| To sell a nonfiction book to a publishing house, you | | | | your descriptive material in the overview and |
| do not have to have the entire book written, and | | | | expanded outline makes that overkill. Send in chapter |
| even if you do, you must submit a book proposal | | | | 1, and a section from another place in the book if it |
| (usually via a literary agent) to procure a book deal. | | | | will read quite differently from chapter 1 (for |
| The reason is that the publisher needs to know if | | | | instance, if you have a recipe section in your health |
| investing the money in publishing your book will pay | | | | book, provide some recipes). |
| off. Your book proposal must make a compelling | | | | Work in the specs of your proposed book. |
| case that this book, written by you, is needed in the | | | | Somewhere in the proposal, note when you can |
| marketplace. | | | | deliver the book, the length, and the format |
| Here are the core elements of a successful book | | | | (hardcover or paperback) if that is very important to |
| proposal: | | | | you and both are options. Publishers generally want |
| Start with a 3-5 page overview describing the book, | | | | the book delivered within six to nine months, |
| why it fills a hole in the marketplace and is needed | | | | maximum, unless you're writing a work requiring |
| now, and why you are the right person to write it. | | | | substantial research. As for length, you can specify |
| Describe the audience for the book and the benefits | | | | page count based on the number of words that fit |
| it offers. | | | | on a typical page (take a look at a book that is |
| Add an author biography. Include what you have | | | | about the size, shape, and length of the book you |
| done and what you are doing right now to maintain | | | | envision, count the words on a page and the number |
| and build your platform: your visibility and credibility | | | | of pages, then do the math). As an in-house editor, I |
| that allows you to have a loyal following that will be | | | | was taught it's best to specify word count in |
| eager to buy your book. Note any relevant writing | | | | contracts so that's what I do in book proposals as |
| experience you have, and any media experience. | | | | it's much more accurate than a page count. A typical |
| Include information about the number of followers | | | | length for a self-help book these days is about |
| you have thanks to your newsletter, website, blog, | | | | 70,000 words (it used to be 100,000 back in the |
| and social media outreach. Note where you live (no, | | | | day), but how many words fit on a given page will |
| you don't have to live in New York City to get a | | | | vary based on the design of the book. |
| book deal, but it's good for them to know what time | | | | Include endorsements if you can, and even the |
| zone you are in and whether you live in a strong | | | | promise of a foreword by someone with an |
| "book town"). | | | | impressive name if you can procure a commitment. |
| Include a marketing statement. Tell the publisher | | | | You might be surprised by who will agree to write an |
| what you are willing to do to get the word out about | | | | endorsement or foreword at an early stage of the |
| the book and sell copies. Offer suggestions for easy, | | | | book! And if they say no, you can always come back |
| low-cost things the publisher can do, such as | | | | to them later when you have more material to show |
| submitting to specific types of magazines (for | | | | them (but don't promise what you can't deliver; wait |
| example, they will know to send it to Parents | | | | until you get the thumbs up from your foreword |
| magazine, but they might not know to send it to | | | | writer before including it in a proposal). |
| Adoptive Families magazine). Suggest niche media | | | | Before submitting your proposal, consider having it |
| outlets. The idea is to give them a wider range of | | | | evaluated by an industry professional who can help |
| ideas and show them what you're willing to do, too | | | | you tweak it, fill in any gaps, and make it as strong |
| (such as research all these wonderful niche markets). | | | | as possible, whether that professional is a literary |
| Do a short Table of Contents for the book followed | | | | agent or a freelance editor with extensive book |
| by an expanded table of contents, also known as a | | | | publishing experience who can help you polish your |
| detailed outline. Offer at least two paragraphs about | | | | proposal before it is sent to the agent. Spell check it, |
| what will be included in each chapter. (Also, don't | | | | have another set of eyes proofread it (this is where |
| describe any chapters you are actually including in the | | | | a friend with great grammar skills is a terrific asset), |
| proposal as that would be redundant. Instead, just | | | | and double check that you have included all the |
| note that the "Sample chapter is included.") | | | | important elements. Make sure your book proposal |
| Provide a writing sample. Some say you should | | | | makes it impossible for a literary agent, and then an |
| include an introduction and chapter 1; I think that the | | | | editor, to say no to taking on your nonfiction book |
| overlap between the book's actual introduction and all | | | | project! |