How to Write a Book Proposal: The Insider's Step-by-Step Guide to Proposals that Get You Published

by Jody Rein, Michael Larsen

Overview

THE ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR SELLING YOUR BOOK
 
If you want to publish a book, you must present it to agents and publishers with a knock-your-socks-off proposal. Whether you're seeking a traditional press to publish your self-published book or trying to win over an agent for your graphic novel, memoir, or nonfiction title, you need an irresistible proposal. The better your proposal, the better the editor, publisher, and deal you will get.

Nailing your proposal requires an understanding of how publishers work and how to brand yourself, build a platform, and structure your book. You'll learn it all in this breezy top-to-bottom revision of the classic 100,000-copy best-seller. Inside How to Write a Book Proposal 5th Edition, you will find:


 • Examples of successful proposals that earned six-figure deals
 • Guidance from agents, publishers, and writers
 • Ways to customize your proposal
 • Strategies for proposals in the Digital Age
 • Effective structures for narrative writers
 • A list of the "Top Ten Proposal Killers"
 This sassy, thorough guide from industry professionals Jody Rein and Michael Larsen will become your go-to for advice about publishing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440348174
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/05/2017
Edition description:	Fifth Edition
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	198,971
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Jody Rein, former executive editor with divisions of HarperCollins Publishers and Penguin Random House, is the founder of boutique literary agency Jody Rein Books, Inc., and respected publishing consulting and coaching firm Author Planet Consulting. Jody has represented, published and coached hundreds of authors through successful publication in every form, from e-books to international bestsellers to major motion pictures.

Michael Larsen, co-director of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference, is the author or co-author of eleven books. He is an author coach and a former agent, having co-founded the Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency, which sold books to more than 100 publishers and imprints.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the 5th Edition 1

Part 1 The Basics

1 Why Book Proposals Matter 7

2 The Parts of a Proposal 12

3 Is Your Idea Bookworthy? 15

4 Clearing Up Some Questions 20

Part 2 Organize for Success

5 The Practically Painless Proposal-Writing System 26

6 Set Up Your Shop 29

7 Build Your Folder Buckets 35

8 The Proposal-Writing Order 40

Part 3 Proposal Breakdown

9 Pizzazz 43

10 Comps 56

11 Book Table of Contents 72

12 Book Specs 76

13 Author Bio 87

14 Author Platform 94

15 Audience 107

16 Personal Promotion 116

17 Detailed Outline 130

18 Overview 141

19 Sample Writing 151

20 Supplemental Material 159

Part 4 The Specialized Proposal

21 Proposing More than One Book 163

22 Self-Published Books 166

23 The Graphic Novel 172

24 Cookbooks 175

25 Business Books 180

26 Novels 182

27 Memoirs 183

28 The Narrative Letter of Passion 189

29 Strategies for Six More Kinds of Books 193

30 Proposals for Ghostwritten and Co-Authored Books 198

Part 5 Pull it Together and Perfect It

31 Titles 201

32 Structure 208

33 Voice 213

34 Format for All Devices 218

35 Use Feedback and Pings to Rejection-Proof Your Proposal 224

36 Top Ten Proposal Killers 229

Part 6 Find a Happy Home for Your Book

37 Traditional Publishing Options 234

38 The Literary Agent 240

39 Your Query Letter 245

40 Sell Your Book Without an Agent 251

41 Convert Your Proposal into a Self-Publishing Plan 254

Part 7 Inspiration and the Future

42 From Author to Contentpreneur 261

43 Spring Is Coming 268

Appendices

Appendix A The Publishing Process 270

Appendix B The Virtual Media Kit 275

Appendix C Four Sample Proposals 277

Appendix D Sample Proposal Index 316

Additional Resources 320

Acknowledgments 321

About the Authors 323

Index 324

Editorial Reviews

"Indispensable!" —W. Bruce Cameron, New York Times best-selling author of A Dog's Purpose
 
"A treasure trove of ideas to get your work published!" —Mark Obmascik, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Big Year and Halfway to Heaven
 
"Sets a new gold standard for aspiring authors!" —Madeleine Morel, literary agent, 2M Communications

