Book Description
This newly revised edition of the Writer's Digest classic is the definitive resource for crafting effective book proposals. Michael Larsen details every step clearly and concisely. Readers will learn how to: * Test market the potential of a book idea and effectively communicate that potentail in a proposal * Choose the best editors and publishers for a particular proposal * Create a professional-looking proposal package * Predispose a publisher to make their best offer
Larsen also provides insights into recent changes in the publishing industry, updated trend information, new sample proposals, expanded instructions for creating outlines, plus guidelines for becoming an effective self promoter.
Customer Reviews:
Five Stars!.......2007-09-19
This book provides a successful model of what literary agents and publishers are looking for in a book proposal. Although it is written for non-fiction, fiction authors will benefit tremendously from reading it. (Especially now, fiction has to have an engaging slam-dunk pitch.)
I recommend all the writers I mentor to read this book!
A Writer's Best Friend.......2007-09-10
This book is the best guide to writing a book proposal on the market. It has been updated since the first edition, and contains all the information a writer needs to write a marketable book proposal. I edit books for a living, and have recommended this book to prospective authors for years.
Comparing five books about writing book proposals.......2007-04-08
I bought five books to help me write a book proposal:
"How to Write a Book Proposal, 3rd edition," by Michael Larsen
"78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published & 14 Reasons Why It Just Might," by Pat Walsh
"The Forest for the Trees," by Betsy Lerner
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published, 4th edition," by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander
"Think Like Your Editor," by Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunado
The worst was "How to Write a Book Proposal." This book felt like a bad date, like I wanted to wash my hair after reading it. The intent is to teach you to be an "Authorpreneur (r)." Yes, Larsen has registered this word. You'll learn such gems as everyone has 250 friends, and each of them has 250 friends, so you can "spread the word" about your book to more than 62,000 people by e-mail. I think there's a word for that -- spam. Larsen also says to include your promotion plan in the book proposal, including pushing "the paperback edition as hard as you can" when it's published a year after the hardcover edition. I'm not an agent or editor, but I'd think that an agent would giggle quietly to themselves if you were so presumptuous as to include a marketing plan for the paperback edition. (To the author's credit, he doesn't say you should suggest which actor should play the main character in the movie version of your book.) Then there's the chapter about including illustrations and cover art. Excuse me, I thought the editor and art director develop the cover art? I can't imagine creating the book cover to include in the proposal. And the author recommends including a "surprise," such as a baby shoe with a note saying "Now that I have a foot in the door." The book has one good piece of advice: pick a good title. For example, "How to Write a Book Proposal" is a title that will make 100,000 aspiring writers buy your book, regardless of how awful the book is.
"78 Reasons" was good. Some sections are wrong, such as #38 and #39, which correctly advises against paying for a vanity press to publish your book but confuses this with self-publishing. I've successfully self-published two books, and unsuccessfully self-published one book. The correct answer is that if you have a niche book in a niche market you know well, self-publish. Self-publishing mass market books is a recipe for disaster. Some of the advice is excellent, such as #16, about "killing your little darlings" (a scene you think is brilliant, that you build the rest of the book around). While most of this book is sound advice to a novice writer, as an experienced writer I didn't learn anything new.
"The Complete Idiot's Guide" covers the entire process from thinking of an idea through book proposals, book contracts, publicity tours, etc. It's a good overview but each chapter is too short. You'll need to buy another book about book proposals, etc. I'm keeping my copy as a reference to turn to occasionally but it's not the last word.
"The Forest for the Trees" starts with six essays about writing, with topics such as alcoholism, self-promoting poets (starting with Walt Whitman), the childhood of famous writers, writers who are too successful too young, etc. These are interesting reading. The second half of the book is essays about publishing, starting with literary agents. One paragraph describes the plethora of surprise gifts writers include with their query letters. She's received baby shoes, presumably from readers of Larsen's book. She says: "Please resist the temptation to do any of these outlandish things...a simple, dignified letter with a clear statement of your intent and credentials will win more affirmative responses than any gimmick or hype." If you read Larsen's book, read Lerner's book as the antidote. The next essays are about dealing with rejection, the life of editors, what writers want from editors, how book covers are designed, book titles selected, etc. This book is descriptive, not proscriptive, so you'll learn how the world of books operates, if not be told how to write a book and get it published. I enjoyed the author's "voice" and I recommend this book.
The best book is "Thinking Like Your Editor." The first half of the book is about preparing your book proposal. Unlike the other four books, reading this book made me completely rewrite my book proposal. The author begins by emphasizing the three most important things about a book: audience, audience, and audience. Who is going to buy your book? Not who might be sort of interested in your book, but who will feel that he or she must read your book. I'd thought about this before, but reading Rabiner's book made me think lucidly about this. She then walks you through the elements that must be in a book proposal, such as your thesis, or what makes your message unique and new and challenging; why is now the time to publish this book; and why are you the person most qualified to write it. The second half of the book is about writing your book, including the importance of narrative tension in non-fiction writing, and of presenting a balanced "argument" to make your views more convincing. The other four books made me say, "uh-huh, uh-huh" and not do anything. Rabiner's book made me spend several days working on my proposal. (My 2003 paperback copy has the typos corrected.)
Very informative.......2007-02-12
I read this book cover to cover. I did everything the author suggested. I am now publishing my first book with a royalty publisher! I highly recommend this to anyone who's never been published.
Want to Get Published by a Major?.......2006-11-04
This is the only book you will need. It is extremely clear and wonderfully witty. The book explains the publishing industry, what editors are looking for and exactly how to deliver the standard format that they require.
Warning: writing a book proposal is harder than writing a book!
Book Description
This book reveals insider information to help you avoid the pitfalls of rejection in writing a book.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-09-23
A friend recently gave me a copy of Book Proposals That Sell. I've read and own several others on the same topic but this book is much better than the others because of the style. It's so friendly and comfortable and, unlike some, doesn't feel like the author is a mighty and impressive expert deigning to help the humble reader, but simply a normal person offering a friendly hand to another.
The insider information about the publishing process is especially helpful.
More Powerful Than A Dozen Conferences, Able to Leapfrog Inboxes With A Single Phrase..........2007-09-13
Author Terry Whalin is a writer's writer. Here he focuses his laser-sharp prose on the mystical process of getting published -- despite the fact that you're an expert in your field, a craftsman with words, and a lifelong writer.
Whalin's de-mystification unlocks the secrets of those editorial and publishing conferences that happen around the tables at publishing houses; showing you how editors and publishers think, react, plan and select. A careful reading of this book (and many careful re-readings) will position you to approach the process effectively and proactively.
After releasing eight books through four different publishers, we are still "beginners" in the process. Both of us were amazed at how much we learned from Terry's book --- and how much we are still learning as we study it.
Here are specific changes: we are getting much faster responses from our proposals and pitches; the responses are more positive. We are currently under contract for two new books. And --- after chasing agents for years with limited success, we now have three agents talking to us (!) about representing our work.
Much of the credit for these changes can properly go to this new book: "Book Proposals That Sell" by Terry Whalin. If you'd like to obtain your first, fourth, or fiftieth book contract --- buy this book today.
