Tips for Nonfiction Authors About to Submit a Book Proposal

It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that fiction and non-fiction books are very, very different. Fiction writing is more flexible and allows for more freedom because, after all, it is fiction, meaning that it isn’t a true story. Non-fiction, on the other hand, though very important, and (depending on the topic and audience) if done right, can have a real impact on readers – and even the world, but it’s a lot more rigid, as it’s based on truths and as such, it needs to be accurate. 

Though fiction and non-fiction writing are very different, there are a few things that both genres do have in common, and a book proposal is one of those things. That is, if authors of fiction and non-fiction writing want to have their work published, they need to submit proposals to prospective publishers. Book proposals are imperative, as they help to tell books apart from the crowd, grab the attention of publishers, pique their interests, and if done right, can encourage publishers to pick-up the book. 

While authors of both fiction and non-fiction writing do need to submit book proposals, the process varies. While the key elements included in book proposals for both genres are essentially the same, the content is quite different. Developing a submission pack for a fiction book is much easier, because, again, fiction is more flexible, and in many cases, the guidelines are clearer. Non-fiction proposals, however, can be a bit more challenging; however, despite this, just like a proposal for a fiction book needs to be well-crafted, so does a proposal for a non-fiction book. But how do you do that? We’ve got you covered! Keep on reading for some handy tips that you can use to knock your non-fiction book proposal out of the park. 

Essential information 

A non-fiction book proposal must be well written. It should have a hook that captures the attention of potential publishers, entices them to want to learn more, and encourages them to want to invest in and publish your book. With that said, however, crafting a book proposal for non-fiction writing definitely isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, as there are dozens of different renditions that can be used, although, the best proposals feature the essential elements that publishers need to know in order to decide whether or not they should obtain more info about you and your book. These elements include the following:

• A cover page with the title, your name, and your contact info, as well as the date and a copyright notice
• A table of contents, which clearly illustrates the content of the proposal and what pages of the proposal that the information can be found on
• An overview of your book
• An overview of each chapter and a full sample chapter
• A competitive analysis, including non-fiction books that have been published and that relate to your writing, and how your book compares to those books
• Your targeted market; the primary audience your book is intended for
• An author biography that includes relevant information about you as a writer, such as previously published works and your career
• A marketing plan that clearly demonstrates to prospective publishers how committed you are to making your book a success

It’s important to reiterate that writing a book proposal most definitely isn’t a cookie-cutter approach; in other words, different books will require different elements, as will different publishers; but, all book proposals should contain the above-mentioned information if they are to be taken seriously. 

Writing a successful book proposal

So, now that we’ve covered the core elements a non-fiction book proposal should contain, let’s take a look at some tips that you can use to successfully craft a proposal that will increase your chances of catching the attention of prospective publishers, getting your book published, and finding the success that you desire and deserve. 

• Write an Overview. Catching the attention of prospective publishers should be the goal of an overview. It can be thought of as a description that invites and entices readers to want to, well, read more. Essentially, an overview is like the short little blurb that you find on the jacket cover of a book. Make the intro short and concise; it should sum up the book in just a handful of sentences. While writing, keep this thought in mind: If you had just one minute to tell what your book is about, what would you say? 

• Chapter Synopsis and Sample Chapter. The most effective way to highlight what your book is about is by highlighting the chapters. A full list of chapters and a short description of each chapter should be included. The overviews don’t have to be too detailed or long. In fact, they should be short, sweet, and to the point; a few sentences but no longer than a paragraph is recommended. The shorter, the better. As for your sample chapter, it should really shine. Make sure you choose a chapter that really captures the main theme/message/information that you are aiming to share with your audience. Also, make sure that your writing is stellar; anything less than exceptional is unacceptable. 

• Target market. Identifying a particular target market that you can quantify is essential. Publishers expect authors to not only pinpoint their audience, but to quantify the audience. It doesn’t matter how well-researched and written a book is, if only a few people are interested in the topic matter, well, publishing it really won’t be justified, as it won’t bring in enough money. 

• Author biography. This part is imperative. If you know how to write an author bio well, you’ll be able to sell yourself to the publishing company – and to your target audience. Let the publisher know why you’re an expert on the subject matter and how your real-life experiences relate to the subject matter. In other words, let them know why you’re the best person to author the book. 

While it is true that crafting a non-fiction book proposal tends to be more challenging than writing a proposal for a fiction book, with the right tips and enough thought and planning, it is possible to create an excellent proposal. With the information presented above, you should be able to draft a proposal that will hook publishers and make them want to bring you on board.