What came first? The chicken or the egg?

So many people have reached out and shared their amazing ideas for books with me. They have told me about everything from health and wellness to comics or cookbooks. But they’ve made the rookie mistake of writing a book without a proposal, believing a proposal can be easily constructed on the back end of writing a manuscript. No matter the concept or focus, a book proposal is the first step to bringing a book to life.

What is a book proposal?

A book proposal is a prepared document that casts the vision of your book. It clarifies:

• who you are as an author
• who your reader is
• why your reader needs your book
• how you, as the author, are going to meet the need the reader is feeling.

The proposal outlines the concept of your book, along with all of the important details a publisher (or you, if you are self-publishing) will need. Some of the details include the estimated date of manuscript completion, approximate word count, and type of book (Bible study, workbook, etc.). Other specifications introduce your author platform, your bio, and your unique qualifications or certifications.

Lastly, a book proposal comprises your total outline of the book, including a table of contents, individual chapter summaries, and sample chapters. It also contains a list of comparable titles–books that are similar in nature to yours.

I never begin writing a book before completing the process of concept development and writing a full book proposal. If you wanted to build a new home, you wouldn’t start without a blueprint.

This tool will also be the means with which you attempt to attract an agent, editor, or publisher. Depending on where you are in the process of developing a concept or assembling your thoughts, a proposal can take anywhere from three weeks to three months to compose. And it is integral to take your time and complete this task well. A poor proposal will end up in the ye-old-slush-pile in a flash if it is hastily made or feels disjointed.

So, once your concept is well developed, polish the daylights out of your proposal and your pitch. Just remember, hitting the “submit” button is a small act of surrender and worship to the Lord. If you know you’ve done the work, pray that He will do the rest.