If you are interested in knowing how to write a book proposal for a book-length work of nonfiction, you don’t have to create the full manuscript before you make the sale; certainly, most professional authors, and many beginners as well, utilize the proposal to close the deal.

Writing a proposal is often the most enjoyable component to penning a book because at this stage, everything is open to change and you need to use your full creativeness to shape and organize the book however you wish. You will find, however, some things a proposal must consists of-and that job is to sell your concept first to a literary agent after which to an acquiring editor.

The fundamental elements of how to write a book proposal includes the following sections:

o Overview
o Marketing
o Promotion
o Competing Books
o About the Author
o List of Chapters
o Chapter-by-Chapter Summaries
o Sample Chapters

Your overview begins the book proposal by presenting us to your subject matter in a appealing way, making us desire to read more. The marketing section describes who you believe will want to buy your book. The promotion section summarizes how you can help a publisher promote the title. The competing books section provides additional books on your subject and quickly makes clear why yours will be better, newer, or very salable regardless of comparable books available. The about the author section explains, in more depth than your query letter, why you are the best person on the planet to write this book. The list of chapters is really a table of contents for the book, and it is followed by the chapter-by-chapter summaries in which you summarize each chapter so that an editor can get a better feel for how your book covers the material. Finally the sample chapters illustrate your ability to write, and so they give an editor a sample of your style.

When you finally learn how to write a book proposal you will be beaming. Now you are prepared to market that proposal for an advance which in turn could range anywhere from around $10,000 to… well, the sky’s the limit nowadays – based upon on just how good your concept is, a six-figure advance for a first book isn’t out of the question.

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One of the most frequent questions I receive from aspiring authors is regarding exactly how to write a manuscript. Although different publishing companies may have specific formats for the manuscript in the submission process, there is no universal formula for how to write a manuscript. In speaking with many of the authors with whom I have worked, some prepare a basic outline and develop the story within the confines of that framework, while others actually write the ending to their books first and work backwards to the beginning. Despite the various approaches to writing a manuscript, there are two key elements upon which you should focus as you begin.

First, it is axiomatic in the world of literature that the best works are produced by authors who are knowledgeable in the area about which they are writing. This does not mean that you need to be a spy before you know how to write a manuscript involving espionage, or that you need to be in law enforcement before writing a murder mystery. It does, however, mean that you need to be well researched in the areas in which you choose to write. Editors are invaluable in the writing process and the production of the final manuscript, but do not rely on the editor to do your research for you. Taking the time to fully research and understand the subjects involved in your work will ultimately produce a higher quality manuscript, and will give you a much greater chance of catching the attention of a publisher.

When I review a manuscript for possible publication with our company, it is done, in part, from a marketing perspective. In doing so, I determine whether the manuscript is actually written for its target audience. Thus, the second key element to keep in mind as you begin your manuscript is that once you identify your target audience, make sure your writing remains consistent. I have seen numerous manuscripts for children’s books that were either much too advanced for the age or far too simple. Whether picture books, books for teens, or books for young adults, it is important to keep your writing consistent with your target audience.

The different approaches used by authors in preparing a manuscript can vary as much as the writings themselves, but the key elements necessary to produce a manuscript worthy of publication remain consistent. The focus should not be so much on identifying a specific format for how to write a manuscript, but rather the fundamental elements necessary to produce the final work.

To submit your manuscript, please visit http://www.mountainvalleypress.com. To learn more about how to write a manuscript and receive a FREE valuable writing e-book, visit http:firsttimeauthors.org.

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