“I think book proposals are one of the most difficult things to write, second only to obituaries.”
When I received this email I could relate. I’ve never written obituaries, even though writing one’s own is a popular goal-setting exercise. But I have written and read many book proposals so I know they aren’t easy to write. Sometimes they aren’t easy to read. So how can you make your book proposals easy to read? When my assistant and I are scanning proposals, here are the key points we first notice:
1) Format: Is the overall look of the proposal easy on the eye? A poorly-formatted proposal won’t be rejected if we are wowed by the content, but proposals with a pleasing appearance make a great impression.
2) Title: Tell us immediately what we are viewing: Fiction/nonfiction? Series/standalone? Genre? Historical/contemporary?
3) Hook: What is the spirit of your book? Fried Green Tomatoes meets Star Trek? Or A Systematic Approach to Spiritual Spring Cleaning?
4) Back Cover Blurb: In two or three short paragraphs, make me want to buy your book. Take the time to make this sparkle, because great back cover copy will help sell me on your book, then the editor, then the pub board, then marketing, then your readers.
5) Info: Can critical facts be found with little effort, including:
a.) published/unpublished status
b.) sales figures for published authors
c.) manuscript status, including when it can be completed
d.) manuscript history
6) Summary: I find that one-page summaries usually work best. If you have already invested in a lengthy summary, you can include a short summary and a long summary.
7) Market Comparisons: Showing us books that are similar to yours will help us know where your book will fit in today’s market. Be respectful rather than critical of other authors’ work when comparing. Show how your book fits into the market, but is still unique enough to attract readers.
8 ) Endorsers: This area causes many authors anxiety because they may not be acquainted with big name authors, or they are afraid that listing a friend may be promising too much. Rest assured that no agent or editor thinks a big name author is a guaranteed endorser. We all know that popular authors’ schedules are packed and that the timing to read your book may or may not work. I recommending listing three names of authors you know well enough that you can approach them for an endorsement. If you honestly have no idea, it’s better not to list anyone than to list impossible names. Don’t distress — your agent can work with you here.
These key points are by no means inclusive. I have only hit the high points on some of the areas that tend to make authors jittery. Don’t worry. Do your best with the proposal, and write the best book you can. That’s all we ask!
For complete guidelines, visit our site here. These may be our guidelines, but they are universally accepted as an excellent and proper way to write a proposal.
We look forward to seeing your work!
Your turn:
What do you think is the hardest part of a proposal to write?
What is the easiest part of a proposal to write?
Having just completed a proposal, I agree. Writing a concise synopsis puts the work under a microscope, and can help authors discover any plot or character issues they might not have noticed otherwise. Thank you for this post, and the tips, Tamela!
Ashley
Hi – I am new at writing, and have been at a story for a couple years now. I started to write so my kids can edit it and possibly be inspired by the process. Not so much luck with that yet.
I decided to write a fiction about a subject that I am knowledgeable in and requires little research on my part. I also decide to make it a loose allegory of Bible stories which follows a theme of Grace.
Question: If I decide to make a proposal, does it have to be the beginning chapters?
I am writing this story in stages. Characters and sub plots are being introduced and told throughout the book, intertwining and coming together throughout the book. I am not writing it from beginning to end, rather by character and events.
Can I submit a major part of the story, an event that takes place and makes sense as it is, instead of the beginning chapters?
Thanks for your help and response – Jim Ayers
(I am emailing this question to whomever looks at the “Ask Us a Question” as well)
Jim, please accept my apologies for the woefully long delay in responding to your question. I was away when you posted, and just happened to come upon this today. The response is, yes, for fiction, we need to see the beginning of the book. Even better, send the complete manuscript.
I have a completed book proposal, but I keep second guessing myself. At times I feel confident and yet there will be times I think, “What am I doing?” Then there is the issue of time. It seems as if writing and then getting one’s work published takes forever.
Thanks for your post!
Thank for sharing about book proposals. I recently finished my first novel and working on revisions. I’ve considered writing a proposal for my novel and sending it in but feel apprehensive about it and have a question.
1. Should a novel be completed including the editing, before submitting a proposal?
Judy, if you have never written a novel, yes. Look at it this way: once you get a contract, you just have to sign. The bulk of the writing will be done! All best to you.
And let me add — agents and editors will want to see your best work. Authors have only one chance to make a good first impression.
Thank you for the reply, I’m working on revisions and definitely want to submit my best work.
My biggest fear is that my characters won’t get the chance to meet the possible readers if I don’t do my homework well enough to get published. I’ve completed five manuscripts where the fictional characters are hounding me to take the next step. Your posts have been an enormous help in guiding me towards being published. I take each piece of advice very seriously. I am writing part of the proposal as I read your blog. Thank you for sharing.
Tamela, I have a question about the manuscript status section of a non-fiction book proposal. How do I figure out the manuscript status if the book is still in the process of being written?
Thanks for your post Tamela which has really blessed me. It enables authors to begin to develop the critical eye of an agent on their own writing before submitting their proposal. For me who has been self publishing, I feel like a novice writer. There are so many things I never knew that is all new to me! Writing a proposal gives the author the opportunity to self reflect and evaluate what they have written. What an interesting exercise that has made me conscious of Best and not been satisfied with Good!
Olusola Sophia Anyanwu
London, UK.
I’ve question for Endorsers can i take short authors name with reference
This post is really awesome and I’d like share it on our social media handles.
This may have already be answered, but there is an overwhelming amount of comments on this particular article.
I would love clarification between the cover page and the proposal.
You mentioned a blurb/back cover description for the proposal, along with the submission of sample chapters.
According to another blog, the cover page only needs a short 40-word snapshot of the whole book.
Am I understanding this correctly?
Also, do you still consider proposals if one has self-published and not been successful?
Honestly, I find creating proposals and cover pages one of the hardest things I have ever attempted. I have written over thirty novels and have never been more frustrated.
Thanks in advance.
Laura, thanks for asking. Either way is fine. No one I know will reject a proposal based on, “How dare that author not write the cover page EXACTLY as my article says!” The goal is simply to present all the relevant information as well as you can so your proposal stands the greatest chance of acceptance.
I consider proposals from self-published authors, but the proposal needs to be for a different project, not one that has already been self-published.
Hope this helps!