Sunday, November 29, 2009

Book Proposals


What should it contain?
The form of your proposal may vary; sections may be in a different order; but no matter what its length or organization, an effective book proposal must answer these questions:
  1. Why are you writing this book? What do you hope to achieve?
  2. What is your book about (in one or two sentences)?
  3. What are your qualifications for writing this book? What is your specific knowledge, experience, or expertise in relation to your subject?
  4. Why is this an appropriate and timely topic? What’s the big picture, the context? The political or social environment? In other words, why this book, now?
  5. Who are your target readers? What do you know about them? What do they read, do, watch on TV? Where do they surf on the Web?
  6. How will your audience benefit? What problem will your book solve or questions will it answer? What will readers learn?
  7. How will you reach them? Where are they likely to buy this book?
  8. How big is the market? How many potential readers are there? How many books can you sell? How do you know?
  9. What else is out there on this subject? How is this book unique/special/important?
  10. How will you help to promote your book? Publishers need to know; you need a plan. What connections in the world will help you get the word out?
FromThe Who, What, When, & Why of Book Proposalsfrom The Writing Life

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