4 Reasons Why You Need to Write a Book Proposal—Even if Your Book Isn’t Finished Yet
If you want to get your book published, the proposal is an essential tool for convincing editors that they should give you a chance.
When I first started writing, coming from a blue-collar family and the D.I.Y. punk world, many things about the publishing business confused me — especially that business part. Now, as a creative nonfiction teacher, I mostly focus on the craft of writing, but when students are all done with their manuscripts, they often ask, “What’s next?” In many cases, the “what’s next” is: You need to write your book proposal. If you want to get your book published, the proposal is an essential tool for convincing editors that they should give your book a chance. Yet, when the idea of a proposal comes up, many writers freak out, preferring to tinker with the final-ish draft of their books instead.
I have written proposals for my own books and have also guided dozens of other writers through crafting their own contract-winning proposals. Here’s what I’ve learned about why, if you want to sell your book, you really should get going on that proposal…