The Wheel of Process

Non-Fiction Book Proposal

The non-fiction publishing process has more parts than fiction. In fiction, you write a polished manuscript and submit a query letter to agents, spending 250 words or less pitching your work for representation. In non-fiction, however, you have the space of a 48-75 page proposal—basically, a business plan for your book.

Non-fiction book proposals traditionally have seven parts:

1. OVERVIEW

The overview will be more inclusive and straightforward than your book’s introduction, as it should contain all of your major pitching points. For agents and publishers who are interested in your book, this is the place they expect to find a summary of everything contained in the proposal. We recommend writing this section last.

2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This section is about you, and why you are the best person to write this book. Do you have past publications, credentials, expertise, or experience in the field? Outline it here. Anything that highlights your unique perspective on your subject should be shared, in detail. Also any publishing experience you have (past publication, former career) will help to bolster your credit as an author. Even your experience as a performer, lecturer, or radio host will showcase your ability to interact with your audience. Include it!

3. MARKETING & PROMOTION

Marketing and promotion is probably the most critical part of a proposal, as it is where you outline your current platform and talk about your existing audience. The amount of author work in this role is expanding; many publishers see a part of the author’s job as building and maintaining their own brand. In the marketing and promotion section of your proposal, use facts and numbers, rather than projections and plans. How many blog subscribers do you have? How many followers do you have on twitter? How many tastemakers in your field are waiting to read your book? This is also the place to list your relevant contacts—include anyone you could use to bolster your platform. These could be notable people in your community, B- or C-list celebrities you may know, or conference executives across the country. Your book probably has both primary & crossover audiences. Explore their scope here.

4. COMP TITLES

Competitive titles are tricky. A publisher wants to see that books in related niches have done well, which shows that the market exists, but that it has not been as fully captured as it will be by your book. Obviously, you cannot write a book that already exists; in the competitive titles section of your proposal, spend some time exploring how your book will go above and beyond the ones already on the shelf.

5. CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER OUTLINE

This is where you sketch the outline of your book. As there are some full chapters included in the proposal (section seven), this outline expands upon the introduction to show exactly how you are going to share your ideas. The chapter-by-chapter outline is a structured summary of your book. Write a sentence or two about chapters that are in the proposal, and a full 2-3 paragraphs about chapters that are not included. Take some time to map the iterations of your major series, and write in such a way that showcases the tone of the work. Include the most vibrant, poignant, or catchy sentences, phrases, and ideas. Spend some time on this. Don’t just throw materials in here; use it as a chance to begin developing the book—that way, you wont have to start at square one when you begin writing.

6. PROPOSED TOC

This is the easy part, and is included to be able to envision your book as a whole. Write your chapter-by-chapter outline first, and condense it here.

7. SAMPLE CHAPTERS

The sample chapters you include do not have to be the first ones in your book. They should be the strongest, or at least the ones that most accurately display your tone, your style of writing and presentation, and your expertise on your subject. Make sure that your chapters differ from one another in order to highlight the scope of your work.

Keep in mind that you are not merely reporting on your idea, you are selling it. Use authentic language, but write about yourself with style and confidence. As you write your proposal, you may find your material evolving and changing—especially when you begin reading your competitive titles.