The Writer's Corner Archive

A successful book proposal sells the writer’s ideas, talent, and qualifications to the publisher.  The idea of writing a book proposal can be a little intimidating, especially if you are an unpublished author.  Publishers want experienced authors with proven track records, right? Of course they do. However, publishers also want to “discover” fresh, new writers.  Publishers are looking for interesting books from talented writers, who are passionate about communicating their ideas and expertise to their readers.

If you have written a book, have a book in progress, or have a strong desire to write a book on a topic you are passionate about, you have all the tools necessary to write a compelling book proposal. 

In a nutshell, the publisher wants to know what your idea is, why you are qualified to present it, and why it will appeal to the publisher’s audience.

Who are your readers?

Before we begin to write, we need to consider our audience. Are we are trying to please a general audience? If so, we may address everybody from the novice to the expert.  As I write this column, I am anticipating a diverse group of readers. I’m writing a column titled, “The Writer’s Corner,” so I can safely assume that most of my readers are interested in writing. However, many of my readers may be considering whether they want to write for publication for the first time, while others may have a multitude of published work.  I must decide what I can share that will provide insight and inspiration to the novice, and perhaps give experienced writers a gentle reminder of something familiar.  I am hoping new writers will be enlightened and experienced writers will appreciate taking a moment to refocus and ground themselves in their attention to their reader’s desires.

Many writers find it helpful to work from an outline, and most publishers want to see one.  If you don’t already have an outline, you may want to check out the quick and easy method for generating one that was suggested in last month’s Writer’s Corner.

Your outline can help you jumpstart your writing project.  You can use it in a variety of ways to help spur your creativity while keeping you organized.  

Use Your Outline to Organize Information

Have you ever stood in a book store and flipped through several books on the same topic, trying to decide which one to buy? Say you aren’t familiar with any of the authors, the books all have eye catching covers, and the description on each jacket is equally enticing.  What do you do? Flip through the books one by one, maybe reading a paragraph here and there. A compelling graphic catches your eye; suddenly, you know this is the book you need.   Maybe you think this example is a little dramatic, but don’t underestimate the visual appeal of good graphics.  

Most research based non-fiction books and articles depend on graphics to convey pertinent information, and good graphics can also give your work visual appeal and help you market your book to your reader.

Gather Your Graphics Early