Dr. David & Lisa Frisbie
The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Authors of Happily Remarried: *Making Decisions Together *Blending Families Successfully* Building a Love That Will Last
A must have if you want the edge on getting published.......2007-07-31
THE PATH TO PERSONAL SUCCESS AND FREEDOM: Turning Hurdles Into Stepping Stones
This book is a true necessity for any serious writer who wants to realize his dreams of being published. Terry Whalin speaks with experience from within the trenches. As an author of over 60 books he has been on both sides of the editorial process. The insiders information revealed in this book will help future authors give their craft the respect it needs to be treated as a career not a hobby. By revealing the business perspective from the publishers view, it gives the writer the necessary insight to look at the overall project as a business from the time of creative conception to future marketing. One of the most valuable resources Whalin offers is the depth of explanation in the publishing progression. He details the multitude and time consuming steps involved from first read of a manuscript, through the decision to accept it and the various people up the ladder until the book gets approved into publication. As an author, I found this information of most importance in order to have a clear perception of the timeline necessary and the patience required in order not to make too many calls into the editor's office and make a lasting impression which might not be a positive one. The author of this book is straight forward and honest. He wants potential authors to have the knowledge and the right tools which will give them an edge in a very competitive industry. The bottom line to this book is, the writing business is a business and it should be treated that way. The writer, should be professional in his demeanor, concise in his communications and proactive with his marketing ideas in order to show the agent, editor and eventually publisher that you and your manuscript are way above the rest.
Simplifying Book Proposals.......2007-06-29
THIS BOOK IS A MUST! I cannot say enough about Mr. Whalin's delivery and simplistic style when he explains how to execute an outstanding Book Proposal. In his book, BOOK PROPOSALS THAT SELL, he does more than explain the ins and outs of publishing in lay' man terms; he supplies an example of a finished proposal. For those of us who are visual learners (which more are than literary. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards supports this theory), he went a step beyond the usual and thought of us who are usually out.
Due to the fact I was in print advertising, I can appreciate his perspective. There are many time restraints to take into consideration. He goes into detail.
Whether you are a novice in the world of writing or a pro, GET THIS BOOK! You will have much to learn. Its packed with information!
Very brief and to the point.......2007-06-02
If you are in writing a book propsal or even thinking about writing your book then go for it. The book is worth every penny.
Amazon.com
According to Stephen Mettee, a book proposal, like a woman's skirt, should be "short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover the subject." The same could be said for a book about writing such a proposal. Mettee's Fast-Track Course on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal, checks in at a mere 113 pages. A book proposal is a 10-page to 50-page document consisting of a synopsis, a table of contents, a chapter-by-chapter outline, a few sample chapters, and supporting material. Mettee provides simple descriptions of each, as well as a sample query letter, a book proposal, and a contract, and he includes cartoons reprinted from The New Yorker. Since Mettee's a publisher himself (at Quill Driver Books), one feels confident following his lead when he recommends sending the proposal along with the query (giving the editor one less chance to say "no") and making multiple submissions (even to publishers that claim not to accept them). But by all means, the proposal is not the place to bring up the subject of money, draw attention to the fact that you're unpublished, beg, mention copyrighting, fawn, or disclose that your mother loves the book. --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
The hard, cold fact about getting a book published is that without something close to divine intervention an author is going to have to write a sales piece, called a book proposal, that will attract the attention of an editor or an agent. In fact, at most publishers, this sales piece is going to have to hold up under the scrutiny of a committee made up of a bevy of editors and a pod of sales and marketing people. With The Fast-Track Course on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal, Mettee, a seasoned book editor and publisher, cuts to the chase and provides simple, detailed instruction that allows anyone to write a professional book proposal and hear an editor say Yes! According to Mettee, the first rule is: Do no harm. Too many authors don't pay enough attention to the small things like spelling and grammar and manuscript format that are needed to make their book proposals appear professional. They may have a great idea for a book and be eminently qualified to write it but they schmuck it up with slovenly disregard for the easy stuff. The last rule is: Be persistent. If you quit after your first rejection slip or after the thirteenth or the thirtieth, you'll never get published. Many books that are rejected scores of times go on to be best-sellers. You're not defeated until you give up.
Customer Reviews:
Best concise guide on writing a nonfiction book proposal.......2007-05-07
This is an excellent and concise guide to writing a nonfiction book proposal. The author covers a lot of ground in less that 115 pages and does it in an entertaining and engaging way. In general, the book is very well-organized, has text boxes with useful tips, good cartoons used sparingly and powerful quotes that are offset in the margins.
