In the first article of this two-part post, I wrote about three key elements of a nonfiction book proposal: the overview, market, and promotion activities. In this article, I’ll write about understanding the competition for your book, preparing the about the author section, the table of contents, sample chapters, and the production schedule.
4. Competition
Before beginning your book proposal, take time to investigate and review other books that cover your topic. Who wrote them? Who was the publisher and when? In what format is the book (audio book, e-book, printed book, or any combination of these three items). Your book should look very similar when published.
Take time to become familiar with the content in these books. Perhaps the competition books cover points that your book must also consider. Maybe the conclusions are different than your conclusions. Be ready to identify them for your editors and readers.
When preparing your proposal, list these books, their authors, and the publishing house and publishing date. Think about how yours will be different and better than those you have reviewed, and make sure to describe those differences in this section. (In fact, your proposal might say something like, “My book on raising tomatoes is different from the others in that my book focuses on growing tomatoes in Southeast Texas, while others focus on simply growing tomatoes.”)
5. About the author
The about the author statement enables you to discuss your credentials for writing the book. Share your expertise and experience, bragging, but not while many authors tend to be introverted by nature, the about the author section calls for a little bit of self-congratulation. If you have written a letter to the editor, you can legitimately say you been published at that website, magazine, or newspaper.
An about the author statement might say something like, “Gerald D. Gardener is an expert with growing tomatoes. His garden has won numerous awards in various garden shows. He lives in Southeast Texas. Visit his web site at …”
6. Table of contents
For the table of contents, summarize the content of each chapter. For example, instead of saying “Chapter 1: Hazards to Growing Tomatoes,” consider something along the lines of:
“Chapter 1: Hazards of Growing Tomatoes
- Lack of fertilization—the importance of using the right fertilizer on a proper schedule.
- Lack of water—how much water is needed, and when.
- Unwanted bugs—bugs that could damage or ruin your tomato crop.”
Chapter 2: (and so on)
7. Sample chapters
Depending on your book, you might not need sample chapters. For example, if you are writing a novel, the editor will want to see the entire manuscript. For a children’s book, chances are your editor will want to see the entire manuscript because it will be smaller than your typical nonfiction book.
If you are submitting sample chapters, make sure they follow conventional manuscript format. Use 8.5” x 11” white paper. Double-space the body text. Make sure the pages have at least one-inch margins. Paginate the manuscript in the top right margin, and include your name and the title of your work.
8. Production schedule
A production schedule ensures accountability in getting the work done, and is useful whether you are self-publishing or working with a traditional publisher.
A typical production schedule might look like this:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 8/1/2016 | Chapters 1-4 complete, submit for peer review |
| 8/15/2016 | Peer reviews for chapters 1-4 returned to author |
| 9/1/2016 | Chapters 5-7 complete, submit for peer review |
| 9/15/2016 | Peer reviews for chapters 5-7 returned to author |
| 10/1/2016 | All peer review edits incorporated, submit full manuscript to editor for final review |
| 10/15/2016 | Editor review for full manuscript complete and returned to author |
| 10/22/2016 | All editor reviews incorporated, submit final manuscript for publication |
These elements, when thought through and presented clearly, can make your proposal, and your book, a success.
