How to Write a Book Proposal - Book Proposal Template

Here is an outline to use for putting a non-fiction book proposal together.  You can get ideas for fiction proposals here: Pub Rants.  If you need help with publishing or book marketing, contact me: thepublishingguru(at)gmail.com

Title:

Subtitle:

Author:

Premise: [Provide a two- or three-sentence statement of the book’s central concept. Often this is worded as a problem and the solution the book provides.]

Benefits: After completing [title], readers will: [List the benefits or takeaway value readers will derive from the book.]

Features: [Explain how the book will deliver the benefits by listing the book’s unique features.]

Overview: The book is divided into [number] sections and [number] chapters.

The Manuscript

Manuscript Status: [State how much of the manuscript is complete.]

Anticipated Length: [number] manuscript pages and word count (# pages x 300)

Anticipated Manuscript Completion Date:

The Market

Characteristics: The target audience for this book is made up of [Describe the demographic characteristics of the target readers, including age, sex, education level, etc.]

Motivations: [Describe the psychographic characteristics of the target readers, including the frustrations, desires, etc., that would motivate them to purchase and read the book.]

Affinity Groups: [List the groups of people, organizations, etc., who are likely to be attracted to the book.]

Differentiation: [Describe the main competition for the book and explain what distinguishes this book from them.]

The Author

Background: [Give a brief biographical description making sure to include information that establishes your credibility or qualifications to the write the book.]

Previous Writing: [List previously published writing, including the name of the publisher, the date of publication, and the number of units sold.]

Possible Endorsers: [List the names of people who are likely to provide a written endorsement of the book.]

Personal Marketing: [Describe what you can do to help the publisher promote the book.]

Chapter Outline: [Provide an annotated outline of the book. This outline should include section titles, chapter titles, and a two- or three-sentence description of each chapter’s content.]

Sample Chapters: [Attach two sample chapters that best represent the book.]

Use this book proposal template to tell publishers about your book and you should be in good shape.

The Cream of the Indie Crop: How Readers Can Find Indie Writers

I recently developed a connection with Amy Edelman of IndieReader.com. After studying the great things they are doing to connect Indie Authors with Indie Readers, I asked Amy to be a guest blogger. She has some thought-provoking things to say. -

The Cream of the Indie Crop: How Readers Can Find Indie Writers

by Amy Edelman
What if the only movies you could see were big Hollywood blockbusters? What if the only food you could eat was the stuff found at those big franchise places? And what if the only books you could read were those over-stuffed bestsellers pumped out by traditional publishers and pushed by the big-box bookstores (for $8.99 a pop)?

The fact is, there's nothing wrong with mass produced food or books or movies, but sometimes people want something different. Sometimes they want to see a movie or eat a meal or read a book that's unique. Something that will surprise them.

That's where indie (aka self-published) books come in. Books created like handmade goods and produced in small numbers. Books that are mostly Print On Demand, meaning no trees are killed until after the books are sold. Why is this so important? Because today more than ever, almost everything we make gets co-opted by corporate culture, turned into a business model, reformulated and churned out like soap to appeal to as many people as possible. In a world where almost everything is packaged by committee, indie books are written with a single voice: the writer's own.

It’s true—and frankly, unfair—that self-published authors have been considered less talented than their traditionally published counterparts. Their books are ignored or looked down upon, not carried by most bookstores and shunned by reviewers. But that is slowly changing. After all, if the work of indie musicians and indie filmmakers command respect, why not the work of indie writers (who, incidentally, published 1/2 million of their own books last year, alone)?

And these books are not just about vanity. More and more of them (Daemon, The Shack, The Lace Reader) are making it to the top of the national bestseller lists. It also helps that successful authors like Stephen King and Dave Eggers are giving self-publishing a go.

So, where does a book-lover go when they want to find something that's not already on everyone else's night table? IndieReader.com, where every book is reviewed prior to acceptance, guaranteeing that book-lovers find--from yummy cookbooks to gorgeous coffee table books, kids, self-help and fiction--the "cream-of-the-indie crop". In its simplest sense, IndieReader (like Sundance for writers) is a venue where consumers can find and purchase books published and produced by the people who wrote them. As opposed to other sites that cater to writers, IndieReader was created for the discriminating consumer (although writers will find tons of helpful information, too). Our monthly, online magazine, The Indie Reader, has featured contributions by designer Isaac Mizrahi, writers Joel Stein (Time magazine), Brunonia Barry (The Lace Reader), columnist Dan Savage and singer/songwriter Joshua Radin and more.

Writing for the Ravenous: The Ingredients of a Cookbook

Cookbooks have emerged as a very popular book choice in recent years. With the emergence of cable channels for cooking, alongside a growing interest in all things culinary in the country, cookbooks have been flying off the shelves in recent years. However, they are a very special form of book writing, and they have their own special requirements.

