Book Proposal Depot

Your stop for fiction book proposal and publishing success.

What is in The Fiction Book Proposal?

By Lori Lisi

While an agent or publisher does not normally expect an author to write a proposal for a novel (or short stories), it can give you the edge you need to get the attention of such publishing contacts and help you to plan your own efforts in your book's promotional life. If you are intending to self-publish, it should be the business plan for your book's succcess. The basic contents should include (not necessarily in this order):

1. Cover Sheet: display the author's contact information and the title of the book.
    
2. Table of Contents: outline the contents of the book proposal.
    
3. Overview: include the selling pitch for the book, highlight the strongest aspects of the manuscript project, detail the format of the book (number of pages, proposed dimensions, illustrations, time to completion, etc.), and may describe how the idea for the book came to fruition.
    
4. Competitive Books: show a researched list of books on the market of similar interest, sales information (if available), positions on bestseller lists, and how the proposed book differs from existing competition.
   (See Report #2 from the How To Write A Book Proposal Library:
   How To Write The Competitive Books Section.)
    
5. Target Markets: explain the criteria of at least two different markets interested in the type of book you are proposing. This will help you to define how you will reach this market in the Promotion Plan section.
    
6. Promotion Plan: plot a publicity and marketing plan that will establish or develop the author's platform (ability to attract an audience) and create opportunities to increase awareness of the book and generate sales.
    
7. Author Bio: exemplify why the author is a credible source for writing the book proposed, show the author's proven ability or potential for promotional efforts, and present aspects of the author's personality or life that may be appealing to readers.
    
8. Ancillary Products: present possible ideas for products that would complement the promotional aspects of the book or present opportunities for additional income sources.
    
9. Subsequent Books: describe follow-up books that may appeal to the audience created with the author platform and the first book. It's very good to show that you won't be a "one-hit wonder."
    
10. Synopsis: up to a two-page summary of your story.
     
11. Chapter Summaries (of all chapters in the book). Depending on the length of the chapters, I usually suggest about a paragraph to one-half of a page for each chapter. This is not always required for a novel, since it should be accompanied by a synopsis, so consider this section optional or check with the agent or publisher of interest about specific submission guidelines.
     
12. Entire Manuscript: An agent or publisher will normally request the entire manuscript for a fiction book. However, sometimes this varies. Be sure to check the submission guidelines of the party of interest.
     

For more tips on books proposals, check out the More Tips and Hints article.

Direct any requests for reprint rights of this article to the Contact Page.

Free Proposal Consultation or Sample Edit

After reading the articles (or even before, if you'd like), I'd be happy to provide you with a free initial consultation or provide a sample edit for a manuscript. To set up either, simply:

1. Fill out the Contact Form to request a phone appointment (from Lori Lisi).
    
2. Include the status of your manuscript and any submission materials.
    
3. Include several possible time frames to set up a phone appointment.
    
4. If you have a draft of your proposal and/or the first two chapters of your manuscript, please upload that into the form as well.
    

You will be contacted within 24 to 72 hours. This will allow me the time to review the materials and information you might send before we set up the phone appointment. Please be sure to include times you might be available to set up the appointment.

I'll look forward to speaking with you!

Book Proposal Services

If you prefer that I write the book proposal for you, please review the Writing service.

If you would like to write the book proposal yourself and primarily want guidance for doing so, please review the Coaching service.

If you already have a book proposal and would like a critique of it, please review the Critiquing service.

Manuscript Services

If you would like general feedback regarding your manuscript, please check out the Book Critique service.

If your manuscript would be better served by an edit, check out the Book Editing service.

If you are uncertain as to the type of assistance your manuscript might need, simply request a Free Sample Edit for an initial assessment of the editing level that might be needed.

Literary Agents and Query Letters Services

Do you have your manuscript and/or book proposal ready and need to know what to do next? We research literary agents and write query letters specific to your project. See our Literary Agents Research and Query Letters services.

Find Literary Agents and Book Publishers at BookExpo America