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Gotham Ghostwriters Publishes My “5 Book Proposal Musts” Advice

I’m excited to tell you that Gotham Ghostwriters has shared my article, 5 Book Proposal Musts, on their blog! Since most nonfiction publishers don’t expect, or even want you to have a complete manuscript when you start submitting your book ideas, there’s a lot riding on your non-fiction proposal. In this article, I offer a few “must have” guidelines so you can write the strongest book proposal possible.

Gotham Ghostwriters is New York City’s only world-class, full-service writing firm. They specialize in cultivating and amplifying the ideas and leadership of writers who aspire to stand out and spur change. Their blog takes a regular look “around the world” to bring readers the latest news in writing, publishing, and social changes that affect the industry. You can sign up to receive their insights by e-mail when you visit http://blog.gothamghostwriters.com/.

Ally Machate Book EditorFounder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.

How Much Research Is Enough to Sell Your Book?

According to Bowker’s, roughly 85% of all titles published are nonfiction. That’s good news for you nonfiction writers, because it means there’s a greater chance of you finding a home for your book.

For many of you, research will be an important part of your project. Balancing the amount of time and money you’re investing in creating the book proposal, before you have the guarantee of an advance, can be tricky. Here’s a little advice to guide you.

How much research must I complete before seeking representation?

If no one expects you to have your book fully written, it follows they also don’t expect you to have completed the research you’ll need to write it—at least, not yet. Your first consideration is whether there’s any information on which your entire concept depends, or if you expect any problems arising from an inability to get particular bits of data. Make sure you get that stuff done well before pitching anyone to make sure you have a book worth pitching!

Besides the table of contents and chapter summaries—for which you’ll want at least a basic idea of what you’re going to investigate—you’ll need to thoroughly research the topics of your sample chapters. It’s also important to do enough research to talk intelligently about your book, how it fits in the marketplace, and who you think the target audience is.

Basically, if you have enough information to make a convincing argument for why anyone should publish your book, you’re good. The goal is to make potential agents/publishers feel confident that you have a clear idea what you’re writing, even if you don’t have all the minute details researched yet.

How long can I ask for to research and write the rest?

Nine months to one year is a typical delivery schedule, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for more time if you need it.

The first issue is the timeliness of your book’s subject: Is it an evergreen subject or is it connected to some recent news event or cultural shift? Is there an upcoming newsworthy event like an anniversary that a publisher might want to use as a pub date to get more exposure for your book? Will readers still care about your subject three years from now? (Remember, it typically takes a year from manuscript to shelves, so you’ve got to factor that in on top of whatever time you need to research and write the thing.) These are things a publisher will consider regarding your delivery dates.

If your topic is interesting and marketable enough, and there are no timeliness issues, a couple of years isn’t an unreasonable request. Expect a deal structured around partial deliveries—so you may get a piece of your advance each time you deliver a certain number of pages, or chunks of notes, etc. Also keep in mind that you can continue to research while you’re looking for an agent, and likewise while your agent is submitting to editors; both aspects of the submission process can take months to years. So you will likely have a lot more research done between creating the book proposal and getting an offer anyway.

How can I avoid spending money on research before I have a deal?

The short answer is, you can’t. The tips in this article will help you limit your pre-contract investment, but at the end of the day that’s what research-related costs are: an investment in your business venture.

Consider  self-publishing if you aren’t able to find an agent and/or publisher. Why let all that hard work (and money) go to waste? New technology and cultural shifts are making it easier than ever to get your work out to its intended audience. Writers are using resources like Kickstarter, a website that lets you raise funds for a work in progress (you could use this to fund research for your book proposal, too). Some writers release one chapter at a time and use paid subscriptions to fund further work. [Check out this neat article on “crowdfunding” for more ideas.]

However you intend to do it, be smart with where you spend limited funds, but don’t be cheap. After all, if you skimp on what’s necessary to write a compelling book proposal, you won’t have what it takes to get a publishing contract. Short-changing a great project in that way would be the real waste.

Ally Machate Book EditorFounder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.

How to Easily Start Writing Your Book Proposal

So much emphasis is put on the importance of a book proposal when you’re a nonfiction author. They’re pitches, marketing resources, and microcosms of your book. You know your entire manuscript—most of which isn’t even included in the proposal—will be judged by how well you write this document. So overwhelming!

