| Don't you just hate long boring introductions? In | | | | and it tells about your book. An example would be: |
| today's world, we don't have time for long-winded | | | | "RUN FOR THE FUN OF IT is the first book to look |
| opening sections to books, movies, or book | | | | at running from the average layman's perspective. |
| proposals. Instead, the contemporary audience wants | | | | The book will contain twelve chapters, each aimed at |
| a quick overview and then let's get right to the heart | | | | the average reader. The book will begin with the |
| of the story. | | | | reasons for running and include chapters on running |
| This is good advice for anyone putting together a | | | | gear, where to run, how to run, and how to recover |
| book proposal. | | | | from running injuries." This is a short version of what |
| THE BOOK PROPOSAL OVERVIEW | | | | the book section contains. Notice that the first |
| The introduction to a book proposal is often called | | | | sentence includes the phrase "the first book to..." |
| the overview. The function of the overview is not to | | | | which is a typical phrase included in most book |
| introduce your reader to your book topic, but instead | | | | proposals. It's there for a reason, and it should be in |
| to introduce the reader to your book. Of course, if | | | | your book proposal too. What it says is that your |
| the topic is exotic or relatively unknown, a few | | | | book is unique, and book publishers like to hear that |
| words about it is appropriate. But the key to writing | | | | because it helps them dream about the sales they |
| a good overview is to write about the book not | | | | can rack up once your unique title is published. If a |
| about the topic. | | | | book is a first or is unique in some way, it's more |
| THE THREE PARTS OF THE OVERVIEW | | | | likely to sell. |
| There are three parts to the overview. | | | | 3. The third section of the book proposal is the |
| 1. The introduction. Yes, the overview itself has an | | | | paragraph in which you tell about the length of the |
| introduction! This is typically one paragraph. It should | | | | book, and when you can have the manuscript ready. |
| be catchy. Read a few newspaper articles to see | | | | A typical section would read: "The book will be |
| how to hook reader attention. This is also known as | | | | 55,000 words and contain an index and bibliography. |
| the hook because it's supposed to catch reader | | | | It will also contain four photographs and three charts. |
| interest. An example of a hook would be something | | | | The manuscript will be completed six months after |
| like this: "More Americans are running than ever | | | | receipt of the advance." |
| before. In fact, statistics show that the average | | | | The overview nicely introduces, describes, and |
| town of 100,000 has 43,000 runners. And yet there | | | | quantifies your book. After reading it, an editor should |
| are no books on running aimed at the average | | | | want to read more. If you write a good overview, |
| reader." This gives you an idea of how to hook | | | | the rest of your book proposal will flow almost |
| reader interest into your book. | | | | naturally from it. |
| 2. The next section is usually only one paragraph also, | | | | |