The nonfiction book proposal is an often underrated element in the creation of books, whether electronic or printed. Perhaps this is because people think in terms of a finished book, and not the plan for creating it.
Traditional book publishers base their publishing decisions upon well-researched, well-written book proposals. If you are self-publishing your book, a book proposal is even more important because, as you create it, you think through the book itself. You can better clarify what kind of book you are writing, who you are writing it for, how it stands apart from similar books, and how people can easily access your book for purchase.
A basic book proposal includes the following basic elements.
1. Overview
Look at the back cover of a book similar to the one you expect to write. There you will see text that summarizes what’s in the book, and is presented to entice you into reading it. This text is called back copy.
When creating an overview for your book proposal, think about the back copy you would expect to see on your book. It should answer certain basic questions, such as:
- What is the book about?
- Who is the intended target audience for this book?
- What makes your book stand out from similar books?
- What can a reader expect to get from reading your book?
2. Market
Knowing the market for your book is crucial. Publishers today, especially with nonfiction books, want to see the author’s platform—the audience that the author can bring along to read the book.
For example, if you were to write a book about cooking, you might have a large audience. However, if you were a famous person writing about cooking, and could easily get the media and reader attention for your book, chances are you’ll get a better reception from traditional book publishers.
This is not to say you cannot write a successful nonfiction book if you are not famous. As Stephen King has said, it is the tale, not he who tells it. One lesson learned when I published my book Spring Branch was that my audience was interested in my subject—the Spring Branch area of west Houston and its history—and not me. It was a specialized topic, with a sizeable enough audience, but little competition. The book has continued to do well, and it is this way for many books.
3. Promotion
The author has primary responsibility for promoting the book, regardless of how it is published. A key section in a book proposal is the promotion section. The more an author thinks about how to promote the book, and has a plan to do so, the better.
Promotional activities can include the following:
- Creating an author web site.
- Creating and writing a blog.
- Writing and distributing a news release.
- Participating in book signings.
- Engaging in public speaking activities related to the subject of the book.
- Being interviewed by the media.
- Creating video book trailers.
- Writing guest articles or blog posts.
For ideas about how best to promote your book, see how authors are promoting books that are similar to yours.
In the second part of this article, I’ll discuss researching your competition, creating the about the author section, your table of contents, sample chapters, and production schedule.