First, the creative aspect of the cook book is not so much in the book, but in the cooking. Creativity typically takes a backseat to communicating the useful technical information required to help the reader successfully replicate a recipe. Cookbooks certainly can be creative, but most of this is confined to the layout, organization, and photography in the book. Cookbooks are first and foremost, user manuals, though there is a special category of cookbook that is as much an art book as a manual.

Clarity in communication is important in a cookbook. For those with a lot of experience in the kitchen, the hard part of writing a book can be in determining the difference between what they know and what is known by the typical reader of their book. You want to ensure that cooking instructions are clear, concise, and can be easily followed. Of course, different books are written for those with differing levels of kitchen expertise, so the key is to make sure you understand what your audience does and does not know.

One method used by cookbook writers is to have the recipes tested by people with the level of expertise to which they are writing. This helps them to identify where changes need to be made for clarity or conciseness.

Photographs are a huge component of cookbooks. Not only to do they help the reader to visualize how a recipe is supposed to look when complete, they are inspiring and often beautiful to look at when done well.

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Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder: Writing a Travel Book

For many writers, and for many travelers, the notion of writing a travel book is the perfect dream. What could be better than combining the love of writing with the love of travel? And in truth, for those who both write and travel, the life is a good one.

Writing a travel book is much like writing a user’s manual, or a cookbook. There is certainly room to exercise your writing skills, but much of the value of the book for the reader is how well researched the destination is, and in how well you are able to write about their particular travel needs within the context of that destination.

Writing a travel book typically starts with selecting a destination. Though there are books written on the broad topic of travel, generally speaking, they focus on a destination spot or region. A good deal of time must be spent at the destination, because a great amount of information must be gathered about lodging, restaurants, local customs, currency issues, laws, travel options, and entertainment venues.

Much of the information about the specifics of hotels, eateries, and so on can be gathered through simple research, and much of that can be done from your computer at home. The real value of a travel book is in providing the readers some sense of what to expect. Is the high-priced hotel worth it? Is the low-priced lunch at the tucked-away restaurant a hidden gem or a land mine? Is the bus that runs out to the countryside dependable or not? These questions are the ones that people who buy travel books want answers to, and the answers to those questions can only be had through direct experience.

Travel books also are enhanced by going beyond the usual listing of food, lodging, and entertainment options. The best of these books provide history, photographs, stories from locals, and other things that give the reader a sense of the place they are about to visit.

Professional Press Release Example

27 DAY GAMEPLAN PROVIDES THE SECRET TO REAL WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS

Experienced Lifestyle Transformation Coach Writes New Book to Help Build A Success Mindset

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA: A brand new book aimed at helping overweight Americans regain a slimmer, healthier life is about to be released.

Written by life coach Jonathan Conneely, the book is called “The Secret to Real Weight Loss Success”. It provides a complete twenty seven day body transformation game plan that people can use to change the way they think about food, health, and the way they eat. He has made the book available on his website CoachJC.com.

“The book is a mindset, weight loss, personal development success book,” says Jonathan. “It is a 27 day transformation game plan that will coach you and motivate you to change your thinking so you can have anything you desire in life – especially that weight loss.”

Jonathan goes on to say that “there are some great workouts and nutrition programs out there. But none of these will work without conquering your mindset.” This is what his book aims to do.

The principles included in the book are backed by Jonathan’s ten years of experience working with people from all walks of life. His background as a lifestyle transformation coach, lifestyle fitness expert and strength and conditioning coach give him the unique perspective to write a book that will appeal to millions of people across America. Jonathan states that he has drawn on “my experience of dealing with people on a daily basis and coaching people for years.”

“The Secret to Real Weight Loss Success” does not contain a diet. Instead it has three distinct parts to the twenty seven day game plan that focuses on transforming thinking, eating, and the body. As Jonathan says, “the secret is the mindset!”

The book is aimed at anyone who wants to lose weight, get fit, take control of their health, and live a better life. It also contains testimonials from people who have already tried the plan and made it work for them. Furthermore results have been achieved not just with weight loss but with other areas of people’s lives. The changed mindset can achieve many goals. Jonathan adds, “You will hear from real life people on how these principles have transformed their life forever.”

Jonathan does not claim that losing weight with the help of his book is easy. But he does describe the process as simple once the basic mindset is discovered and understood. Everything that is needed is in the book. Nothing else is required.

Jonathan Conneely is the founder of Bootcamp Tulsa, the area’s first outdoor fitness program, and he also runs the website www.coachjc.com. Visit the website to find out more about his book “The Secret to Real Weight Loss Success – Your 27 Day Body Transformation Gameplan”.

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