Are you having trouble writing your nonfiction book proposal? Try starting with these two questions: Why now? and Why me? Every section in the proposal addresses them to some degree, whether you’re explaining who needs your book, comparing it to other available titles, or discussing your platform and marketing plan.

Why Now?

For most books, timeliness is critical. Perhaps your book touches on a rising trend or satisfies a growing need. Maybe there’s a newsworthy aspect, speaking to recent media reports such as the increase in child suicides as a result of severe bullying, or the number of multigenerational families living together to maximize resources in this poor economy.

If your book is about an “evergreen” subject (i.e. ever-present and non-trendy, like losing weight, or getting kids to eat vegetables), perhaps no one’s done a book for your niche before. Or if it’s been a long time since the category bestseller published, an update could be welcomed. Maybe the current books in your category just don’t do a good enough job addressing the need your book will.

Ultimately, your proposal needs to make a strong case for why your book must be published now. How will a publisher get book browsers to buy your book right now instead of leaving it on the shelf for another time? Proposal sections where the answer to “Why now?” is most prominent include the Overview, Comparative/Competitive Titles, and Marketing and Sales Opportunities.

Why Me?

Even if publishers think your book idea is interesting, timely, and marketable, they have to consider whether or not you’re the right person to author the book. Will they be able to market you as an author, in addition to marketing your book? Will readers trust your opinion on this subject? Will media outlets see you as an expert they can quote and/or interview? What about you would make someone choose your book over another author’s treatise on the same subject?

The answer to this question is essentially your author platform. Proposal sections where you’ll emphasize your platform include the Overview, About the Author, and Marketing and Sales Opportunities. You may also work it into the Comparative/Competitive Titles section. Finally, if you have useful connections, your Endorsements section can make a great argument toward answering “Why me?”

Where to Start

I recommend starting with the more straightforward sections of the proposal before tackling the creative, “salesy” portions. When I ghostwrite book proposals for my clients, I’ll often start with Comparative/Competitive Titles. This helps orient my brain for marketing, because meditating on what’s currently available and how the new book will fit in speaks to what’s unique about the project, the author, and the times. The About the Author section comes early in the process, too; writing a bio helps you start thinking about credentials and experience, and what is/isn’t especially relevant for the project. Asking the kinds of questions that lead to a good bio often generates ideas for the Marketing and Sales Opportunities section as well.

A List of Awesome

Still intimidated by the idea of writing a book proposal? Don’t worry—you aren’t alone, not by a long shot. Many people find it challenging to “brag” about or sell themselves in such a formal way.

List-making is often ranked as a top productivity tool, but I also like lists for ego-boosting and motivation. What else is a book proposal but a detailed, developed list of how awesome you and your book are? Write down everything you think makes you the perfect person to write this book, right now, and give yourself permission to feel good about it! You’ve worked hard to get to this point in your life; approach your proposal as a celebration of your journey and soon you’ll laugh at how nerve-wracking the whole process once seemed.

Ally Machate Book EditorFounder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.

5 Ways to Start Writing Your Nonfiction Book: Part 2

Maybe you’ve been itching to share your vision or unique system with the world, but are having trouble getting started. No wonder! Your average prescriptive nonfiction book runs in the neighborhood of 50,000-70,000 words, a rather intimidating number for folks who never considered themselves writers…until they had something they really wanted to write!

In part 1 of this two part series, you discovered three ways to start writing your nonfiction book using some visualizations and other creative methods. I encourage you to try them out whether you consider yourself a particularly “left-brain” thinker or not. Now, here are two more tips to get you started writing your nonfiction book with focus, direction, and clarity.

Play With Index Cards

When I say “outline” do you think of roman numerals and the fifth grade? If you’re still at the starting gate with your book, try a more flexible approach by using index cards instead. Start by making a list of questions your ideal reader (see Part 1) might ask about your book’s primary subject, as well as any topics you want to address. Write each one on a separate index card. When you’re finished, organize the cards into groups where questions touch on similar subjects or where the answers or topics will dovetail. This works best if you lay the cards on a flat surface such as a table or the floor; if you have a large blank wall and some Fun-tack or tape you can also arrange them vertically. Don’t be afraid to move cards around as you decide on groupings—it’s the visual and tactile nature of this method that makes it so useful, because it can free your brain from the paralyzing fear a blank screen often produces.