The organization of the book is broken down into three chapters: 1) First Things; 2) The Query Letter; and 3) The Proposal. The rest of the book contains a sample book proposal, query letter, agency contract, nonfiction book proposal checklist, information on formatting a proposal, a section on author's rights and various references.
In reality, this is ALL you need to start putting out book proposals. In addition to high quaility information, the tone of this book is positive and encouraging. It also contains ALL meat and no FLUFF. You will learn a lot about the basics of getting published and be entertained at the same time.
Another book worth considering that iks also good, but geared more toward scholars is Getting It Published: A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious about Serious Books (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing). I have also found Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction. The ideas in this latter book are excellent, but this two-time Pulitzer winner has somewhat of an arrogant tone to his writing. If you can tolerate this, you will save yourself a lot of trouble when you get down to work. (Personally, I have found him to be right with his suggestions, but I would have preferred him to be "right" from a position of more "equinimity."
Our recommendation for authors.......2006-06-24
As a publisher and publishing consultant, this is the book I recommend to writers and new publishers. It is direct, concise, and engaging. Writers serious about professional nonfiction book projects would be wise to read and use this book.
Straightforward Advice for Would-Be Book Authors.......2006-05-29
This short book goes to the heart of creating a book proposal. It includes information not easily available in other books such as a sample agreement from a literary agency, a sample book contract and detailed information about the shape of a query letter. As Mettee says, "The job of a query letter is to get an editor or agent to ask to see your full proposal." As an acquisitions editor, I know firsthand that too few writers invest enough energy into the query letter process.
In many regards, this book is an adequate introduction to the topic of book proposals. For other writers, it will leave you needing more detailed information than contained on these pages. From my perspective, it's important to study every single available resource on this topic. I recommend this book.
A Springboard for Success.......2006-03-06
Mr. Mettee's book is practical, concise, readable, and attractive. My success will depend on how thoroughly I combine the advice contained in these pages with fingers-on-the-keyboard persistence.
Handy format and length, sound advice.......2003-10-18
I have taught an adult education course called "So You Want to Write a Book" throughout New England since 1988 and have also worked one-on-one with more than 100 authors on their book proposals over the years. Originally I recommended Michael Larsen's book on how to write a book proposal, because it was the only such in-depth book available. However, I did not like certain things in his sample proposal and did not agree with some of his advice. When Elizabeth Lyon's book, Nonfiction Book Proposals Anyone Can Write, came out, I began recommending that enthusiastically because she takes the reader step by step through the process of writing the book proposal, and I thought her advice was better founded. Having looked at Stephen Mettee's book, I will now recommend his book to prospective authors who don't need the depth and handholding that Lyon provides. As you would want in any book on writing, it is highly readable, well-organized and to the point.
Book Description
Distilled wisdom from two publishing pros for every serious nonfiction author in search of big commercial success. Over 50,000 books are published in America each year, the vast majority nonfiction. Even so, many writers are stymied in getting their books published, never mind gaining significant attention for their ideas—and substantial sales. Here at last is a book devoted solely to the needs of these authors. Filled with trade secrets, Thinking Like Your Editor explains: • how to tailor academic writing to a general reader, without losing ideas or dumbing down your work; • how to write a proposal that editors cannot ignore; • why the most important chapter is your introduction; • why "simple structure, complex ideas" is the mantra for creating serious nonfiction; • why smart nonfiction editors regularly reject great writing but find new arguments irresistible. Whatever the topic, from history to business, science to philosophy, law, or gender studies, this book is vital to every serious nonfiction writer.
Customer Reviews:
Informed and easy to digest.......2007-09-19
Rabiner and Fortunato's book is informed, insightful, a fast read, and easy to digest. It is not a step-by-step how-to book; instead it presents the key issues and concepts and provides guidance on how to address them. And its point of view--that of an editor or publisher--appears to be right on. It is as if you had an opportunity to get an honest, straightforward, well thought out answer from a top editor instead of the usual form letters or terse, cryptic meaningless notes. After years of working in this industry, I found this book both refreshing and helpful, even as an experienced writer.
