Writing The Nonfiction Book Proposal

You’ve got a great idea for a book. You’ve done the research, interviewed the experts, collected all the materials you need, started—or maybe even finished—a draft of the manuscript. Now what? Before you spend months finishing and/or polishing that manuscript, wouldn’t it be nice to know there’s an editor out there who’s already made a commitment to publish it, or an agent who’s agreed to represent it? Professional authors know how to get that commitment up front—with a book proposal package.

Work with a published book author to put together a winning proposal for your book idea. At the conclusion of this workshop, you will have written a proposal package consisting of a query/cover letter, a chapter-by-chapter outline, and sample chapters ready to submit to agents or publishers (up to 12,000 words total).

Course level:  Advanced

Required Book:  How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Workshop Length: 14 weeks

Tuition: $425.00 ($382.50 for VIP)

Start Date: View Writing The Nonfiction Book Proposal Course Schedule

Course Structure
This workshop will consist of seven two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment specifically related to your book idea, which will be submitted to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises. (2.8 CEUs)

You will learn:

  • The components of a book proposal
  • How to identify—and sell—your book’s special features
  • How to define and quantify who will buy your book
  • How to distinguish your book from the rest of the pack
  • How to put your best foot forward as the author, including innovative promotional ideas
  • How to organize your material into an effective outline
  • The role of the query letter and the components of an effective query

Who should take this course:

  • Nonfiction writers who have a solidified story concept with at least a few chapters of their book completed
  • Individuals who want to get a commitment up front from an agent or editor before spending months finishing / revising their manuscript
  • Graduates of Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing Workshop

Register for Writing The Nonfiction Book Proposal Workshop

Course Outline

Session One: Developing a Strong Editorial Appeal for Your Book Idea

  • Defining & focusing your idea
  • The importance of a strong title
  • Why are you writing this book and who are you writing it for?
  • The components of a book proposal

Writing Assignment: A narrative summary of your book idea that includes a working title and a brief paragraph describing why you are writing this book and who the intended reader is (maximum 500 words); Pick two to three appropriate publishers from Writer’s Market and explain your choices (maximum 250 words).

Session Two: The Overview Section of Your Proposal

  • Using a subject “hook” to get an editor’s attention
  • Identifying—and selling—your book’s special features
  • Your plan for writing the book and why you are the best writer for the job

Writing Assignment: The “Overview” section of your proposal (maximum 1,000 words)

Session Three: The Market—Complementary and Competitive Books

  • Defining—and quantifying—who will buy your book
  • Spin-offs and subsidiary markets
  • Identifying similar books and distinguishing yours from the rest of the pack

Writing Assignment: The “Marketing” and “Competition” sections of your proposal (maximum 1,500 words)

Session Four: Promoting Your Book—and Yourself

  • What are you willing to do to promote your book?
  • Coming up with innovative promotional ideas
  • “About the Author”—putting your best foot forward

Writing Assignment: The “Promotions” and “About the Author” sections of your proposal (maximum 1,500 words); A list of five prospective publishers

Session Five: Organize Your Material Into an Effective Outline

  • The Table of Contents
  • Selecting an appropriate organizational structure
  • Chapter abstracts
  • Style considerations

Writing Assignment: A chapter-by-chapter outline for your book, including a Table of Contents (maximum 3,000 words)

Session Six: The Query Letter & Sample Chapters

  • The role of the query letter
  • Components of an effective query
  • Why write sample chapters?
  • Some writing reminders and a self-editing checklist

Writing Assignment: A query letter (maximum 500 words) and sample chapters from your book (maximum 3,000 words).

Session Seven: Keep Writing

  • Workshop wrap-up

Writing Assignment: Sample chapters from your book, either picking up where you left off with the Session Six assignment, or starting from the beginning and incorporating revisions (maximum 6,000 words total).