If you're just beginning to learn about the book publishing process, you were probably surprised to hear that for some projects, you have to write a book proposal before you write the book. For some, that's good news: they don't have to write a whole book right off the bat. For some, that's bad news: a proposal can be harder to write than the actual book! Then there are others--and maybe this is you--who have no clue what a proposal is and whether they need one. Let's clarify a few points about the whole book proposal thing.

What is a Book Proposal?
A book proposal is a document that presents the detail and scope of your book idea. It summarizes the book, provides sample chapters and explains why you're the right person to do the book. Depending on the book, the proposal can be as few as 20 pages or as much as 45-50 pages or more. Think of it as prospectus--you're making the pitch to the publishing house on why your book would make a great investment for the company.

Do You Need One?
You'll want to write a book proposal if...
--you're writing a non-fiction book
--you're seeking a traditional publisher and/or a literary agent.

Making Your Case
The great thing about a book proposal is that it proves your book is a great idea--so much so that you've written pages of detail to back it up. This is important because your proposal won't be read by just one person. These days it often takes a whole team of people to make a decision on whether or not to sign your book. Imagine what it would be like if you had to pitch each person again and again in person? Let your proposal do the talking for you!

Saving You Time
The work that goes into writing a book proposal can be very telling. It may show you that you're focusing on the wrong area of your topic. Or that the audience for the book isn't as big as you had hoped it would be. Such discoveries can be disappointing, but the upside is that these discoveries give you the chance to make a choice: you can re-focus the book, take steps to make it stronger or even decide to abandon the project altogether, which can save you lots of precious time.

How Will You Sell Your Book?
Many writers get so caught up with the idea of a book--and getting it written--that they give no thought to how they will sell the finished product. That's a great way to end up with a garage full of books! But in a book proposal you have to present all the ways you plan to market and sell your book. It makes you think about your audience and how you'll reach them. The exercise is a great reminder of who you're writing the book for in the first place, which can motivate you to get your project done.

Getting Started
If writing a book proposal is the clear next step for getting your book done, then Book Proposals 101 is the right place for you. You'll learn by modeling successful pitches, read an actual proposal that drew a 6-figure advance, and get plenty of support and feedback on your work. Writing a book proposal is an excellent skill to master. Once you learn it, you'll find you can do it again and again for your many books to come!

© 2008 Sophfronia Scott