Book proposals act as a business plan for your book that will hopefully convince a publisher to invest.
But how does one write a compelling book proposal?
Here are some things you need to remember, according to agents and published authors:
Table of Contents
- Emphasize your book’s uniqueness
- Ignore conventional wisdom with a summary at the beginning
- Share the story of your platform and not just the stats
- Do comparative titles, not competitive ones
- Know your audience
- Start with an overview of what your book is about
- Provide summaries (overall and per chapter)
- Consider your target market
- Agents need to know how you’re different as an author
- Utilize unique presentation
- Show a potential publisher you know who your readers are and how to reach them
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a book proposal, and why is it important?
- What role does the book proposal play in the publishing process?
- What are the key components of a book proposal?
- What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a book proposal?
- Can I hire someone to help me write my book proposal?
- What should I do if my book proposal is rejected?
Emphasize your book’s uniqueness
When I start a new book or when coaching clients to shape their book idea, we start to do preliminary research for the “Competitive Analysis” or “Comparative Analysis” section.
Almost without fail, we find a multitude of other books on the same topic. The key to selling the new book is finding a unique angle on the topic.
Your book might be unique for many reasons:
- A unique format (A condensed version? An encyclopedic treatment? A quiz format?)
- A different tone (Humorous, lighthearted? Serious treatment? Researched, academic reporter style? Expose?)
- Access to new research? New photos? New data/polls?
- Historic panorama of the topic?
- A contemporary update on an old topic?
- New analogy or metaphor that provides new perspective?
- New sources for interviews?
- New theory or solutions?
In short, the editor must see the topic in a unique light to justify “one more book” on the subject.
The false assumption that most people make about book proposals is that they need to only talk about the book as a concept. But book editors slog through dozens of these a week and, depending on the imprint, may acquire fewer than 1% of all submissions.
They’re not only hungry for a genuinely gratifying reading experience but they want to be absolutely clear that the book being proposed is a sure thing. Some tips to ensure the certainty that this is a book worth investing in include:
Ignore conventional wisdom with a summary at the beginning
This is a book, not a research paper. Start the book with a compelling story to grab the editor right away – start the proposal in the same compelling way you’ll presumably start the book itself.
It’s true that publishers aren’t going to take a chance on an author who doesn’t have a following. But rather than just list the number of people on your email list or in your social media following, show how much it’s grown and how quickly (if that’s actually what happened).
Don’t just state that you have 50,000 people on your list, explain how you suddenly went from 4,000 to 50,000 in only a year and it’s continuing to grow at an equally rapid pace. If a lot of people have purchased products from you, state that as well.
Do comparative titles, not competitive ones
Everything has been said before in one way or another. Your job is not to tell the publisher that no book like yours has ever been published, but that other books like yours have done incredibly well – there’s clearly a market for them.
F. Barish-Stern

Writing Consultant | Editor & Publisher, Golden Quill Press | Author, HOW TO WRITE YOUR BOOK: From an Idea to Your Published Story |
Know your audience
The most essential information a book proposal can relay to an agent or publisher is the author knowing their audience. Saying this book is for everyone is a broad concept and factually wrong. No one book is for everyone.
So do your research; find out who, specifically will want to read your work, and who can benefit from what you have to say. But the flip side of that coin is that you understand what competitive books are currently on the market.
The reason this is so important is that once you have identified your audience, you need to understand what is currently available to them; what are the similarities to your work and probably more important what are the differences, and why those differences should and will matter to your readers.
Damian Birkel

HarperCollins Leadership Author | Founder & Executive Director, Professionals In Transition
Perhaps the single most important thing to remember is that you write the proposal first, and the book only after your proposal is approved by the publisher. In my experience as a HarperCollins Leadership Author, all 3 book proposals were 25 pages or less.
Start with an overview of what your book is about
From there, you must justify why your book is different and provide a competitive analysis of other similar books. Justify the market (in terms of potential audience and why your book will appeal to them.
