| You are a first-time writer and you have just finished | | | | straight-forward. |
| writing your book, your first book, your dream, your | | | | 14. Write about your past writing experiences. This |
| ticket to success, fame, and glory. You feel terrific | | | | should be fairly straight-forward as well. |
| and on top of the world, don't you? I know. I have | | | | 15. Mention all the items that you have attached with |
| been there, being a writer myself. | | | | your book proposal. |
| But hang on. Don't make the mistake of thinking that | | | | 16. Close the proposal with a cheerful and optimistic |
| your job is done. It's only half done, or maybe even | | | | "Hope to hear from you soon." |
| less than that. What remains to be done is the critical | | | | 17. Restrict the overall proposal to at most two |
| part of finding a publisher for your book. To do that, | | | | pages only. |
| you have to write a book proposal, and this article | | | | 18. Choose the best two or three chapters from |
| will help you with just that. So here are the steps of | | | | your book to send along with the proposal. |
| writing a book proposal. | | | | |
| 1. Identify the publishers that you want to send your | | | | If the publisher wants you to send a hard copy to |
| proposals to. | | | | them, take a printout of the letter, sample chapters, |
| 2. Go to the websites of these publishers and read | | | | and make sure to include a SASE (self addressed |
| the guidelines for manuscript submission carefully. | | | | stamped envelope) in the proposal. |
| 3. Typically, different publishers have different | | | | If the publisher accepts the book proposal by email, |
| guidelines. | | | | then just ZIP all the contents in a ZIP file and send it |
| 4. But most publishers will want a brief synopsis of | | | | to the appropriate address. |
| the book, information about you and your past | | | | That's it! You are done! Follow these guidelines and |
| writing experience, and 2 or 3 sample chapters. | | | | your chances of getting a positive response will |
| 5. Some publishers accept proposals of books that | | | | increase dramatically. |
| are complete or close to complete. They do not | | | | Of course, it has to be said that, ultimately, the |
| accept proposals of books that are in the very early | | | | response is likely to be positive if your book (as |
| or early stages. | | | | judged by your sample chapters) is good. Most |
| 6. Some publishers do not allow simultaneous | | | | first-time writers get rejected because the quality of |
| submissions. Typically, these publishers will be big and | | | | their English is just not up to the mark. Being a |
| good publishers, and if they don't allow simultaneous | | | | publisher I have had to read such bad language that it |
| submissions, chances are that their turnaround time | | | | is unbelievable that the writers actually believed that |
| will be quick too. So it might be worth it to send your | | | | their proposal would be accepted. Even if the books |
| manuscript to them and wait till you hear from them. | | | | are published, they have very little chance of selling |
| If you get a negative response, you can submit to | | | | the first edition. Sometimes, if the language is |
| other publishers. | | | | acceptable, the subject matter or the plot is |
| 7. Some publishers do not accept unsolicited | | | | un-cooked or half-cooked. So make sure that you do |
| manuscripts and book proposals. Check if this is the | | | | your absolute best with your book before you |
| case with one of the publishers that you have | | | | submit it to a publisher. Get help from professional |
| identified, and if yes, do not send your book proposal | | | | editors if you have the means. Even if you find their |
| to them since there is no point in doing that. | | | | charges a bit too high for your taste, good editors |
| 8. Write a good synopsis of your book. | | | | are worth their weight in gold. They will point out |
| 9. Organize your thoughts. | | | | mistakes that you wouldn't and couldn't have |
| 10. Write about your book's subject, theme, plot, and | | | | imagined. |
| message, and why it will appeal to the readers. | | | | I have written enough. I will now sign off wishing you |
| 11. Write a few things about your writing style. | | | | all the very best for your book proposal and the |
| 12. Highlight the main target audience of your book. | | | | book. |
| 13. Write about yourself. This should be fairly | | | | |