Want to position yourself as an expert in your field – to enhance your exposure and credibility in the marketplace? Getting a book published is a great way to do it. Or, perhaps you’re a ghostwriter for a client who would like to convert the content you’ve developed into a full-scale book that gets published.
Either way, to sell a publisher on your (or your client’s) book idea, you must first put together a winning book proposal. Just think of it as a business plan for your book. This is an approach that worked well for me and my co-author Doug Keipper to land a contract with Wiley to publish our book How to Succeed and Make Money on Your First Rental House.
There are seven basic components to your book's business plan:
1. Introduction (Executive Summary): You need to sell the publisher on what your book can do for readers. For instance, how will you help readers make and save money, live healthier and longer lives, or improve their businesses? Think of this section as your book's elevator pitch.
2. Chapter Outline: Once you've determined the key benefits your book offers readers, identify some subtopics that support your overall message. Those will serve as chapters for your chapter outline.
3. Market Profile: Demonstrate how well you know the market for your book. Who, exactly, are your readers? How big is the potential market for the book? What will compel your target readers to buy your book instead of others on similar topics?
4. Competitive Profile: What similar books already exist in the market? What sets yours apart-makes it different, better and a "must publish" book compared to the others?
5. Marketing Plan: Publishers typically serve a small role in marketing your book, so if you want to persuade a publisher that your book will be a top-seller, you need to show how you can make it sell. Will you take out ads, coordinate a book signing tour or land spots on radio talk shows? Can you attract big names to get endorsements? How large is your social media following? How will you leverage social media to sell your book?
6. Author Profile: Who are you? And what makes you uniquely qualified to write and sell your book?
7. Sample Chapters: You should also include a couple of chapters so the publisher can get a sense of how the book will flesh out.
7 ONLINE RESOURCES FOR DEEPER STUDY
Chomping at the bit to start writing your book proposal? Here are links to 7 additional resources to help guide you through the process.
· How to Write a Book Proposal that Sells, by Adam Penenberg: Fast Company
· Free Book Proposal Workshop: BookProposalWriting.com
· How to write a Non-Fiction Book Proposal, by Annette Fix: Women on Writing
· Frequently Asked Questions on Writing Book Proposals: BookEnds, LLC- A Literary Agency
· How to Write a Book Proposal, by William Cane - Includes examples: HiWrite.com
· eBook: Writing a Winning Book Proposal, by Michael Hyatt: MichaelHyatt.com
· How to Write a Non-Fiction Book Proposal: Nathan Bransford, Literary Agent
About the Author:Sean M. Lyden is a nationally recognized feature writer and columnist on sales, marketing, automotive and technology topics. As a ghostwriter and copywriter, Sean has served clients such as General Motors, SunTrust Service Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Embedded Linux Consortium and Shaw Industries. He’s also co-author of the book How to Succeed and Make Money on Your First Rental House (published by John Wiley & Sons). Follow Sean on Twitter.
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