This is the first post in a series of How to build a perfect book proposal
Uh-oh. What is that crazy Tumblemoose guy up to now? He’s puttin’ stuff backwards again.
I guess I can’t blame you for being a bit gun-shy. I know I’ve got a habit of turning things upside down in order to fit into my own warped little world.
Let me clarify a couple of things. First, the title is accurate. Second, I’m referring primarily to your nonfiction book here, but some of the gems may apply to the Great American Novel you are currently penning.
Nonfiction is different
Getting a nonfiction book published requires a little different mindset than getting your novel published. If you have a great idea for a nonfiction book, you can actually sell it before it is written. Now, that does not mean that you can sell it without having to write down a single word. It means that you can put together a chapter or two along with some other basic material and shop it to agents or publishers.
It’s important to realize that you still have a great deal of work to do. This is not a short cut to easy riches. What it will do is perhaps save you months of labor writing a book that you think is awesome, but the rest of the world thinks is stinky. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Why you should sell first
- It really forces you to examine the market for your book and the prospects for success. The proposal you send to publishers should contain the results of all the marketing research you collect. You are going to look at who may buy the book and why, what other similar titles are available, and why your book is going to spank any competition that is out there.
- The feedback that you receive from editors, agents or publishers is going to be crucial in shaping the actual book. If the book is accepted, chances are the publisher will have very specific suggestions as to what the book should be in order to best serve the intended market. If it is rejected by every publisher then there may be a critical flaw in the concept or in your writing ability in the eyes of the publishing community. With that said, do not give up after a few rejections!
- If your proposal is rejected at every turn, it is easier to head a different direction. It’s a lot better than having to revise the entire book!
- One of your responsibilities as an author is to help market your work. By doing this process on the front end, you will be able to come up with a solid marketing plan based on your research.
- The act of putting together a solid proposal builds your confidence in the project and allows you to better identify the best venue for your work.
Part II of the series
Part II of this series will include a look at the components of a smart book proposal.
Interesting post and you’re absolutely correct, it doesn’t really work like that for fiction, in the UK anyway.
I (accidentally!) had an agent interested in my novel after 10,000 words. But of course, they didn’t want to take me on until it was finished (at which point they did indeed decide not to take me on).
Selling your writing is a fascinating and frustrating process. It really is important not to let the inevitable knockbacks get you down.
Iain Broome´s last blog post..Embrace your writing community, but don’t be scared to say ‘no’!
Iain,
Thanks for coming by and commenting. “Fascinating and Frustrating Process” – Truer words have never been spoken…
Hey, went over to writeforyourlife.net Very well done.
George
Thank you – I hope it’s going to be a lot of fun and a good outlet somewhere between my fiction and my daily, more traditional copywriting.
Enjoying your blog, by the way. Subscribed.
It’s a lot easier to get a book deal for nonfiction with a platform. Being a well-known name surely is ideal, but having a significant mailing list or blog is very helpful too
Gennaro @ Enduring Wanderlust´s last blog post..Wilderness, Where Art Thou?
This writing gig sure is a lot of work, I think i need to quit my day job and hire a maid so I can get down to the good stuff!
This is great advice, thanks George! I landed an agent based on my nonfiction book proposal and 2 short sample chapters….and he’s working hard to sell the book, even though it’s not written. I’ll only write the book if I have a contract, and I know it’s just a matter of time. Then I’ll be struggling to find the time to write my magazine articles, which I love doing!
I agree that writing the proposal helps you shape the actual book, but I’ve found that not many editors or publishers have the time to give you much feedback. That was my experience, anyway — other writers will no doubt have different experiences with editors.
Anyway, thanks for this post, it boosted my faith in the process
Laurie
Laurie PK,
I’m stoked! It always makes me happy when I see a success story. It reminds me that it DOES happen and I k now that seeing these words inspires a lot of the readers here at TM.
Be sure and keep in touch and let us know how things are progressing!
George
would have loved to have had this information, but it’s no longer available. Can I get it somewhere else?
Hi George,
Thanks for writing this article. I am working on my NF proposal as we speak and it does build confidence since you are challenged to be more concise. I have been trying to find you on facebook. Have you got an account? I look forward to learning more about you and your work.
Sincerely, Sharice
Hi Sharice,
Thanks for getting in touch and I hope the blog post helps you. Yes I am on Facebook although I don’t post there very much. If you go to facebook.com/tumblemoose it should get you right there!
Cheers
George