Provide summaries (overall and per chapter)
Next, write an overall summary of your book and detail by chapter what is going to be covered. Next, create a 2 page summary of each chapter. Finally, end with a conclusion and potential next steps for the reader.
Many authors are deeply focused on their books. The story, the facts, the development, and design. In many ways, books are our babies. I was no different.
But I had an edge that prepared me for pitching my book to agents, editors, and publishers, that many authors do not. I am a serial entrepreneur.
Consider your target market
As my book developed, I knew that I needed to consider my target market and include that voice in my writing. I also included calls to action, gently embedded in relevant chapters, inviting readers to further engage with my work.
When it came time to pitch my book to agents, I was already thinking of my book simply as another product offering. This is what most authors miss. Today, authors are actually entrepreneurs with a product to pitch, a target market, and a unique value proposition.
Publishing houses and agents alike now look at social media following and historical track records to make decisions. Sadly, most authors miss out on this method of thinking when they begin pitching, leaving them at a disadvantage.
The book could be a work of art, but if you don’t make it clear why it matters, how it’s different, and how it will make them money (in more subtle terms), you’ll be overlooked.
Your cover letter should include all this, as well as your own qualifications. You, the author, are the thought leader, the public figure. If the public can’t believe in you, they won’t believe in your work, and neither will agents.
Does this reduce the romance of writing? On the contrary, it adds to it. With the internet, we now can study how the publishing world works, research competitors, and find an edge and add it to your writing and pitching.
You have a better chance of finding the right fit than our predecessors, but you must be willing to brag about your ‘baby’ a bit.
With the infinite number of queries that agents and publishers receive, I knew off the bat that I had to do something a bit more unique to help my manuscript stand out from the crowd.
Utilize unique presentation
So I developed a Splash Page (or one-page website) that had an interactive flip-book sample of my work to let everyone more easily “see” what the ebook might look like.
Included in the Splash Page was a very short summary of the book (similar to what you’d expect to find on the back jacket or flap copy), some concept illustrations, and a brief proposal of what I envisioned for each book in the series along with plans for my own personal marketing.
All of the writing-focused solely on the book itself, who it was to be marketed towards, and my plans to promote it as opposed to alluring self-flattery or anything about where I went to college or boring life’s story.
Low and behold, not only two agents but two publishers called back almost immediately after I sent my proposals out! And that’s the short story of how my first book, Leo Gray and the Lunar Eclipse, went from being a 70,000-word manuscript about a boy who follows his dreams to the moon, to a properly bound and published novel that you can find in-store today!
We know within ten seconds of meeting someone if we would like to know them better or not. Think of the query letter as a literary version of a firm handshake, warm smile, and sincere eye contact.
Show a potential publisher you know who your readers are and how to reach them
List competing titles they would read in your genre and why they would be compelled to add yours! Describe the platforms you currently use to engage readers, as well as how your audience crosses over to the publishers own reader base.
The more you know about the person and company you are pitching, the better. We tend to warm up to someone if there is a factor of familiarity.
It is better to send a handful of well-researched proposals than to blindly cut and paste pitch letters en masse in hopes of hitting the jackpot.
In my case, I wrote a memoir about a crazy real-life experience I had singing in a tribute band. I ended up signing with a publishing company that specializes in “rock and roll non-fiction”.
After two years of rejections from larger publishers, a targeted approach to a specialized imprint from my agent got my foot in the door. Not only did loyal fans of my publisher buy my book, but my supporters also purchased additional titles from other authors on the roster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a book proposal, and why is it important?
A book proposal is a document that outlines the key components of a book, such as the topic, target audience, market, competition, and author’s credentials.
It is a crucial tool for authors who want to pitch their book idea to literary agents or publishers. It provides a roadmap of the book and its potential value to readers and the market.
A book proposal helps authors do this:
• Clarify their ideas and goals for the book
• Research the market and the competition
• Define the target audience and their needs
• Showcase their writing skills and credentials
• Demonstrate the commercial potential of the book
• Persuade literary agents or publishers to take on the book
What role does the book proposal play in the publishing process?
