Write the Perfect Book Proposals:
10 Proposals That Sold and Why

"Got a great idea for a nonfiction book but you're not sure how to sell it?" This question appears on the book cover of this great resource for potential text and academic authors. I found this book when I was asked to edit a book proposal a colleague had written, I found some minor problems with wording but the proposal format was right on. I asked about the format and was shown a copy of this book.

Herman and Adams are successful literary agents who have teamed up to offer aspiring as well as established writers the ultimate guide to writing book proposals that sell. Secti on 1 includes chapters on all aspects of the proposal with chapter titles:

1. The Concept: Shaping Your Idea.
2. The Title: Creating an Image.
3. The Overview: Writing Power Paragraphs.
4. The Marketing Section: Who Will Buy Your Book?
5. The Competition Section: What Else Is Out There?
6. The Promotions Section: What can You Do to Help Your Book Sell?
7. The Author Background Section: Presenting Yourself in Your Best Light.
8. The Outline: Get it Organized and Making it Persuade.
9. The Sample Chapter: Proving You Can Do the Job.
10. The Query Letter: Getting Your Foot in the Door.
11. An Agent's Advice: Career Development and Financial Success.
12. What About Fiction? The Art and Science of Selling Fiction.

Then in Section 2, Herman and Adams take you step-by-step through 10 proposals that were actually sold to major publishers. The beautifully detailed examples cover a broad range of proposal types and should provide valuable information for any potential author.

I ordered this book to use as a guide for the proposal for the book, Cultural Diversity form a Design Perspective that I am co-authoring with LuAnn Nissen. We both decided that we wished this book had been available to help us in developing our previous proposals related to our book/text writing efforts.

Review by
Roberta Null
TAA Council, 1993-1997