Non-Fiction Book Proposals
As a non-fiction author, writing a non-fiction book proposal is part of my day-to-day job. Though each non-fiction book proposal alters in its nature and structure, I always start with the same barebones outline. Below is the non-fiction book proposal I tend to use the most often. This is based on the rather excellent ebook by publisher Michael Hyatt.
Non-Fiction Book Proposal Outline
Title Page
A Book Proposal for
[book title]
Submitted by
[your name]
[your address]
tel: [phone number]
[email]
Presented on
[date of submission]
THE CONTENT
A. Overview:
The premise is a two- or three-sentence statement of the book’s basic concept or thesis. Usually, it identifies the need and then proposes a solution.
B. Unique Selling Proposition:
If consumers in the target market purchase and read [name of book], then they
will [list the book’s benefits], because the book will [list the book’s features].
c. The Manuscript:
1. Manuscript status: Is the manuscript completed? If not, what has been written?
2. Special Features: Are there charts, graphs, tables, illustrations, photographs, etc.?
3. Anticipated length: How many words?
4. Anticipated manuscript completion date: When will the book be written?
THE MARKET
A. Characteristics:
This is sometimes called the demographic description. The term demographics refers to the external, objective characteristics of your audience. It includes such things as gender, age, education-level, socioeconomic status, geographic location (if any), religious affiliations, and so forth.
B. Motivations:
This is sometimes called the psychographic description. The term psychographics refers to the study of the motivations that lead people to consider your product and ultimately purchase it. While demographics involve the external, objective characteristics of your audience, psychographics involve the internal, subjective characteristics of your audience.
C. Affinity Groups:
The term affinity refers to “a natural attraction or feeling of kinship.” An affinity group is a body of people who will likely have some attraction to your book based on their behavioral history. Generally, you will think of and list several affinity groups.
D. Competition:
What is the competition?
The issue here is twofold:
1. Is there a proven market for this kind of book, and if so,
2. How does this book differ from other books like it?
THE AUTHOR
A. Background:
Your background and education.
B. Previous Writing:
List of books published
C. Personal Marketing:
On line presence etc.
CHAPTER BY CHAPTER OUTLINE
