Over the next several posts I want to provide a more or less step-by-step process for creating a compelling book proposal. I will do my best to make the process as practical and simple as I can.
If you have a book proposal in process, or if you have been thinking about trying to get published, this series is for you. And if you know of someone who would benefit from this series, I hope you’ll let them know about it.
The very first thing to look at in writing a book proposal is your motivation.
Now you might say, “That’s easy. My motivation is to get published!” And that makes sense, of course, but I see two problems with this motivation.
- It is author oriented instead of reader oriented. Nothing is inherently wrong with wanting to get published, but do you see the difference between this motivation and one that is about serving readers? If you focus on getting a contract in the mail or seeing your name in print, you’ll write one kind of proposal. If you focus on serving readers, you’ll write a very different, and much better, book proposal.
- It is short-sighted. Let’s say you succeed and get published. If your vision doesn’t go beyond that, your book is likely to fail in the marketplace, and that will be the end of your writing career. Here we can learn something from the wikiHow on how to chop wood with your bare hands: “Don’t aim at the board itself; if you do that, your hand will tend to stop there. Aim your strike six inches beyond the board.” Breaking the board becomes a byproduct of striking beyond the board. Your goal as a writer is to concept and write and promote a book that performs well in the marketplace. If your proposal reflects this motivation, getting published will be a byproduct.
In other words, the subtext of your proposal should not be, “Hey publisher, give me a chance!” It should be “Hey publisher, I’m on a mission to help readers, and here’s my freaking awesome plan to reach them.”
Let’s start there.
With this goal in mind, the next step is equally important: coming up with a great concept.
Thanks for this. I’m intending to re-work my proposal early in the new year. I think I started writing it “aiming for the board.” I’ve grown since I wrote the first draft of the proposal, and this post gives me an idea of how to reflect that in the proposal. Thanks.
Addison, thanks. Stay tuned for an opportunity that you may be interested in. I plan to post it tomorrow.
Super helpful and allows me to examine my motives. Who is my book about. . .me or the women who struggle with family relationships. Authorship sounds amazing, but deeper than that is a desire to help others transform their lives. I’m going to review my query and proposal to see if that comes across.
Jennifer, terrific! Thanks for commenting.
Thank you for writing this series I’ve been needing some information on how to write a book proposal.
You’re welcome, Sara!
Yes, thank you for this series. There’s precious little info on fiction proposals on the web. Newbie authors have to go by outdated proposals for templates, if they can’t afford to buy books on the subject.
One-sheets would be a great subject to tackle, as well.
Heather, I’m terribly sorry. I happen to be a nonfiction guy myself, so I’m afraid this series will be most useful nonfiction authors, though I hope it would be of some use to fiction authors as well. Have you seen Rachelle Gardner’s post on writing a book proposal? It includes a section for fiction authors. http://www.rachellegardner.com/how-to-write-a-book-proposal/
It’s okay! I’ve just noticed a gaping void for fiction authors trying to VISUALIZE effective proposals. I’ve checked Rachelle’s post and numerous others, but honestly, I think the best help is to SEE effective proposals. Then you can figure out how to work your proposal around those. I have an agent who has helped me tremendously in this respect, but I like to look out for authors who are newer to this game than I am, and wish I had a visual I could refer them to. (Perhaps a debut author’s proposal–versus a seasoned writer’s proposal, which typically has a huge bio section, etc.).
No problem, Chad. All the best to you with this series.
Thank you, I’ll be following the series and sharing it.
No. Thank YOU!
So perfectly right on… Not only for publishing, but for every ministry and business endeavor. “Come on out and support our [ministry, business, event]” only goes so far. Unless we deliver value — real and perceived — we have no right to ask for an audience. “Because I want to be published” reminds me of the tone deaf American Idol contestant: “Because I want to be famous.”
Thanks.
You nailed it! Thank you.
Thank you, Chad. This is exactly the topic I was hoping you would write on. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
By the way, I hope you can include some real life examples of what you have seen work and what you have seen not work at various parts of the process.
On today’s topic, for instance, are there things that convey the problematic “I just want to get published!” attitude that can be avoided? Or do people actually come right out and say that?
Excellent question, Gary. Sometimes we’ll receive proposals that make grandiose statements, as if these statements make up for what is otherwise a shoddy proposal. I’ll do my best to include examples. Thanks for the tip!
Looking forward to this series, Chad!
Thanks, Joshua!