How to Get Your Book On the Shelves
If you've got a book idea rattling around in your head, it will likely stay there unless you understand how to put together a compelling proposal to convince publishers to bring it to market. Here are the basic elements of a solid book proposal:
1. The Overview. This is where you give a general idea of what your book is about and why it's 'hook' is unique from others on the same topic. Discuss the worldly environment that it will be born into and why the time is now for it to come forth. What's more, why are you the person to do so? If you have a book idea about dog obedience, for example, and have personally tamed three crazy shelter dogs, make your case!
2. The Table of Contents and Chapter Outline. Often the most difficult part of the entire process, putting together the table of contents proves to yourself (and ultimately, publishers) that you have enough 'meat' to flesh out your topic. Can you cover ten different chapters? Are the headlines for each chapter engaging? Do they give the reader a good idea of what their reading experience will be like? Once you are happy with your chapters and titles, write a lead paragraph for each. This will be your only chance to demonstrate your writing style or 'voice' until the actual writing is done.
3. The Introduction. What, exactly, is the purpose of a book's Introduction anyway? Check a few non-fiction titles out at the library and get a feel for them. You'll see that there's no hard and fast rules, but generally the Introduction is the author's chance to explain what he or she is about to tell you. Or maybe it's his/her chance to explain why they wrote the book in the first place.
4. Target Markets. No more talking to readers here, this is where you tell publishers that you completely understand the demographics of the audience you intend to sell to. Who are these people? How old are they and how do they spend their free time? If you're writing a book about parenting, for example, give statistics about how busy your readers are and how eager they have proven to be when it comes to seeking advice.
5. Competitive Titles. There are undoubtedly already several published titles on a similar subject to yours. Find them and write a paragraph or two about them. Then, explain how your book's 'hook' offers something completely different to the shared audience.
6. Author Background. By this point in your proposal, you've done a great job of selling your concept, but why are you the person to write the book? Do you have a built-in audience? Generally publishers consider a first-time book by a non-published author a success if they sell 10,000 copies. If you have a large family, but your connections stop there, you might have a tough go of it. However, if you are writing a book for young women and were the president of your college sorority, that's a built-in audience with an alumni magazine that might publish an excerpt. Do you have endorsements (direct quotes) from readers of your work in another format? Can you offer a unique perspective of the subject? This is where you position yourself as the only author who can bring this book to market and why.
7. Promotions. Gone are the glory days when authors were sent on posh book tours and the marketing was done by a department. Unless you're already a best seller, that is! You need to think outside of the box and help your publisher spread the word about your book. This is the section where you share your brainstorming ideas for book promotion. Would you print the title on #2 pencils and offer them to students on test days? Would you offer parents a forum on a web site to ask questions about parenting? Think outside of the box here and convince publishers that they would have a marketing partner in you.
About the Author:
Julie Clark Robinson is a staff writer for the American Educational Guidance Center, publishers of college search, online college, school search, scholarship, online degree, and athletic scholarship websites.
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