When writing a book proposal, one of the more difficult sections to. This section of a book proposal can feel intimidating both if youve finished the book and if you are just conceptualizing it. This section is necessary for your writing guide, which is why i recommend. A brief description of what goes into the chapter summaries section of a nonfiction book proposal, which is a synopsis of each and every. Agents and editors dont want to see a completed book nonfiction book. For fiction, include several chapters in the book proposal, and the entire manuscript in a separate file. Chapter summaries help you prepare to write and sell your book. If your book is based on a recent news topic, you can introduce the book by giving a brief overview of the news event itself. Nonfiction book proposal outline here is a basic template for a book proposal, which many of our clients have used successfully. The literary agents guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal by andy ross. How to write a nonfiction book outline in two days the.
Most nonfiction books are signed on the basis of a proposal and a sample chapter or two. Nonfiction book chapter outlines a way with words writing. While theres no single best way to write and assemble a book proposal it will depend on the category, the author, and the publishers submission guidelinesthe following sections appear in almost every book proposal. If its a narrative book like a memoir, it could be a compelling paragraph from your book but only use it once in your proposal. Summary also known as the overview, synopsis, or executive summary. This section analyzes competing book titles and why yours is different or needed. Include two of the chapters you feel best represents your writing style and the content of the book you are writing. Your outline might simply consist of a list of chapter titles, or it may include summaries of each and every chapter.
A nonfiction book proposal is the key document that allows an agent or publisher to determine the viability of a project. How to write a chapter synopsis for your book proposal chad r. Chapter summary titles are not limited to the conventional title for example the catcher in the rye summary. A proposal title subtitle author contact information. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. I like this one because it contains ten reallife proposals that sold.
A book proposal argues why your book idea is a salable, marketable product. List and summarize the major comparable titles and explain why yours is different from each. If you plan to write the book first, and figure out the proposal later, reconsider your process. I know, this is simple, but its different than most book outlines. This may be the most important element of the book proposal, as it will show the potential publisher or financier that your book will be interesting, readable, and written with the highest quality. Not counting your two to three sample chapters, your nonfiction book proposal should be no longer than 1015 pages. Book proposals are used to sell nonfiction books to publishers. Provide a sparse outline that breaks down each chapter by name and number into a one or twosentence description, followed. What is the ideal length for a nonfiction book proposal. Writing an irresistible book proposal by michael larsen. These chapter summaries in my nonfiction book proposal will give you ideas on. Chapter by chapter summaries for your book proposal in addition to a table of contents, your book proposal also needs a more detailed outline. How to write a nonfiction book synopsis pen and the pad.
Most nonfiction books sell on the basis of a proposal not finished work. Youre going to have to essentially sell them your book, sending them a document that contains details about your qualifications, a chapter by chapter outline, and most importantly, how your. There is more to a nonfiction book than a catchy cover and table of contents much more. How to write a nonfiction book outline in two days. When nonfiction authors ask me, how can i write a book proposal or do i need a proposal if i write a howto book. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. I m deep in the thrill of starting a new project right now, an 80s memoir about houses. I have a client who did this part of her nonfiction book proposal first because she said it scared her. A nonfiction book proposal most often contains some form of the following, although many publishers and. Authors could even note the marketing and publicity strategies for the comp titles and use this to inform the previous section. Within those 1015 pages, you must convince an agent, editor and publishing team that you and your book deserve a place on the shelf based on several key factors. Your checklist for the components of a nonfiction book, from the front cover to the back and everything in between. If you have an idea for a nonfiction book, its better to write a couple of chapters and then pitch a book proposal. If writing a chapter outline seems redundant or unnecessary for your books.
Chapter summaries are chapter by chapter breakdowns. Ive read various places now i cant remember where, of course that you shouldnt use this chapter explains or this chapter will cover etc. The art of the nonfiction book proposal writers relief. Submitting an already written nonfiction book as a proposal is a great way to almost guarantee you will not get a book deal. Summarizing is a skill that does not come naturally. Most proposals run thirtyfive to fifty double spaced pages. Your outline might simply consist of a list of chapter titles, or it may. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount.
