Name of a nonfiction book proposal overview sample

How to write a nonfiction book proposal nathan bransford. In the case of a nonfiction book, the book proposal in written first before you write the whole book. C 1 page with a few lines on the five most recent competing and comparable books giving author, title, publisher and date of publication together with a note on. Thus far the outcome of this proposal was a contract for a second book. Sample book proposal from a professional literary agency. Ive written and published four works of nonfiction and have been involved as a ghost or behindthescenes editor on a couple of other things too. 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. Overview, endorsements, length and delivery date, competing and complementary books, target audience, about. Give a fairly brief summary of your book here, using a few paragraphs. Jun 04, 2018 a fiction synopsis is twothree pages single spaced which tells the whole story from beginning to end. Use this list alongside how to write a book proposal, 4th edition by michael larsen to create strongest possible proposal for your book.

It is by david sanford, a published author, editor, and literary agent for more than 300. Here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary services. How to write a nonfiction book proposal become a writer today. First is an overview, where you explain the basic premise of the book and why it. Its primarily a sales and marketing tool for you, and for your book. Example of a book proposal competing books section. If youre writing your book proposal, hopefully youve already nailed down the summary that will go on the back of your book jacket. Apr 24, 2019 this outline of what i expect and hope to find in a nonfiction book proposal is based on years of both experience and success selling nonfiction. Though its written in place of an actual book, it should build a complete argument for the book idea.

I created this book to compel people to take the right action for their successnow. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Describe your book in the most compelling way possible. Number all pages sequentially, including your sample chapters. I m deep in the thrill of starting a new project right now, an 80s memoir about houses. Mar 19, 2014 a 1 page minisynopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special with proposed word count and delivery date. You can also view this as an expanded description of the copy you would use on the back of your book to entice readers. When i was struggling with my own memoir proposal which seemed harder than writing the darn book, eric maisel, author of the art of the book proposal, suggested i write a miniproposal. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. A fiction synopsis is twothree pages single spaced which tells the whole story from beginning to end. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. My book, book title will be a genre work which will center around the topic of book topic. Also, just as the lead to an article or the first chapter to a book entices a reader to continue reading, the overview of a book proposal entices an agent or acquisition editor to read the rest. In such cases, the query really ends up being a cover letter and doesnt have to be labored over that much.

Ive written and published four works of nonfiction and have been involved as a. Include any subhead or taglines that your books title may contain. It takes me months to finish writing a book proposal. Book proposals are used to sell nonfiction books to publishers. A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel.

If your book proposal template convinces the publisher, then they will contract and pay you to write the book. A 1 page minisynopsis highlighting with bullet points what makes the book new and special with proposed word count and delivery date. Book proposal template nonfiction authors association. A book proposal should include each of the following sections, in this order. At its root, this is the purpose of each section in a book proposal, so be clear and persuasive. Jan 05, 2016 the appropriate length for a nonfiction query is somewhere between 1 and 1.

Include two of the chapters you feel best represents your writing style and the content of the book you are writing. Finding hope and healing for your heart after loss. For the nonfiction writer wanting to find an agent and have their book published by a traditional publisher, this document represents a necessary evil. 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. Name of book, name and contact info for the author page 2.

Last week, i was feeling really good about how much i had accomplished a sample chapter and prologue, an overview of the book for a book proposal until i decided to really map out what it is going to take to get this project done. 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. Singlespace the entire proposal except the sample chapters which need to be doublespaced. 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. The overview for your book proposal covers the full scope of your books concept and helps an agent or acquisition editor see your book in totality. Jun 22, 2017 last week, we discussed what a fiction book proposal is, and why you need one. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. If you can send the book proposal along with the query, you should. The nonfiction proposal should include a table of contents toc. A multipublished author shares his proven book proposal template along with.

Sample query letter actual letter that landed a book deal hi name of person, i would love to speak with you about my new book kick start your success and its ability to become a market phenomenon. May 28, 2017 a book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. Book proposal overview how to write the overview of a. Full legal name nonfiction book proposal address line 1 address line 2. Sample book proposal i thought about whether i should include a completely fictional book proposal sample, but one i believe to be an optimal book proposal or to include the actual one i used for getting holistic tarot published, which was a flawed, imperfect book proposal that you should definitely not emulate. Your overview is the introduction to your proposal. Example of a book proposal about the author section. And the publisher will want to know how well positioned you are to do it. Members of aar the association of authors representatives, inc. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal logline. You want to leave the one who reads your proposal wanting to read the rest of the book to find out what happens.

