Writing a Non-fiction Book Proposal

By Carol Hegberg

               A non-fiction book proposal sells your manuscript to a publisher.

               Unlike fiction manuscripts that must be completed before agents or publishers will look at them, a non-fiction manuscript does not have to be finished to be acquired by a publisher or an agent. In some respects, this sounds less speculative. While you research your non-fiction project and write various chapters, you can pitch your project to those you choose to reproduce your work into a beautiful book.

               First, your proposal should include all the basics of a neat, presentable manuscript: letter-sized, letter-quality paper, double-spaced, unbound, and typed in a common font such as Times New Roman or Courier New.

               A title page comes first, as though you present your face to the publisher or agent. Some say a writer can apply makeup, such as computer graphics and creative fonts for better appeal; however, others believe only the basics are necessary to acquaint the publisher to your writing project. Either way, include only the title about a third down the page, and then your name, address, telephone number, fax number (if one), email address, date, and phone number of your agent (if have one). The information’s final line should appear on the page’s last line.

               Next follows the overview, which is a concise statement (one to three pages) of your project. This should be tightly written; every word must count.

               After that, you write autobiographical information. Who you are and why you are qualified to write the book. List your previous published books and articles. Include all your applicable experience to your project, even public or media appearances, any relevant thing that will sell you for your project.

               In the subsequent marketing section, you must promote why your book is needed. Who will purchase it and why? Be specific; don’t give generalized statistics.

               For the following section, you must have researched your competition. What is on the market like yours? How many? In a sense, this may sound as though you’re shooting down your project. Use this to the contrary. Let the publisher realize you know your competition and why and how your book will be different and necessary for the public. If many books are published on your subject, add that proves the public’s insatiable need for the subject matter. There is always an angle from which to sell your product. You have to study your project from different angles.

               Next you give your ideas for promoting (marketing) the book. While many models are available, you might have your unique one that will guide the publisher to publishing your book.

               The chapter outline is the essence of your proposal and comes next. Here you tell the book’s content. Each chapter should be titled (at least tentatively) and clearly summarized. You may include a table of contents if you think it helpful. The length of each outline is your decision. My advice is to hone. Use only a word if it’s needed. Be succinct. Get your point across and move to the following chapter. Remember this is an outline. The chapters are not necessarily written.

               However, if you have written a few chapters, you may include one or two in the proposal.

               You can also include anything else that builds you and your project up in the publisher’s eyes. Videos or DVDs, copies of your published articles, complimentary letters. All must be pertinent to your proposal.

               An average proposal runs from fifteen to thirty double-spaced pages with the chapters from ten to twenty double-spaced pages. Some proposals are a hundred pages, while others are only six or seven. Whatever amount it takes to explain your book project to a publisher