Agents are looking for something more specific when it comes to nonfiction. Write a chapter by chapter summary, dedicating several paragraphs to each chapter. Your book hook includes three pieces of information. Share your questions about chapter outlines and other book proposal issues below. So when it comes to nonfiction especially, the book proposal is a happy. Its a perk of nonfiction that you can sell a book on proposal before sitting down to the write the whole shebang, and often receiving an advance will help fund research andor travel, making the book possible. A book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. Your chapter also doesnt need to teach agents and publishers the material. Breaking down the nonfiction book proposal the business of. The basic idea is to use the book outline as a roadmap to help you know what to write in each chapter. These chapter summaries in my nonfiction book proposal will give you ideas on how to summarize your own chapters. And the publisher will want to know how well positioned you are to do it. I often say, you only need a book proposal if you want to get your book published.
In both cases, be sure to have a professional query letter to head your book proposal. 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. For nonfiction, chapter summaries consist of a chapter by chapter synopsis. Make your chapter titles as effective as the title for your book, like headlines for ads that compel readers to read what follows them. If agented, use agents contact info only author name. You would never do a proposal for a board book, for example unless for some strange reason thats how the publisher youre targeting wants board books submitted. For a nonfiction book, create a list of chapters, where you give each chapter a catchy title possibly also a subtitle and the page on which the sample chapter can be found later in your proposal. The anatomy of a compelling book proposal the bindery. Writing an irresistible book proposal writers digest.
How to write a nonfiction book proposal wolf literary. How to write a chapter synopsis for your book proposal. 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. 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. For nonfiction book proposals, two chapters of your book will suffice. I also sold a book off the back of a nonfiction book proposal that had multiple publishers bidding for the rights, and ended up being sold to harpercollins for.
Sample new book proposal below is a sample of a complete and exhaustive book proposal for a christian nonfiction manuscript. This page will direct you to some examples of book proposal sections so that you can put together a winning book proposal. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. How to draft proposals to childrens book publishers dummies. How to outline a nonfiction book with free template. We dont focus on story structure, theres no mention of turning points or character arcs or subplots for a main character or any of the typical devices that are used. They just want to know that you have enough material, fresh material, that you address the needs of your readers, that its well organized, etc. There are a number of ways you can pull out your book s summary below are some prompts to help you really think about what you want your book to achieve in your readers lives. When you are ready to write a nonfiction proposal, then its time to take a step back from your work and look at it from an editors and a publishers point of view. Think of a more interesting title but is suitable to the content of your summary. You want to create a table of contents for your book, with a quick description of what will be in each chapter. Creating a compelling book proposal is your first step to getting your book to the.
You are also welcome to listen to free audio recordings of teds book proposal bootcamp and other workshops and media appearances. Chapter summaries are what allow nonfiction writers to submit on proposal rather than with the entire book. I also included a summary of my book s introduction. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. Dos and donts in writing a chapter summary examples.
Unless its a serious or refer ence book, your title must tell and sell. The title of my nonfiction book is your heart changes everything and thats. There are several books available on writing book proposals. Including this allows the editor to see how you intend to approach the material and also gives her an idea of your writing style. Sometimes this is merely called the outline, but i like to call it the chapter by chapter summaries. Ive been reading a ton of your articles as i write my book proposal thanks for the great content. The basic nonfiction proposal outline you see here is one that i. I must admit i really hate writing chapter summaries. Nonfiction book proposal outline ted weinstein literary. You are trying to accomplish two things with this section. As mentioned in my discussion on how to get published, if youre interested in writing a book length work of nonfiction, you dont need to write the entire manuscript before you make the sale. How to finally write your nonfiction book the new york times. Introduce the title and subject of your book in the first paragraph, along with a brief historic overview to establish the book s context.