What Publishers Want to See
Most in a Book Proposal
by Priscilla Y. Huff
Copyright 1999-2008 Priscilla Y. Huff.
All rights reserved in all media.
The content of this article may be forwarded in full without special permission provided it is used for not-for-profit purposes and full attribution and copyright notice are given. For all other purposes, contact Beth Mende Conny at Beth@WriteDirections.com
If you are an unpublished author, or even a much-published author, the
hardest "sell" you will have to do—besides getting readers for your book—is
to convince a publisher to offer you a contract. Why? Writing is a
business—no matter how much you love your words—a publisher has to be sure
(1) she will get a return on her investment of sub-contracting you to
deliver a finished product (your completed manuscript) and (2) that a
market (readers willing to buy your book) exists for your book.
Here are several important key sections that most publishers consider in
evaluating a book proposal (not necessarily listed in any order of importance):
*Author Info - Include a one-page bio listing your background and expertise
that qualifies you to write this book (especially if it is nonfiction);
plus a listing of your publishing credits.
*Competition - List several books that are similar to yours with the
author's name, publishers' information, etc., and state how your book
differs from these and offers something new to readers that will motivate
them to buy your book.
*Description/Details - Include the specifications of your book—length,
chapters, illustrations, highlights, and the overall organizational scheme.
Note: You should always do preliminary research about the publisher(s) to
whom you will be submitting your proposal. This includes getting a copy of
their latest catalog or listing of books and reviewing a number of these
books to see their content, style, length, and overall "look" how their
books are presented.You can then mention how your book would "fit" into
their offerings.
*Marketing Plan - Many publishers have limited publicity budgets and may
spend no more than three months in publicizing your book, so you should
include your own promotional ideas and what your marketing efforts will be
such as conducting workshops and seminars; writing and mailing your own press
release; sending review copies to designated persons; what media contacts
you will be making; who will be endorsing your book, and other promotional
ideas you may have. Publishers like writers who they see will be "active"
in helping to promote sales of their books.
*Outline/Overview - After your book proposal's title page, you should
include a dynamic outline and summary of what your book is about
(the outline will be the basis of your table of contents and what you
will follow as you write your book).
If you are a new writer or new to this publisher, you should include
several sample chapters (nonfiction) and the entire manuscript if it is
fiction.
*Potential Readers - Let your publisher know who you visualize your readers
to be. Include demographics about them—how many exist (provide statistics
if available), and reasons why they need or would want to buy this book.
Also let the publisher know if you have a potential for a series of
follow-up book ideas on this topic, because if authors develop their
name-recognition with readers and loyal following, subsequent books will be
sold much easier, and with a possibility your books could be carried by
book clubs (VERY lucrative!).
Including these vital sections in your book proposal will not guarantee
you a contract, but it will demonstrate to a publisher you are aware of
what it takes to write (and sell) into today's competitive publishing
marketplace!
Suggested Resources:
How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen (Cincinnati, OH: Writer's
Digest Books, 1997)
