Lights! Camera! Your Book Proposal! ... and Why You Need One, Even if You're Self-Publishing

Lights! Camera!Lights! Camera!Lights! Camera!Lights! Camera!
Your BookYour BookYour BookYour Book
Proposal!Proposal!Proposal!Proposal!
… and Why You Need One,
Even if You’re SelfPublishingEven if Youre Self-Publishing Melanie Rigney
Bay to Ocean Writers Conference
February 23, 2013

TopicsTopics
What Am I Going to Do with a Book Proposal?
Do Self‐Publishers Need to Bother with All This?
Elements of a Book Proposal
Q L ttQuery Letter
Synopsis/Project Description/Chapter Outline
Comparative/Competitive Analysisp / p y
Reader Demographics
Marketing Plan/Resume/Platform/Endorsements
Sample chapters
Why Isn’t There a Standard for All This Stuff?
How Can I Find Out More?How Can I Find Out More?
2
Please do not reproduce without permission of Melanie
Rigney (editor@editorforyou.com)

What Am I Going to Do with a Book Proposal?What Am I Going to Do with a Book Proposal?
It’s not just about the writing; it’s also about showing that you
know your place in the market (and showing how you’re going to
sell books)
Any reputable agent or publisher is going to want to see at least
some of these elements
Progressive goal: From query letter to proposal to contract!Progressive goal: From query letter to proposal to contract!
3

?: Why Don’t Agents and Publishers Put?: Why Don t Agents and Publishers Put
These Things Together for You?g g
4

D S lfP bli h N d t B th ith All Thi ?Do Self-Publishers Need to Bother with All This?
Generally, self‐publishers want to sell a few books too!
Analyzing the competition and the marketplace helps you see ways
in which you might improve your manuscript (too long, too short,
does or doesn’t meet genre conventions)
Developing the proposal elements can help with creation of back eveloping the proposal elements can help with creation of back
cover and other “sell” copy, and identification of potential sales
venues
Creating a book proposal helps you understand that publishing noCreating a book proposal helps you understand that publishing, no
matter who does it, is a business—and helps you be realistic about
the work required to be successful
5

Elements of a Book ProposalElements of a Book Proposal
Query Letter
Synopsis/Project Description/Chapter Outline
Comparative/Competitive Analysis
d hiReader Demographics
Marketing Plan/Resume/Platform/Endorsements
Sample ChaptersSample Chapters
6

?: Wh t b t f tti ??: What about formatting?
7

Elements: Query LetterElements: Query Letter
Generally, needed for both fiction and non‐fiction proposals
One page
Th hThree paragraphs
Hook (compelling “what if” premise for fiction; compelling
market need for non‐fiction; title)
Exposition (how will the book meet the need; how will the novel
answer the “what if,” including basic plotline, main characters,
and resolution; word count)and resolution; word count)
Why you’re the one to write it (credentials, connections, etc.)
8

Elements: Synopsis/Project Description/Chapter OutlineElements: Synopsis/Project Description/Chapter Outline
Synopsis = fiction; generally 3‐5 pages double spaced, 1‐2 single
spaced, fleshes out the story (including plot and major subplots)
and characters; generally told in present tenseand characters; generally told in present tense
Project description/outline are among the terms you’ll see in non‐
fiction; for a memoir or narrative non‐fiction, it’ll look like a
synopsis; other genres, provide a rundown on how the book’s
content will be organized (number of how‐to projects, number of
profiles, etc.)
Chapter outline: could be either fiction or non‐fiction; generally,
100‐200 words per chapter, high points of what happens (including
key conflict point)y p )
9

Elements: Comparative/Competitive AnalysisElements: Comparative/Competitive Analysis
Always a non‐fiction proposal staple and, increasingly, an important
element for fiction proposals
At least three (often five or seven) books that are similar to yoursAt least three (often five or seven) books that are similar to yours,
published in the past three years or so by a traditional publisher;
author should be someone at your level; the book should have
done well (based on Amazon ratings, unbiased reviews, any other ( g , , y
sales figures or book club adoptions you can find)
Identify the comparable titles through online bookstore sales or
bricks and mortar
Explain how the books are similar to yours… as well as what your
book’s unique selling proposition/special element is
DON’T trash the competitionDON T trash the competition
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Elements: Reader DemographicsElements: Reader Demographics
Who’s going to read this book? Hint: The answer is not
“everyone!”
Women? Men? Children? Baby Boomers? Generation Xers?
Millennials? Tweens?Millennials? Tweens?
Can you quantify the market size? Research the number of
romances/Civil War histories/cookbooks published each year
th h t d / i l i t t i tithrough trade/special interest associations
Remember, a book doesn’t have to sell a million copies to be
profitable; even with a small audience (left‐handed civil engineers),
if the content is compelling and meets a need/desire and the
marketing plan is tactically strong, the right publisher will be
interested
11

Marketing Plan/Resume/Platform/EndorsementsMarketing Plan/Resume/Platform/Endorsements
Other than your writing, likely the most important part of the
proposal
Marketing for first time/relatively unknown authors often is limitedMarketing for first‐time/relatively unknown authors often is limited
to catalog/publisher Web site presence
Present what you will do “in concert with the publisher,” not that
b h f kyou expect to be in charge of marketing
Include speaking experience
Include association/club memberships relevant to the subject ofInclude association/club memberships relevant to the subject of
your book
Engage experts/influencers in the area as you write; they’ll be
happy to consider writing endorsementshappy to consider writing endorsements
12

Elements: Sample ChaptersElements: Sample Chapters
Typically, the first three chapters; don’t cherrypick
Make them as strong as you can
One typographical or grammatical error won’t doom your chances;
however a general disregard for the rules willhowever, a general disregard for the rules will
The first five pages must sing, in particular the first paragraph
While you can work on your proposal as you write the manuscript
(and some prefer to write the proposal first), don’t send it out until
those sample chapters are as compelling as you can make them
13

?: Should I send out a proposal before my?: Should I send out a proposal before my
manuscript is complete?p p
14

?: Wh t b t i ??: What about e-queries?
15

?: Why Isn’t There a Standard
for All This Stuff?
16

??: How Can I Find Out More?
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ResourcesResources
http://macgregorliterary.com/resources/: Includes sample
proposals you can download and review
http://stevelaube.com/guidelines/: Detailed guidance
http://kimberleycameron com/submission guidelines php: Anhttp://kimberleycameron.com/submission‐guidelines.php: An
example of what you might be requested to provide in an e‐query
http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/: An example of a
publisher’s online query engine
Write the Perfect Book Proposal by Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine
Herman
Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript by Chuck Sambuchino
and the editors of Writer’s Digest Books
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Thanks for Coming TodayThanks for Coming Today
Melanie Rigney (www.editorforyou.com‐‐editing;
www.melanierigney.com‐‐writing)
Follow me on Twitter
(https://twitter.com/MelanieRigney), Facebook
(https //www facebook com/pages/Melanie Rigney(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie‐Rigney‐
Author/133200806702077), and Pinterest
(http://m.pinterest.com/melanierigney/)(http://m.pinterest.com/melanierigney/)
editor@editorforyou.com;
melanie@melanierigney.com; 4201 Wilson Blvd., @ g y ; ,
#110328, Arlington, VA 22203
19

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