The book proposal is a crucial first step in the publishing process because it serves as a roadmap and marketing tool for the book. Here’s how the book proposal fits into the publishing process:
Writing and submitting the proposal: the author writes the proposal and submits it to literary agents or publishers who specialize in the genre or topic of the book.
Agent or publisher review: the agent or publisher reviews the proposal and decides whether to request a full manuscript or reject the proposal. If multiple agents or publishers are interested, the author may receive offers and must choose the best one.
Manuscript preparation and submission: if the proposal is accepted, the author prepares the full manuscript and submits it to the agent or publisher for further review and editing. The agent or publisher may request revisions or provide feedback to improve the manuscript.
Publication and promotion: if the manuscript is accepted, the agent or publisher works with the author to prepare the book for publication, including editing, design, and marketing. The author may also need to promote the book through events, interviews, and social media.
Sales and distribution: once the book is published, the agent or publisher handles sales and distribution of the book to bookstores, online retailers, and libraries. The author receives royalties based on sales of the book.
What are the key components of a book proposal?
A typical book proposal includes the following sections:
Overview: A brief summary of the book, its main themes, and its significance.
Market analysis: An overview of the target audience, their needs, and the competition in the market.
Author biography: A brief description of the author’s credentials, expertise, and previous publications.
Table of contents: A detailed outline of the ‘chapters and sections of the book.
Sample chapters: Two or three chapters that showcase the author’s writing style, tone, and voice.
Marketing plan: A detailed strategy for promoting the book, including social media, events, and media outreach.
Endorsements: Testimonials from experts or influential figures in the field who endorse the book.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a book proposal?
Writing a book proposal can be challenging, and there are some common mistakes authors should avoid:
• Focusing too much on the author’s personal story or motivation rather than the book’s content and its value to readers.
• Failure to research the market and competition and not to provide enough evidence of the book’s commercial potential.
• Overestimating the target audience or not defining it clearly enough.
• Including too much information or irrelevant details that distract from the main message of the proposal.
• Using jargon, technical terms, or complex language that may alienate or confuse readers.
• Typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors that undermine the professionalism of the proposal.
• An overly pushy or aggressive tone in the proposal rather than being persuasive and respectful.
• Not tailoring the proposal to the specific agent/publisher and their preferences or requirements.
Can I hire someone to help me write my book proposal?
You can hire a professional writer or editor to help you write your book proposal. However, it would be best to find someone with experience with book proposals and knowledge of the publishing industry. Here are some tips for hiring a writer/editor:
• Find someone with experience who has worked on book proposals in your genre or on your topic and has a track record of success.
• Check their credentials. Look for someone with relevant qualifications, such as a degree in writing, publishing, or editing.
• Review their portfolio. Ask for work samples and read reviews from previous clients.
• Get a contract. Before you hire someone, agree on the scope of work, timeline, and payment terms. Get a written contract to protect both parties.
• Stay involved. Even if you hire someone to help you write the proposal, make sure to stay involved in the process and provide feedback and direction. The proposal should still reflect your voice and vision for the book.
What should I do if my book proposal is rejected?
Rejection is a common experience for authors, and it’s important not to give up if your book proposal is rejected.
Here are some tips for dealing with rejections:
Get feedback: if possible, ask the agent/publisher for feedback on why your proposal was rejected and how you can improve it. Use this feedback to revise the proposal and make it stronger.
Consider other agencies/publishers: don’t give up after a rejection. Keep submitting to other agencies/publishers that are a good fit for your book.
Revisit your market research: if your book keeps getting rejected, consider whether there may be a problem with the ‘topic, target audience, or commercial potential. Revisit your market research and see if there are areas you can improve.
Keep writing: don’t let rejections discourage you from writing. Keep working on your craft, building your platform, and exploring new ideas and topics.
Seek support: connect with other writers, writing groups, or mentors who can provide support, give feedback, and encourage you.