to include five distinct elements see fig.
Only after you finish your proposal can you provide the following hooks for the first page of your proposal. 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. If your book is fiction, include a brief, but exciting plot summary. Your proposal on a page you will write the first page of your proposal last.
Nonfiction book proposal template this template is designed to cover up all the significant elements that are needed when it comes to making a nonfictional book proposal. Writing a great book proposal is how to sell your book to a publisher. The most important aspect of the submission of a non fiction book to publishers is the book proposal. Writing a non fiction 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. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal logli.
Use a word processing program preferably word, not a pdf file, for proposal or book submissions. A book proposal is created by a person who loves to read books, composing books, do research proposals or. 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. The headings on the sample proposal template below cover the critical elements of a thorough proposal. 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. This is the meat and potatoes of your fiction book proposal, so buckle up, buttercup. Your book outline will serve no purpose if you are not able to follow it. This book introduces the feathered residents of a suburban garden in the north east of england. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary services. Seven key elements to writing a fiction book proposal. How to write a nonfiction book proposal writers write. A medical history textbook was proposed by robin anderson to prenticehall in january 2003.
May 21, 2018 then i begin reading the sample chapters. The information in this ebook can also be used as a template for a fiction proposal, since today more and more fiction publishers require proposals quite similar to nonfiction proposals, or as a simple business plan for making a selfpublished book a success. Fiction book proposals are different than nonfiction proposals. By jane friedman if you wrote a nonfiction book 20 years ago, your greatest competition. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require.
Speakup15 3 sample cover page a proposal title subtitle author contact information. There are a couple instances of being able to sell a fiction book on proposal. Jul 29, 2011 there are several books available on writing book proposals. If your book proposal template convinces the publisher, then they will contract and pay you to write the book. 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 fiction book proposal process is very different from the nonfiction process. But sending too much will put you in the ill read this someday, when i have the time pile. 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.
A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. A simple, clean design, this free word book template is specifically for the standard 6 x 9 book, which is the most common book size for printed paperbacks. In it we will meet the blackbirds, the grey tits and the robins who share the. Jan 15, 2020 a simple, clean design, this free word book template is specifically for the standard 6 x 9 book, which is the most common book size for printed paperbacks. Cover letter example for fiction writers to send to agents. Includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow.
Nonfiction book proposals in the digital age writers digest. A fiction book proposal is really just a longer version of a literary agent query letter. 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. This week, well look at the form and function of a standard fiction book proposal in more detail. 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. 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. Jan 22, 2019 fiction book proposals are different than non fiction proposals. Today, were going to talk about how to prepare a marketing and publicity plan for your fiction book proposal. Example of nonfiction book proposal keeping up with the jackdaws. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book.
Aug 11, 2017 in this webinar, bestselling ghostwriter barry fox focuses on a few key elements of an effective non fiction book proposal that will grab an agent or publisher by the scruff of the neck. Addressed to the appropriate agent with titlegenreword count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. Last week, we discussed what a fiction book proposal is, and why you need one. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel. Non fiction book proposal template this template is designed to cover up all the significant elements that are needed when it comes to making a nonfictional book 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. 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 good nonfiction book proposal for submission. The core of the publishing process is the book proposal. The letter you send to an agent to get him to request your book proposal is a query letter. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. Book proposals are information packs used by authors to pitch their nonfiction books to publishers and agents. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. Such templates also contain key stuff that acquires the immediate attention of the viewers as to. Ideas for books are as varied as the books themselves. Nonfiction book proposal guide ask yourself these questions and as you write your answers, your proposal will develop before your eyes. The most important aspect of the submission of a nonfiction book to publishers is the book proposal. In this post, ill cover the critical elements of an average but thorough proposal.
Book proposal guidelines for fiction sonfire media your fiction proposal document should include the sections listed below. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Such templates also contain key stuff that acquires the immediate attention of the viewers as to why such novels will be a better choice. Below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. The following is an excerpt from write a book without lifting a finger by mahesh grossman, available at. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. If youre writing a narrative work that has a distinct beginning, middle, and end, then include sample material that starts at the. The full proposals or nearly so can be seen by following the links. A proposal generally includes one to three sample chapters from your.
It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. Andy warhol, saint apollonia suite 1984 for all of these reasons, quite a mouthful will make a perfect gift for any general interest non fiction reader. If all is well, then the full manuscript is requested and the process starts again, this time taking a little longer because there is much more to read. Book proposal, 4th edition by michael larsen to create strongest possible proposal for your book.
Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. Oct 25, 2016 a book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. It takes me months to finish writing a book proposal. Nonfiction book proposal guide creative media agency, inc. A good place to find a downloadable non fiction and fiction book proposal template is. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. To download, youll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the download button.
The purpose of either is to elicit a request for your proposal. Below is a sample cover letter otherwise known as a query letter sent by an aspiring writer to a literary agent. 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. This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i. A good place to find a downloadable nonfiction and fiction book proposal template is. In this case, the firsttime author had a connection to the agent. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. Think of book proposal forms as similar to work proposal forms. 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. In the case of a nonfiction book, the book proposal in written first before you write the whole book. The bukowski agency nonfiction proposal guidelines.
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. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold. Book proposal template nonfiction authors association. This form contains a summary of the book, its aims, its goals and main features. Since this guide and the book proposal template were meant to be complementary, we recommend perusing them sidebyside, or one after the other. This part of a fiction book proposal should outline your ability to promote your novel, and a plan. Ive written and published four works of nonfiction and have been involved as a. The idea for the limitation is to keep what you send under 50 pages of text. May 28, 2017 a book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. When nonfiction authors ask me, how can i write a book proposal or do i need a proposal if i write a howto book. Writing a fiction book proposal can be tricky, because not all literary agencies and publishers.
1243 1074 291 684 793 1417 1530 897 329 316 207 520 529 1207 82 593 1243 319 796 358 193 1093 137 346 1367 1421 1548 1358 154 1033 1119 1505 790 1478 651 297 1075 277 1311 1326 264 1344