I know, I know, I have blogged before about doing a book proposal and how important it is. But, it seems from what I am seeing recently that I am not getting through.
In the last couple of months, I find that clients are really rushing to get their proposals ready. In doing so, they are making mistakes – both large and small – and ultimately prolonging the process of creating this very important document.
Book proposals really are the backbone of the non-fiction publishing process. They identify an idea, discuss who the reader will be for that idea, both demographically and statistically, and discuss other titles which would be comparable, in terms of audience, to the one the author is proposing.
Proposals provide a structure for the book and demonstrate (with a sample chapter) the author’s writing ability.
Finally, with a bio and links of supporting material, the proposal highlights the author’s credentials and platform.
I tell my clients that doing the proposal is probably more difficult than writing the actual book but that once they have a proposal that a publisher wants to buy, they will have the blueprint for their book.
I also tell them “better late than lousy” and I mean that because a poorly constructed and written proposal will not sell in this challenging market.
So, take your time in creating your book proposal. Think it through carefully and consider every element. Taking the necessary time to do this right is important and will ultimately pay off.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Let me know what you think.