Please read this entire page since there are specific differences between non-fiction and fiction proposals. Some of the information is repetitive to make sure our guidelines are clear. (Note how we just repeated something already!)

Do not send the same proposal to all of us in the agency simultaneously. We tend to talk to each other, so a writer who spams all of us will be considered unprofessional.

As stated earlier, do not just send a query letter (or query email). Please submit a comprehensive proposal, including sample chapters (preferably in a single document). We need to have something in place that allows us to evaluate your writing.

If we are interested in your project, we will be in contact within twelve weeks or sooner. If we do not think your project is something we can represent, we may or may not be in contact, depending on our current workload. If you sent an email proposal and don’t hear from us within 90 days, you can assume that we will not pursue your project. If you send a hard copy proposal and include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), we guarantee you will receive a response. [This “response” is unlikely to be a critique or a detailed review. It may be a simple “no thank you.”]

E-mail: If you are sending an email submission, please include it as an attachment in a Word document or a PDF (do not paste the proposal into the body of your e-mail). If you send an email proposal and don’t hear from us within 60 days, you can assume we are not going to pursue your project. We recommend including a descriptive title in the body of your email. We receive far too many pitches with only the words “Here it is.” Remember that the subject line is part of your pitch. Also, check your email ID, what your computer says who the email is from (like Caller ID on your phone). It can be embarrassing to the sender when pitching to a professional. (Read this blog post if you are curious). 

Hard copy: If you send a hard copy proposal, please include a SASE (self-addressed-stamped envelope), or you will not get a reply. However, if you do send a hard copy proposal and a SASE, you will receive a response. [This “response” is not necessarily a critique or a detailed review. It may be a simple “no thank you.”] Save money by sending a regular #10 envelope with a stamp, not an 8 1/2″ x 11″ envelope. Just an envelope with a stamp into which we can place one sheet of paper.

If you are wondering how to best address the cover letter, read this article. There is no need to call our office to ask that question or to inquire about whether we have received your proposal.

We are seeking high-quality Christian fiction in all genres.

We are seeking high-quality Christian nonfiction of all types.

Note the following exceptions:

No poetry or short stories.

No screenplays.

No books of photography.

No personal family history biographies.

Each agent has a blog linked below where they indicate what they are looking for.
Please honor our requests and refrain from sending material that is not a fit for that particular agent.

Each agent has written a blog about what they are looking for. The links are below:
Steve Laube – “Bring the Books”
Tamela Hancock Murray – “Book Proposals I’d Love to See”
Bob Hostetler – “Who and What I am Looking for as an Agent”
Dan Balow – “What I am Looking For”
Lynette Eason – “What I am Looking For”

Please, do not call the main office to query about a project. We consistently receive calls from individuals who type “agent” into an online search and call any number that appears.

Note how we are repeating details? Because a lot of those who approach us have not followed our requests.

Guidelines

There are many ways to create a book proposal, but remember, in a sense, this is your job application. Present yourself as a professional and let your idea and your writing speak for themselves. The directions below are designed to guide you in creating a submission that is engaging, complete, and adheres to industry standards. Instead of obsessing over minor details, follow the standard and let the focus be where it belongs: on your sample chapters! Please read everything below and note the difference between non-fiction and fiction proposals.

COVER LETTER
The cover letter should include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. It should summarize the plot or idea in a single paragraph, as well as provide the book’s title and the estimated word count of the entire manuscript (not page count). If the book is not yet complete, estimate when you expect to finish it. The cover letter should be no longer than one page.
Cover letter article.
(We HIGHLY recommend that you read this article!)

SAMPLE CHAPTERS
The sample should be the first three chapters or approximately fifty double-spaced pages. (Please use Times Roman 12pt font or a similar very readable font.) The reason for the limitation is to avoid the expectation you might have that we will read the entire manuscript. If we like the first three chapters, we will ask for the rest.

If you are sending physical paper in the mail, it should be printed single-sided and unbound. Please make sure the pages are numbered.  Do not print out the pages so they look like actual book pages. Print double-spaced on one side of the page in black ink on 8″ x 11″ white paper, use 1″ margins all around, and don’t justify the right margin.

E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS
If you choose to send an e-mail submission, it should be sent as an e-mail attachment in a Word document or PDF. Do Not paste the contents of your proposal and sample chapters into the body of an e-mail. Formatting will be lost in most cases, and it is the worst way to present yourself to an agent. It makes a terrible first impression.

SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE (SASE) If you send a proposal to us via the mail, we will not reply to you unless you include an appropriately sized SASE with sufficient postage. A letter-size SASE is preferred for a written response. There is no need to include a large envelope for the return of the entire proposal unless you wish to have the entire document back. Do not expect us to track down your email address to send a rejection letter. However, if we are interested, we may either call or contact you via e-mail for more information.

We recommend that you consider taking Steve Laube’s course on book proposal preparation found on The Christian Writers Institute website. (Here is a link to the course. The cost is only $29.99. This is a 70% discount off its regular price!) It is an extensive video course that will walk you through, step-by-step, the basic elements of a proposal. The course includes two sample proposal templates, one for fiction and one for non-fiction. Plus, there are worksheets, articles on specific topics on what you need for your preparation and a sample of an effective cover letter. Additionally, he includes a copy of the e-book below in various electronic formats.

It would be helpful if you considered reading all our agency blogs on book proposal preparation. Tamela Hancock Murray wrote a ten-part “Book Proposal Basics” series (find it here). In addition, we have nearly 200 blog posts on this topic, which is a measure of its importance. [You can find them here.]

The 28-page booklet (available as an ebook only) pictured here is free for those who sign up to be part of The Christian Writers Institute (no cost to join). Alternatively, you can click the Amazon button and purchase it on your Kindle Reader (or app) for $0.99. Or enroll in the above book proposal course, which includes a PDF, Kindle, and ePub version of the book as part of the class.

 

 

NON-FICTION Proposals

Your non-fiction book proposal could include the following:

• A one-sentence summary of your book.
• Create a 75-word summary of the book. Imagine that this is what will go on the back cover of the book.
• A half-page to one-page overview of your book, including (a) an identification of its uniqueness (the distinguishing “hook” that will draw your reader in: What will motivate a person to pick up your book?) and (b) what you hope to accomplish in the way of transformation in the life of the reader.
• A brief profile of your reader with a clear explanation of the problem he or she faces and how your book provides a solution. Also, list any additional audiences you expect your book will attract.
• A listing of other books available that are similar to yours and a brief explanation of how yours is both different and/or better.
• A description of potential marketing channels to which you have access (e.g., contacts you have in key organizations, groups you speak to regularly, key people you know who might endorse your book, etc.).
• Your qualifications to write on this topic and a list of your writing experience, and educational/career background. If you have published previously, what are the titles and approximate sales to date of your books? This is a critical part of the non-fiction proposal as it addresses the issue of “Platform.” (If you are unclear what “platform” is, read the dozens of blog posts we have written on the topic. They can be found at this link.)
• A chapter-by-chapter annotated outline that clearly summarizes the overall content and key ideas of each chapter.
• Projected word length of the manuscript.
• Expected completion date of the manuscript.
• Three sample chapters of your book.

FICTION Proposals

Follow the basic information above in the non-fiction proposal section, but realize that the biggest difference between the fiction and non-fiction proposal is the synopsis. While the non-fiction proposal requires a chapter-by-chapter analysis, the fiction proposal should be a maximum of three single-spaced pages that present the entire story in a concise manner. Don’t worry, your synopsis will be the worst writing you’ve ever done. That is okay. Please briefly tell the story so we can understand what happens after your sample chapters.

Create a Promo Sentence and a Sales Handle (these are the bits you see on the front cover of a novel or as a headline across the back cover. Additionally, create back cover copy that tells the story without giving it away (the back cover is typically around 75 words). Example below is from the cover of the novel Oxygen by Randy Ingermanson and John Olson:

Promo sentence:
A mission gone desperately wrong – and no way out short of blind faith…

Sales handle: A tragic accident or a suicide mission?

Back cover copy:

Dreams turn suddenly to nightmares for NASA and the crew as an explosion cripples the spacecraft on the outward voyage. The crew’s survival depends on complete trust in one another – but is one of the four a saboteur?

In the year 2012, Valkerie Jansen, a young microbial ecologist, was presented with an amazing opportunity to continue her research as a member of the NASA corps of astronauts. When a sudden resignation opens the door for her to be a part of a mission to Mars, her life dream becomes a reality.

Since fiction can be entertaining and taps the emotional center of a reader, here are some other helpful things to include in your proposal :

In a single sentence, state your purpose for writing this novel. Why did you write (are you writing) this story? What are you trying to prove about life with this story?

Describe your protagonist’s quest. What does he want or need? What is his goal? For what does he yearn?

What is at stake in this story? If your protagonist doesn’t attain his goal, so what? Why does it matter, and why should the reader care? What are the consequences?

What is the “takeaway value” of the story? How will the reader be changed for having read it?