| Every book publisher asks five key questions | | | | written on the topic. If you feel overwhelmed by |
| about every project he or she considers. Here's | | | | all the magazine articles, newspaper stories, |
| how to make sure your book proposal gives all | | | | booklets, pamphlets, surveys, reports and |
| the answers, and convince your book agent to | | | | statistics on your topic, that's a good indication |
| help you publish your book. | | | | the topic is 'meaty" enough to justify a full-length |
| You have a great idea for a nonfiction book. | | | | book. |
| Everybody thinks it's a great idea. But will a book | | | | Third, organize your information into chapters. |
| publishing company think it's a great idea - enough | | | | Think about how you would logically explain your |
| to pay you an advance, commission you to write | | | | topic or present your information, and organize it |
| it, publish your book and sell it? | | | | into major categories. These will become chapter |
| That will depend largely on your book proposal. | | | | headings. |
| Here's where you demonstrate persuasively that | | | | A full-length nonfiction book typically has 8-15 |
| your idea has merit, and that the company will | | | | chapters. If your outline has fewer, the publisher |
| benefit from publishing your book. Of course, | | | | may think there's not enough information to fill a |
| even a solid idea and a great book proposal can't | | | | book on your topic. Shoot for an outline with at |
| guarantee success, but they surely can tip the | | | | least nine chapters. |
| odds in your favor. But if either the idea or the | | | | A detailed table of contents proves to the book |
| proposal is weak, your chances of a sale are slim | | | | publishing company that your topic is appropriate |
| to none. | | | | for a book, not just a magazine article. |
| Book editors look for certain things when | | | | 3. What's different or better about your book? |
| reviewing book ideas and proposals. To improve | | | | The first page or two of your book proposal |
| your chances of winning a book publisher's | | | | must contain an overview of your idea, the book |
| contract, let's look at the five key questions they | | | | content and its target audience. |
| ask and the best ways to answer them. | | | | The first two paragraphs of your overview must |
| 1. Is there a large enough audience interested in | | | | tell the editor why and how your book is unique, |
| this topic to justify publishing a book? | | | | different or better than other books already |
| You want to stay away from a highly specialized | | | | published on this topic. |
| book, which draws limited audience. You want | | | | The angle that makes your book different can |
| your book to be among the books that appeal to | | | | take many forms: A slant toward a different |
| a general audience or at least to a large segment | | | | audience, a better way of organizing the material, |
| of the general population. | | | | or inclusion of topics not covered in other books. |
| You must demonstrate to your prospective | | | | For instance, my co-author and I wrote a |
| publishing agent that your large audience - of | | | | nonfiction book, Technical Writing. Structure, |
| hundreds of thousands of people, if not millions | | | | Standards and Style, because we wanted to |
| — exists. | | | | create a handbook for technical writers that |
| One excellent source of market data is Standard | | | | emulated the concise, to-the-point style and |
| Rate and Data Service (SRDS), a book listing US | | | | format of The Elements of Style, William Strunk |
| magazines that accept advertising and their | | | | and E.B. White's popular style guide for general |
| circulations. SRDS is available at your local library | | | | writers. |
| or from the publisher (tel. 847/375-5000). Look | | | | Our proposal called our book "the Strunk and |
| for the combined circulation of the largest | | | | White of technical writing," which instantly |
| publications in your book’s area. | | | | communicated the key appeal of the concept. |
| However, keep in mind that only a small | | | | Our book agent sold the book - within three |
| percentage of the intended audience will actually | | | | weeks - to the first book publishing company who |
| buy your book. And a major book publishing | | | | looked at it. |
| company hopes to sell at least 5,000 copies of | | | | Another section of your proposal that positions |
| your book. So if you're writing a book that | | | | your book in relation to others on the same |
| appeals only to the 44,171 branch managers | | | | subject is the "Competition" section. Here you list |
| working at banks nationwide (say, How to Manage | | | | and describe competing books; each listing should |
| Your Branch More Efficiently), and 2% can be | | | | emphasize how your book is both different and |
| persuaded to buy the book, you've sold only 883 | | | | better. |
| copies - not nearly enough to make the project | | | | Include in the Competition section those books |
| worthwhile for either you or a publisher. | | | | that cover the same - or very similar - topics as |
| 2. Is this a book or a magazine article? Will it sell? | | | | your book; that are published by major publishing |
| There are two substantial differences between a | | | | houses; and that are no more than five years old. |
| book and a magazine article, which will determine | | | | How many books you list in this section will be |
| if the material you have will be accepted by a | | | | important. The presence of two to six |
| book publisher. | | | | competitive books shows there's a market for |
| First, there is the matter of time: It can take 18 | | | | this type of book, while still room for one more. |
| months to two years from conception to | | | | On the other hand, if there are seven or more |
| bookstore. If you have an idea for a book | | | | books a publisher may think the field is |
| about Recession proof Business at the onset of a | | | | overcrowded, and you'll probably have a difficult |
| recession, like I had in 1991, that recession may | | | | time making the sale. |
| be over by the time the book comes out and it | | | | 4. Will people pay $25.38 for this book? |
| would not sell. However, a magazine | | | | According to Albert N. Greco, professor of |
| article’s time line of publication (or that of a | | | | marketing in Fordham University, the average |
| small booklet) is much quicker (weeks to few | | | | hardcover nonfiction book sells for $25.38; the |
| months). | | | | average trade paperback edition - for $20.40. |
| Second difference is in length: Do you have | | | | Your book must be interesting or valuable enough |
| enough material for a book? | | | | to make readers part not only with their money, |
| The average nonfiction book is about 200 pages | | | | but with their time as well. |
| in published form, with approximately 400 words | | | | A how-to or reference book proposal should |
| a page. That's 80,000 words; about 320 | | | | stress the benefits readers will get when they |
| double-spaced typewritten manuscript pages. Most | | | | buy the book. If your book is biography, |
| books range between 35,000 words (a slim, 100 | | | | journalism, history, or any other form of |
| pages volume) to 200,000 words or more. An | | | | nonfiction written primarily to entertain, your |
| article, on the other hand, can include anywhere | | | | proposal should highlight some of the more |
| from 300 to 2,500 words or so. | | | | fascinating details of the book. |
| How do you know whether your idea is a book, | | | | 5. Why should the publishing agent hire you to |
| article or booklet - and how do you convince a | | | | write it? |
| publishing agent that your concept is a big one? | | | | Your proposal must show why you're uniquely |
| Here are some guidelines: | | | | qualified to write the book. Such qualifications fall |
| First, see if there are other books on the topic. | | | | into two categories: writing credentials and expert |
| The existence of a few similar titles indicates that | | | | credentials. |
| this idea is big enough to deserve a book. | | | | Writing credentials establish your expertise as an |
| Second, go to the library and see what else is | | | | author. |