Writing
The Book Proposal: Tips for Writing Your Outline
When considering a non-fiction book proposal, the draft outline ranks as one of the most critical sections. In my opinion there are 3 things that make for a good outline:
Details
Structure
Did I mention details?
A great outline might tell me a few key things about an prospective author:
They understand the topic of the book in [...]
Author Advice: The Non-Compete Clause
I’ve been having a great discussion with a new author about the non-compete clause and I thought I would share my thoughts on the subject. Let’s start with the reality of the non-compete:
Most publishers have one in their contracts
Most publishers will not remove it from their contracts
So end of story, right? Well, not exactly.
Let’s start [...]
The Book Proposal: Who Are You, And Why Do We Care?
So, tell me a little something about yourself…
A good bio tells your prospective publisher you who are, and why you are uniquely suited to write your book. In fact, the bio should be tailored to your book’s topic, expressing your expert qualifications in the field. When you write this section of the proposal, [...]
The Book Proposal: Manuscript Details
In this section of the proposal, I’m looking to see how deeply the prospective author has considered his or her book. The proposal is a pitch after all, and for us the details certainly matter. I want to know that you are not just thinking “I want to write a book on topic [...]
The Book Proposal: About the Book
So, what’s your book about?
This section of the proposal is your chance to tell your editor that you really understand what you are working on. This is your “wow” section, and should be thought of as a sales pitch or marketing piece for your book. If it’s written properly, your editor should be able to [...]