How to write a book proposal that agents will love jericho writers. The overview is the place to put this back cover text. This article walks authors through what a book proposal is, the purpose they serve and how to. A commonly accepted structure for a nonfiction book proposal broadly follows this outline. This outline of what i expect and hope to find in a nonfiction book proposal is based on years of both experience and success selling nonfiction. Here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used. Dear pamela, memoir advice about your book proposal. Michael larsen cofounded larsenpomada literary agents in san francisco in 1972 with his partner elizabeth pomada. Generally, these proposals follow the same basic formula. For fiction, include several chapters in the book proposal, and the entire manuscript in a separate file. Oct 09, 2014 the three parts of a proposal are the overview, the outline, and the sample chapter.

In my opinion, this is the most important part of a book proposal. Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items and should be attached as a single file to an email with submission. In an email the attached file name should be descriptive author name fiction or nonfiction proposal slugline. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. This week, well look at the form and function of a standard fiction book proposal in more detail. A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. This section will be a tool for the editor, too, when she tries to persuade others in the publishing house that this is a book they must publish. If i had a doover, i would have revised it to be more. In this post, ill cover the critical elements of an average but thorough proposal. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. Oct 25, 2016 a book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. How to write a good nonfiction book proposal for submission.

Your nonfiction proposal should include the following items. Addressed to the appropriate agent with titlegenreword count and appropriate contact information in the letter, this letter should interest us in reading your proposal. Includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow. Use these guidelines as your template, with each section on their own pages. Therefore, were uncovering in this post what goes into a book proposaland what itll take to get an agent or publisher to notice 1 the overview. The appropriate length for a nonfiction query is somewhere between 1 and 1. Sample book proposal i thought about whether i should include a completely fictional book proposal sample, but one i. 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. In other words, what do i mean when i ask for an overview, author bio, sample material, and a table of contents toc.

Writing a winning nonfiction book proposal 32 30 from my experience, a great book proposal needs to include five distinct elements see fig. In this blog post, youll find a description of the overview and introduction sections of my christian nonfiction book proposal, for blossom. Dear pamela, memoir advice about your book proposal memoir. When nonfiction authors ask me, how can i write a book proposal or do i. 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.

How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. This ones short and tothepoint, and the last time i. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold. The authors names of the book proposal will be listed here. What is a book proposal for nonfiction writers blogger. 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. Memoirs can cover most any subject of human interest. Overview describe your book in two or three paragraphs 500 wo. You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. In a novel, the entire book is written first, then trying to find an editor or publisher. Sample query letter nonfiction authors association.

Lets take those parts of a nonfiction book proposal one by one. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. A book proposal has a title page also called a cover page, a table of contents for the proposal, and several sections. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. How to write a nonfiction book proposal that will sell your book.

The anatomy of a compelling book proposal the bindery. How to write a book proposal includes plenty of examples and a book proposal template you can follow. How to write a memoir book proposal memoirs are just getting more and more popular in what i call this age of the business celebrity. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. If publishing a memoir is your goal, its a good idea to write a proposal to sell your work. In no particular order and definitely in your own voice and style, a nonfiction book proposal should contain the following elements. 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. Aug 01, 2011 the overview for your book proposal covers the full scope of your books concept and helps an agent or acquisition editor see your book in totality. Comparisons can also help connect the reader with your story. Writing a nonfiction book proposal by scott mendel updated. Keep in mind that you want to hook the reader right away. The cover page shows the books title, the authors name, and. While fiction writers can simply write their book, and turn in a synopsis.

Its this time that allows those of us who have achieved a level of success in our chosen field of practice to accelerate our success on. Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. How to write a nonfiction book proposal mary mackey.

Andy warhol, saint apollonia suite 1984 for all of these reasons, quite a mouthful will make a perfect gift for any general interest nonfiction reader. Want, and the publisher changed the name to what women want for the paperback. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. Last week, i was feeling really good about how much i had accomplished a sample chapter and prologue, an overview of the book for a book proposal until i decided to really map out what it. For nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice. Sep 10, 2017 for nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice. How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary. Overview the overview tells the editor, in brief, what your book is about. What name people would be willing to contribute a blurb.

Agents are looking for something more specific when it comes to nonfiction. A memoir is a personal story that provides a snapshot of a particular time and place in your life. A one page cover letter or query letter is sufficient. If you are writing a book proposal during write nonfiction in november, im posting this blog for you. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require. 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. Jun 25, 2019 sample query letter actual letter that landed a book deal hi name of person, i would love to speak with you about my new book kick start your success and its ability to become a market phenomenon.

Narrative, prosedriven books will need two or more chapters. Nonfiction book proposals bookends literary agency. A one paragraph, in a nutshell description of the project or idea. A single paragraph that introduces the proposed book an overview of the intended works including a brief description of the target audience.