Top Ten Tips for a Great Book Proposal

Have a great book idea? Daydreaming about your book signings? Well, then let’s make it happen! But, first things first. The modern writer needs to acquire a literary agent before they can get their book deal started. So, before you start, you will need to write a great book proposal that hooks your agent and gets you that book deal. Here are the top ten tips to help you conceptualize your manuscript and write a winning proposal.

1.     Identify your content.

·      The premise

·      Book overview

2.     Identify your market audience.

·      Demographic description

·      Psychographic description

·      Competition (books that are similar)

3.     Describe the problem or need you are trying to solve.

4.     Present your solution.

5.     Develop the solution through concrete application.

6.     The Author––You

·      Background

·      Who will endorse your book and why?

7.     What do you want to say, and to whom are you saying it?

·      Determine the book’s content.

·      Identify the book’s audience.

8.     What is the book’s title? (Title should encapsulate the book’s premise and communicate the premise to the reader while “hooking” them.)

9.     What makes you the expert on this topic?

10.  What are the motivations of your readers/audience?

·      What needs and frustrations are characteristic of the target audience?

·      What is the problem they are trying to solve?

Write a paragraph synopsis for each chapter and use active voice when possible.

Remember to begin each chapter with an attention-getting anecdote. Breaking up the chapters using subheads is a great way to boost the readability of your work. My favorite features are stories and illustrations that bring the work to life. Proof your work and start contacting literary agents with your great book idea!

Need more help? Set up a consultation today by contacting me at: sarah@clearwindpublishing.com