Novel insights - of value even to published authors.......2007-07-28
Preparing a proposal for my second book, I bought THINKING LIKE YOUR EDITOR on a bit of a lark - and am delighted I did. The book helped me understand the early-on proposal process in a whole new light. I now see how my naive handling of my first book proposal (which was double-spaced, sent to the right editor, and fulfilled many of the points generally covered in other advice books) contributed to painful things that later happened along the way to publishing. This books fills an important niche and is valuable for academic or commercial authors.
Good book, disappointing author..........2007-06-19
I've owned this book for a while now and I've returned to it time and time again to familiarize myself with the process of composing the book proposal. I would recommend this book along with Peter Rubie's Telling the Story, which I think is slightly better.
My disappointment with Ms. Rabiner stems from a response to an e-mail I sent her asking a question about a nonfiction book I'm writing. While I wasn't expecting an invitation to dine with her or to be lauded with praise for a brilliant nonfiction idea, I was expecting a polite reply. Unfortuantely, Ms. Rabiner chose to answer my query with a rather rude two line response that caused me to infer that I was bothering her. At best, her response to me was unprofessional for an editor. I would think twice before recommending her as an agent based on this experience alone.
Perhaps this is sour grapes on my part because I was initially impressed with her as an agent based on the conent of Thinking Like Your Editor, but my brief communication with the real person behind the book left a sour taste in my mouth.
Comparing five books about writing book proposals.......2007-04-08
I bought five books to help me write a book proposal:
"How to Write a Book Proposal, 3rd edition," by Michael Larsen
"78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published & 14 Reasons Why It Just Might," by Pat Walsh
"The Forest for the Trees," by Betsy Lerner
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published, 4th edition," by Sheree Bykofsky and Jennifer Basye Sander
"Think Like Your Editor," by Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunado
The worst was "How to Write a Book Proposal." This book felt like a bad date, like I wanted to wash my hair after reading it. The intent is to teach you to be an "Authorpreneur (r)." Yes, Larsen has registered this word. You'll learn such gems as everyone has 250 friends, and each of them has 250 friends, so you can "spread the word" about your book to more than 62,000 people by e-mail. I think there's a word for that -- spam. Larsen also says to include your promotion plan in the book proposal, including pushing "the paperback edition as hard as you can" when it's published a year after the hardcover edition. I'm not an agent or editor, but I'd think that an agent would giggle quietly to themselves if you were so presumptuous as to include a marketing plan for the paperback edition. (To the author's credit, he doesn't say you should suggest which actor should play the main character in the movie version of your book.) Then there's the chapter about including illustrations and cover art. Excuse me, I thought the editor and art director develop the cover art? I can't imagine creating the book cover to include in the proposal. And the author recommends including a "surprise," such as a baby shoe with a note saying "Now that I have a foot in the door." The book has one good piece of advice: pick a good title. For example, "How to Write a Book Proposal" is a title that will make 100,000 aspiring writers buy your book, regardless of how awful the book is.
"78 Reasons" was good. Some sections are wrong, such as #38 and #39, which correctly advises against paying for a vanity press to publish your book but confuses this with self-publishing. I've successfully self-published two books, and unsuccessfully self-published one book. The correct answer is that if you have a niche book in a niche market you know well, self-publish. Self-publishing mass market books is a recipe for disaster. Some of the advice is excellent, such as #16, about "killing your little darlings" (a scene you think is brilliant, that you build the rest of the book around). While most of this book is sound advice to a novice writer, as an experienced writer I didn't learn anything new.
"The Complete Idiot's Guide" covers the entire process from thinking of an idea through book proposals, book contracts, publicity tours, etc. It's a good overview but each chapter is too short. You'll need to buy another book about book proposals, etc. I'm keeping my copy as a reference to turn to occasionally but it's not the last word.
"The Forest for the Trees" starts with six essays about writing, with topics such as alcoholism, self-promoting poets (starting with Walt Whitman), the childhood of famous writers, writers who are too successful too young, etc. These are interesting reading. The second half of the book is essays about publishing, starting with literary agents. One paragraph describes the plethora of surprise gifts writers include with their query letters. She's received baby shoes, presumably from readers of Larsen's book. She says: "Please resist the temptation to do any of these outlandish things...a simple, dignified letter with a clear statement of your intent and credentials will win more affirmative responses than any gimmick or hype." If you read Larsen's book, read Lerner's book as the antidote. The next essays are about dealing with rejection, the life of editors, what writers want from editors, how book covers are designed, book titles selected, etc. This book is descriptive, not proscriptive, so you'll learn how the world of books operates, if not be told how to write a book and get it published. I enjoyed the author's "voice" and I recommend this book.
The best book is "Thinking Like Your Editor." The first half of the book is about preparing your book proposal. Unlike the other four books, reading this book made me completely rewrite my book proposal. The author begins by emphasizing the three most important things about a book: audience, audience, and audience. Who is going to buy your book? Not who might be sort of interested in your book, but who will feel that he or she must read your book. I'd thought about this before, but reading Rabiner's book made me think lucidly about this. She then walks you through the elements that must be in a book proposal, such as your thesis, or what makes your message unique and new and challenging; why is now the time to publish this book; and why are you the person most qualified to write it. The second half of the book is about writing your book, including the importance of narrative tension in non-fiction writing, and of presenting a balanced "argument" to make your views more convincing. The other four books made me say, "uh-huh, uh-huh" and not do anything. Rabiner's book made me spend several days working on my proposal. (My 2003 paperback copy has the typos corrected.)
If You're Serious about Getting Traditionally Published, Get this Book.......2006-05-28
In my quest to learn more about the book proposal process, my literary agent recommended Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published.
If you're interested in writing serious (or not so serious) nonfiction, this is a MUST READ! The Authors don't just go through a step-by-step process of writing a book proposal, but instead get into the "editor" psychology behind why book proposals succeed or don't.
The book is presented in a comfortable format that goes through the big picture process in a narrative format that reminds me of a good lecture. The voice of the author's comes through in a very straight forward, personable way. It's like sitting across the table from your agent or editor, cup of coffee in hand, listening to them tell you how the business works.
I don't think this is the only book you'll ever need on book proposals. If I hadn't read a few other books that discussed proposals from a step-by-step basis first I wouldn't have understood all that the authors say in this one. No, this is more of a next step type of book. Learn how the actual writing process goes first and come to Thinking Like Your Editor with a little knowledge. This title will add an extra and excellent layer on to the information that you already have in your head.
Amazon.com
I know: we all want to write a Great Novel. But in the meantime, don't you have a few terrific ideas for a nonfiction book, too? The subtitle of this book is "How to Get a Contract and an Advance Before Writing Your Book." Doesn't THAT sound better than competing with John Grisham and Tom Clancy? Eighty-five percent of all new titles are nonfiction. So dust off those memoirs, dig up those recipes of Aunt Edna's. Lyon takes you step by step through the process of how to discover and pitch your nonfiction book idea to the best market.
Book Description
The second edition of Elizabeth Lyon's bestselling Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write includes nearly two dozen actual proposals that cover a wide range of topics and clearly illustrate the best way to write winning proposals. This updated and revised edition also contains expanded instructions on writing proposals for memoir and autobiography, new competitive marketing strategies, Web addresses and resources to facilitate writing most sections of the proposal, and an example of a perfect proposal. This valuable resource demystifies the nonfiction book proposal process, which has remained largely unexplained to those outside of the publishing industry. Throughout her book, Ms. Lyon offers accessible guidelines and practical recommendations while encouraging all writers to pursue their dreams of publication.
