Lesson 8 of 8 Free account 5 min read
Writing a Non-fiction Book Proposal: Selling the Book Before You Write It
What a non-fiction book proposal contains and why publishers buy on one: the overview, market, comparable titles, author platform, chapter outline and sample chapters.
Key takeaways
- A proposal is a business case: it shows what the book is, who will buy it and why you should write it.
- Non-fiction is often sold before it is written, though an unpublished memoirist may need a full manuscript.
- The market, comparable titles and platform sections need specific, honest evidence rather than hopes.
- The chapter outline proves the book holds together, and the sample chapters prove you can write it.
Most first-time novelists have to finish the book before anyone will buy it. A non-fiction writer often doesn't. Publishers commonly take on non-fiction on the strength of a proposal: a document that shows what the book is, who will buy it and why you're the person to write it. Think of it as a business plan for one book.
This lesson walks through each part using one invented book, 'Quiet Hours: How Busy Parents Can Find Time to Write a Book', by an invented writing coach called Mara. Every name, title and number in the examples is made up.
What goes in a non-fiction book proposal?
Requirements differ, so always read the guidelines of the people you're sending it to. Most proposals cover the same ground:
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