"Two top publishing pros, Jody Rein and Michael Larsen, offer here an invaluable guidebook for anyone trying to figure out how to best present your story so that those in power will pay attention. Step by step, they take you through the process of creating your proposal, giving you priceless insight into what will work best for YOU. They demystify and clarify, and make the whole process make sense. Trust them; you won’t be sorry." —CHUCK ADAMS, Executive Editor, Algonquin Books

"Jody Rein taught me how to write my very first book proposal, which resulted in my very first book sale, the New York Times best-selling 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter. Now she's taken that pragmatic advice and turned it into an indispensable guide for neophytes and seasoned professionals alike, full of hands-on, practical advice on what to do and when to do it to ensure a professional, winning book proposal!" —W. BRUCE CAMERON, best-selling author of A Dog's Purpose

"The fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal sets a new gold standard for aspiring authors." —MADELEINE MOREL, literary agent, 2M Communications Ltd.

"Michael Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal has been the respected standard in the field ever since it was first published. Now in its fifth edition, it continues to be the best resource for any author wishes to land an agent and a commercial publishing deal. The market is more competitive than ever, and this book gives you the edge you'll need." —JANE FRIEDMAN, publishing consultant

"Jody Rein knows what publishers want. This book is a treasure trove of ideas to get your work published." —MARK OBMASCIK, Pulitzer Prize-winning best-selling author of Halfway to Heaven and The Big Year

"How to Write a Book Proposal 5th Edition is hands down the most thorough and helpful proposal-writing guide on the market. Rein and Larsen eliminate all guesswork and provide writers with exactly what they need to craft pitches that sell! I wish I'd had this gem years ago." —TONI ROBINO, best-selling collaborator and coach, Windword Literary Services

"The fifth edition of this book will change everyone's dream of writing and publishing a book into actual REALITY! The ideas in this edition have been integral to the publication of my last six books. And I love the inside scoop and behind-the-scenes stories of the publishing world. I LOVE this book! Thank you Jody Rein and Mike Larsen!" —MARK KISTLER, best-selling author of You Can Draw in 30 Days! and Emmy Award-winning host of PBS' Mark Kistler's Imagination Station

"This book is truly the ultimate resource for writers who want to land a book deal; it's written by two extremely experienced publishing pros who understand the industry and know what it takes to break in. If you are serious about taking the path to traditional publishing, buy this book now and absorb every word. Highly recommended!" —STEPHANIE CHANDLER, author of The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan and CEO of NonfictionAuthorsAssociation.com

"How to Write a Book Proposal is THE resource for aspiring nonfiction authors. It breaks down what we are looking for as agents with useful examples and tips from our side of the desk. I recommend it!" —GORDON WARNOCK, Partner, Fuse Literary Agency

"Take it from someone who has seen A LOT of book proposals: the advice in this book is the real deal. More than simply a 'how-to,' the fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal shines a light on virtually every aspect of book publishing today. And it's fun to read!" —JUDY KLEIN, former VP, Farrar, Straus & Giroux; owner, Kleinworks Agency

"The no-nonsense title says it all. This book is your ticket to getting published, full of practical advice from pros with long records of helping authors turn good ideas into salable and successful books." —CHARLES SLACK, author of Liberty's First Crisis, Hetty, Noble Obsession, and Blue Fairways.

"Jody Rein, former executive editor with divisions of HarperCollins Publishers and Penguin Random House, is the founder of boutique literary agency Jody Rein Books, Inc., and respected publishing consulting and coaching firm Author Planet Consulting. Jody has represented, published and coached hundreds of authors through successful publication in every form, from e-books to international bestsellers to major motion pictures. Michael Larsen, co-director of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference, is the author or co-author of eleven books. He is an author coach and a former agent, having co-founded the Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency, which sold books to more than 100 publishers and imprints. Together they draw upon their years of experience and expertise to publish the updated and expanded fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal: The Insider's Step-by-Step Guide to Proposals that Get You Published. Being a complete and comprehensive course of step-by-step instructions and impressively informative commentary, How to Write a Book Proposal is absolutely essential reading for any author wanting to 'turn pro' and make a living with what they write be it fiction, non-fiction, or a combination of both. Of special note are the four appendices (The Publishing Process; The Virtual Media Kit; Four Sample Proposals; Sample Proposals Index), a listing of Additional Resources, and a four page Index. Simply stated, no personal, professional, community, or academic library's Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections should be without a copy of this newly revised fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal: The Insider's Step-by-Step Guide to Proposals that Get You Published." —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher