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

1. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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.