Write a Book Proposal

If you already have a pretty clear idea of what you want to write, why not start with a book proposal? The large majority of nonfiction book deals are made on the strength of short proposals, not finished manuscripts. Beyond a few sample chapters, you don’t need to write a manuscript at all if you’re seeking an agent or publisher. But even if you intend to self-publish, working on a book proposal is an excellent way to back into writing the book itself. That’s because an effective proposal will require you to do research and invest serious time thinking and writing about where your book fits into the marketplace, who will want to read it, why you’re the right author and why now is the right time to publish it, and, of course, what exactly the book will deliver to readers. By the time you’re finished writing the proposal, you’ll have a much clearer vision of and a strong grasp on what you want to write and the most effective way to write it for your target audience. Now that’ll get you off in the right direction!

 

I hope you find these methods useful! Let me know what works for you by commenting below. And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to get a copy of my free white paper on how to write a successful nonfiction book proposal.

Ally Machate Book EditorFounder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.

5 Ways to Start Writing Your Nonfiction Book: Part 1

According to the Jenkins Group, 80% of Americans want to write a book. Many have an idea for “the Great American Novel,” but as books become increasingly popular platform-builders, more entrepreneurs and thought leaders are directing their attention to writing nonfiction books. In fact, recent figures show about 85% of books published each year are nonfiction.

In this two part series, you’ll find five of my favorite ways to get started writing your nonfiction book.

Imagine Your Finished Book

Close your eyes and clear your mind. Now, imagine yourself in a bookstore, picking up a copy of your newly released book. What does the cover look like? What colors are present? Are there abstract images, photos of people, or an emphasis on the title? What is the title of your book? Now listen: What are other book browsers saying about it? If you can imagine the kind of conversation you hope readers will have as they recommend your book to their friends, you’ll start getting a sense of the energy you want to convey, which will inform the approach you take. It may also free your subconscious to generate some ideas about the ways your chosen subject can be presented for maximum excitement and engagement—the kinds of things that make a person want to tell all her friends about that awesome book she just finished. Visualizing the finished book will help inspire you (for bonus points, do a mock-up of the cover and post it in your writing space for extra motivation), and connecting with the heart of your book in an emotional way will help more “left-brain” oriented folks feel their way into writing a rough draft.

Interview Your Ideal Reader

Every book has an ideal reader, even if many kinds of people will ultimately benefit from your message. Describe your ideal reader in as much detail as possible: Is your reader male or female, healthy or suffering from an illness, single, divorced, married, a parent, a business owner, a student? How old is your ideal reader, and how educated? What does he or she like to do for fun? Once you’ve got a clear picture in your mind, imagine talking with your ideal reader. What is her most pressing need (i.e. what motivated her to buy your book)? What kinds of questions does he have on the subject (i.e. what is he hoping to find answers for in your pages)? Last but not least, how will you connect with your reader—with humor, personal anecdotes, statistics, suggested exercises, meditations? Now, write a letter to this ideal reader, addressing all the things you know s/he is expecting from your book and detailing what and how you’re going to satisfy these expectations. This will be a rough version of your book’s overview (an essential component of a nonfiction book proposal), and parts will also likely find their way into your Introduction.

Write the Jacket Copy

Forcing yourself to describe your book in as little as 200-300 words is a great way to zero in on what’s most important. This exercise can also help you identify the more marketable aspects of your book as you seek to find just the right balance of information and sales-ey marketing copy. Since this is just an exercise, go ahead and invent a few endorsements from famous authors in your category. Your jacket copy should also include an attention-grabbing headline (sometimes publishers use an enthusiastic endorsement by a big name instead), bullet-points or a list of the book’s key features and information, and a description of the benefits received from reading your book. Don’t forget a short bio! Committing goals to paper is a powerful tool, and crafting your bio provides an opportunity to start thinking of yourself as a published author.

 

I hope you find these methods a little more useful and interesting than the usual brainstorming routines. Let me know what works for you by commenting below. And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to get a copy of my free white paper on how to write a successful nonfiction book proposal. Also, don’t miss the second part of this two-part series.

Next time: two more ways to start writing your nonfiction book, especially for you “right-brain” thinkers.

Ally Machate Book EditorFounder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.

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