The title of this post is misleading. Book proposals are both art and science. They are also essential for almost anyone who wants to secure the representation of a mainstream literary agent or sell a book concept to a traditional publisher.
Drafting a proposal is a lot of work, but there are good reasons to go to the effort. A well-written proposal is the best introduction you have to a potential agent. It’s also the principal (and normally, only) method for getting the attention of an acquiring editor. Just as important, it’s a great way to refine the focus of the book and work out key issues like tone, approach, and structure.
First-time authors—whether using a ghostwriter or not—are often confused or mistaken about what a proposal comprises (that’s often the first bit of information that a ghostwriter provides a client).
The document follows a tightly regimented format. That makes it easier to construct the proposal. However, the actual writing (and editing, and rewriting) are where the artistry comes in. The components, in order, are common to all proposals regardless of category or concept.
Book Proposal Elements
The parts of a book proposal must be well-written and placed in the proper order. Although most proposals these days are delivered digitally, the format hasn’t changed much from when paper-and-ink proposals were the norm.
• Sell. It all starts with an engaging scene that sets the stage for the book’s main focus and the editorial style. The best sells are intriguing and captivating from the very first sentence. They bring the idea to life and they show more than tell.
• Market. Largely data-driven, this section includes a demographic and a flesh-and-bones description of the anticipated core audience for the book. It also summarizes the larger market, putting the topic in context of the culture and historical moment. For instance, if you were proposing a trade non-fiction political analysis, you would discuss the current potent partisan divide and the key points driving movements on the left and right.
• Comparables. A summary of books similar to the one being proposed (and in the same publishing category). This must include a succinct explanation of what makes your book different from, and potentially more successful than, each title listed.
• Detailed Table of Contents. A chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the editorial structure. This includes a short paragraph summarizing what each chapter will cover.
• Sample Chapter. This is perhaps the most time-consuming and challenging part of the proposal. It’s exactly what it sounds like and should be the chapter that most embodies the overarching theme of the book.
Acquiring editors and agents are swamped with proposals. That puts added emphasis on crafting a provocative, interesting title—the only element on the cover page of the proposal. It also means that the first few sentences carry the burden of drawing in the reader, so they will at least scan the entire proposal.
Experienced book ghostwriters not only capture the client’s voice and hone the book idea into a captivating concept, they also write proposals for clients hoping to land mainstream publishing book deals. Given how important the tool is for marketing the concept, and the large amount of work that goes into a successful proposal, expect to pay a fee—separate from the percentage of advance and royalty designated in the collaboration agreement—for the best proposal possible.