Customer Reviews:
Good For a Clear Understanding of Your Book Proposal.......2007-09-11
If you have started to look for a literary agent, buy this book first. If your proposal has been rejected by agents, buy this book. I thought I had read good proposal books until I read this one. Follow it step by step, chapter by chapter, and your book proposal will look quite differently than what you wrote before. After reading this book, I re-wrote my entire proposal, because the suggestions in this book gave me a better understanding of what I wanted to write, and how to convey my vision of my book to outside parties. If you are having problems outlining your book, defining your chapters, writing a query letter that will impress an agent in the first two sentences, buy this book. How To Pick The Best Tenant Jump Start Your Book Sales: A Money-Making Guide for Authors, Independent Publishers and Small Presses
Hope my proposal doesn't fall apart like the spine of this book.......2007-05-08
Whether the glue is poor quality or another problem with the paperback spine, I really wish this much read book had held together better. From one to a few pages, to chuncks of pages, have separated.
That said, the book is completely informative, with numerous examples and step by step directions. Explanations help shape the user's thinking about how to develop their book proposal. I wish the writer covered the proposal in order, but I understand her reasoning for covering sections out of order.
The book doesn't give much help about how new writers can pad their "About Author" and beef up their personal selling points when they have never been published.
Overall, the book is packed with useful info.
Non Fiction Proposals anybody can write.......2007-03-09
I have bought other books on this subject and this is the most useful and most logically organized.
A Great Resource for Writers - Aspiring and Otherwise.......2006-06-08
The position of an aspiring writer, trying to break into the published market, is not an enviable one. Here's a fairly common scenario: writer spends a year or two writing his book. He pours his heart and mind into the manuscript, and once it's done, he starts sending it out to publishing houses. Responses aren't immediately forthcoming; it's a big manuscript, so it tends to sit at the bottom of busy publishers' to-do lists. Finally, if he's lucky, he gets a response - someone actually wants to publish his book. Only they want a lot of it changed, to make it more marketable.
It doesn't have to be this way; there's a better process to follow. You start with a query letter; a short letter of a few pages outlining the idea for your book. Since it's short, publishers are likely to read it much sooner. You get replies sooner, too; to the people who are interested, you send a full-blown book proposal - explaining in detail what you want to write, who will buy it, outlining the book, and providing a sample chapter or two (preparing this proposal is much, much easier than actually writing a whole book).
If a publisher likes the idea, you can be extended an offer, including a cash advance for the book. If something needs to be changed about the concept, it can be done before you've actually written the whole thing. Basically, this process means much less work, and getting paid for your work quite a bit sooner.
In "Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write", Elizabeth Lyon explains in detail how to go about putting together a book proposal that a publisher will read and like, so that you will be offered an advance to write your book. If you want to make your living as a writer of books, you absolutely must have Lyon's book on your reference shelf.
My first book was self-published - that's a route that you can take to completely circumvent the approach to publishers; you can learn more about that in Dan Poynter's "Self-Publishing Manual". My next book is more suited to go through a publisher, and Lyon's book is definitely going to be one of the tools that I use to get the project going. Highly, highly recommended.
Danny Iny
Author of "Ordinary Miracles - Harness the power of writing and get your point across!" (ISBN 1-4116-7252-6)
This book works.......2006-02-05
I wrote a book, then I followed Elizabeth Lyon's advice to the letter. Got four offers! My editor says my proposal was one of the finest ones he'd ever seen. Buy this book and follow her advice.
