The Proposal

No, not that kind. I’m talking about the dreaded book proposal. In the world of nonfiction publishing, unfortunately, taking a stab at the traditional route (finding an agent who will then work to find a publisher) requires writing a book proposal. That may not seem like a big deal after writing a book, but trust me, it ain’t easy. The thought of writing a book proposal was almost enough to make me take the self-publishing route right out of the gate. But five years from now, I don’t want to be thinking I wonder what might have happened if….

The process goes something like this. For nonfiction, a winning query letter and book proposal can open the door to being represented and published before the book is even written. Obviously, not the case for me, but I still need a winning query letter and book proposal. The first step is sending my one-page “knock ’em dead” query letter to the list of literary agents I’ve researched who would be a good fit for me and my book. The query letter has to be knock ’em dead quality since it’s the only vehicle to convince the agent she wants to see more. If she does, she’ll ask to see the book proposal. The proposal, then, convinces her to read the full manuscript and/or possibly make an offer to represent me and my book. None of this happens overnight (and lots of times not at all). Most agencies say it can take up to three months or more to hear anything back, even a form rejection letter. Some even say if you don’t hear anything back within six months you can assume your book is not right for them. It’s a long, slow, and what I expect to be excruciating process.

So how hard can it be to write a proposal? Scary hard. I put it off for months (and months). There are lots of books on proposal writing out there, which doesn’t help make it feel any less overwhelming. I chose three for guidance: Writing a Winning Non-Fiction Book Proposal: An Insider’s Secrets to Landing an Agent and Book Contract by Michael Hyatt, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It…Successfully! by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, and How to Sell Your Memoir: 12 Steps to a Perfect Book Proposal by Brooke Warner. This last one was my step-by-step guide. The other two I used for reference. Michael Hyatt is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers, one of the biggest Christian publishers in the United States. Brooke Warner is one of the founders of She Writes Press and a former executive editor at Seal Press. She knows her stuff.

So what goes into a book proposal? Here’s an outline:

• Cover page with title, subtitle, and author’s name and contact information.
• Table of contents.
• An overview of the entire book.
• Chapter-by-chapter summaries.
• A detailed marketing/publicity plan.
• Target audience.
• Analysis of competitive titles and how your book is different.
• Two to four sample chapters.

Doesn’t that just make you want to dive in and get started?

Before I began, I often read that writing the proposal is well worth the effort, even if later the book is self-published. It’ll give you a better understanding of your book and potential audience, I read. But I wrote the book; how could I understand it any better?

Well, last week I finished the first draft of my proposal. I took a whole week just to savor the feeling of accomplishment. I’ve read through it, and I know it was worth writing, no matter what path I eventually take with my book. In present-day publishing, it’s no longer enough to be just a writer. Getting the book out there is a business, and traditionally published or self-published, the proposal forced me to think about the business aspects of the process. It was worth it, yes, but whew, I’m glad it’s done!

With the purchase of Brooke Warner’s book, she offers a discounted price for a review and critique of a book proposal. I sent my query letter and draft proposal to her yesterday. I’ll keep you posted….