What Is a Book Proposal?

In short: Book proposals are used to sell nonfiction books to publishers. A book proposal argues why your book (idea) is a salable, marketable product. It acts as a business case or business plan for your book that persuades a publisher to make an investment. Instead of writing the entire book, then trying to interest an editor or agent (which is how it works with novels), you write the proposal first. If a publisher is convinced by your argument, it contracts you and pay you to write the book.

If properly developed and researched, a proposal can take weeks or longer to write. New writers might find it easier to simply write the book first, then prepare a proposal—which isn’t a bad idea in the case of creative or narrative nonfiction, since many editors and agents want assurance that an unknown writer has sufficient writing chops to pull off their project. But having the manuscript complete does not get you off the hook when it comes to writing the proposal.

For more information and lectures on book proposals:
https://janefriedman.com/write-book-proposal-10-step-plan/
https://janefriedman.com/start-here-how-to-write-a-book-proposal/

Видео What Is a Book Proposal? канала Jane Friedman