Product Description
The first step to writing a book is writing a book proposal. A well-researched, well-written book proposal will help you to write the right book with the right focus. Youll find out if you have a book at all. Youll learn whether there is a market for this book Youll more accurately determine your target audience. A book proposal is an excellent guide for writing the book. Whether you plan to self-publish (actually start your own publishing company), go with a fee-based POD publisher (which most professionals do not recommend for first-time authors) or approach a traditional royalty publisher, you really should write a book proposal FIRST. A complete book proposal is your key to potential success. You wouldnt start a business without a business plan. A book proposal is a business plan for your book. Face it, your book is a product. The minute you decide to produce a book for sale, youve left creative mode and entered into the world of business. Its now time to shift to the left brain. For now, you must move away from the artistic and concentrate on your business plan. I know youve heard this before and youve balked. You feel overwhelmed with the idea of writing a book proposal. Finally, someone has taken the intimidation out of the process. Through the easy-to-follow lessons in this book and the examples from several successful book proposals, youll learn how to: 1. Write a complete fiction or nonfiction book proposal. 2. Locate and approach publishers for your project. 3. Evaluate fee-based POD publishers. 4. Choose a title that will sell. 5. Build promotion into your book. 6. Target the most appropriate audience for your book. 7. Understand your competition. 8. Sell yourself more effectively in the About the Author section. 9. Organize and write your Chapter Outline. 10. Promote your book outside of bookstores. 11. Make your book signings more successful. 12. Write a more successful, marketable book. This book originated from a series of classes Patricia taught during the summer of 2004. At the end of the course, each student produced a successful book proposal. One student landed a contract with a major publisher just weeks after the course ended. Heres what this student wrote: "The publisher said that they were overwhelmed with the detail I had given to the project and that it was these materials (the book proposal) that convinced them to acquire the book. Your class truly helped me focus on my project and sell my first bookthanks to you for helping me to be so prepared."
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic! It Worked!.......2007-05-22
Genius! From Leaqh Bloom, I followed it like it was gospel. It took 8 days. I just heard from an ecstatic agent. She said the book proposal was the most professional one she has seen in years. WOW! Thanks!
A definitive, "user-friendly" guide, which is recommended to writers trying to attract a publisher for their manuscript.......2006-03-03
How To Write A Successful Book Proposal In 8 Days Or Less by successful author Patricia L. Fry is a definitive, "user-friendly" guide, which is especially recommended to writers trying to attract a publisher for their manuscript. Written in a easy-to-follow format, How To Write A Successful Book Proposal In 8 Days Or Less includes the simple ten-step lesson that educates the reader on how to write a complete book proposal, locate and approach publishers, evaluate fee-based POD publishers, choose a title that will sell, build promotion into the book, sell yourself in the "about the author" section, organize the chapter outline, promote the book outside of bookstores, make book signings successful, and write a more successful, marketable book. How To Write A Successful Book Proposal is an invaluable addition to any novice author's reference shelf and has much to commended to even experienced and published writers as well.
A rather handy item for any author's bookshelf!.......2005-10-17
"...remove those rose-colored glasses because it's time you understand that publishing is a business. Enter this field with any other mindset and you will fail..." says author Patricia Fry--and anyone who's been in the game for more than just a few months knows exactly what this statement means.
In many cases, writing a book isn't as simple as it sounds. Doing it right involves ample preparation, research, deliberation, and more--a process meant to ultimately provide a publisher a definitive reason why they should want your work.
And "How to Write a Successful Book Proposal in 8 Days or Less" is designed to help both novice and veteran authors alike learn how to do just this with only eight easy-to-follow lessons.
From actually writing the proposal to locating an appropriate publisher through selling yourself and promoting, Fry walks an author through this sometimes difficult process one step at a time.
But it's not just the lessons that are helpful. By including a sample query, synopsis, outline, biography, chapter outline, as well as market analysis and strategies, the author will be able to observe how the material should be assembled in order to present their own unique professional vision.
Originally an eight-week course which was transitioned into a "work at your own pace guide," this book is intended to help one craft a sound book proposal in less than one week--in other words, it's another rather handy item for any author's bookshelf.
Well Done, Patricia!
Reviewed by Dehanna Bailee, Author of "The ABC's of POD: A Beginner's Guide to Fee-Based Print-on-Demand Publishing"
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Getting a grant: How to write successful grant proposals (A Spectrum book)
Robert Lefferts
Manufacturer: Prentice-Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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How to Write and Sell a Book Proposal
Stella Whitelaw
Manufacturer: Writers Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1902713052 |
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Books Index
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