Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal

People hoping to become published authors often begin by writing their books. That’s a logical approach, but it’s not always the most efficient way of securing a publishing deal and getting book on the bookstore shelves.

For some types of books, before selling your idea to a publisher you must write a book proposal. The book proposal has two purposes:

1. It’s a blueprint of the book you intend to write that tells prospective publishers which topics will be covered, in what style, how your book compares to others, how you will help promote the book, and so on.
2. It’s a sales pitch, a promise, a billboard with big capital letters announcing just how wonderful your book is going to be – and hinting at how much money the publisher stands to make from the sales.

There is no standard format for a book proposal and every literary agent will have a favored approach. However, all approaches contain the same basic elements, although your agent may place special emphasis on certain ones and place them in a specific order. A book proposal format that we have often used includes the following:

• Title Page – A single page with the title of your proposed book, your name, plus a few “selling sentences” (a summing up of the gist of the book in a couple of scintillating sentences)
• Synopsis – The entire book idea distilled to a couple of pages, explaining what the book is about and why people will want to read it. (Sometimes called the Overview.)
• About the Author – A description of who you are and why you’re qualified to write this book.
• Marketing Plan – An in-depth look at how you’re going to help sell the book. This may include listings of the TV and radio shows you’ve been on and/or have booked; your lecture schedule; companies or organizations that will be interested in promoting your book; your own marketing budget for the book; and anything else that demonstrates your commitment to supporting book sales.
• Market Analysis – An examination of the potential markets for the book.
• Competing Books (Competition) – A look at the competition. Ideally, there are already some published books on your general topic: this shows that there is a market place for your book. This section explains how your book is different and why it will stand out from the others.
• Table of Contents – A list of chapter titles as they will appear in the book. The chapter titles should reflect the book’s content and style.
• Chapter Outline – Two to four paragraphs on each chapter, explaining what it will cover.
• Sample Chapter – One chapter from the book, written in full so the publisher can assess the content, writing style and overall feel of the book.
• Supporting Materials – Endorsements, pictures, articles, a detailed C.V., tapes of the author’s TV appearances, website screenshots, and so on – anything that can help sell the book!

Depending on the book, other sections such as “Reader Benefits” may be added to the proposal.

If you don’t have an agent, don’t let it stop you from creating a proposal for fear that your format won’t be to a prospective agent’s liking. Remember, the basic elements are all the same. It’s not difficult to rearrange them, add more emphasis to some elements, tone down others, and otherwise convert what you’ve written into a new format.