Write the Perfect Book Proposal

Jeff Herman founded The Jeff Herman Literary Agency 30 years ago and has ushered nearly 1,000 books into print which have sold millions of copies. He is author of Jeff Herman's Guide to Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents and has been profiled in Success, Entrepreneur, and Publishers Weekly. Herman cofounded the website WRITERS-AGENTS-EDITORS NETWORK (waenet.com), the go-to digital community for millions of writers and media professionals. His website is jeffherman.com.

* Straightforward: The book is divided into two parts. The first part includes detailed but easily applied step-by-step instructions on creating a strong, persuasive proposal for both fiction and nonfiction, as well as understanding the market, promoting your book, and getting the best advance and the right publisher. The second half presents 10 updated proposals with clear annotations as to why each was successful, or how each could be improved.
*Relevance: In an increasingly digital world, agents are receiving more proposals than ever before, and the guidance offered in this book allows authors to get their proposal noticed.

* Author: Jeff Herman has been a literary agent for 30 years; his agency has ushered nearly 1,000 books into print which have sold millions of copies, including several NYT bestsellers like When Bad Things Happen to Good People. His own writing includes Jeff Herman's Guide to Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents (more than 500,000 copies sold). He cofounded the website WRITERS-AGENTS-EDITORS NETWORK (waenet.com), which is quickly becoming the go-to digital community for millions of writers and media professionals.

* History: The first and second editions of the book have sold thousands of copies, with the 2nd ed. (9780471353126) selling over 300 copies this year even at 13 years old. The third edition builds off the success of the 2nd edition with updates and current trends in the industry.

Preface to the Third Edition

Acknowledgments

Introduction

SECTION ONE: All Aspects of the Proposal-And Some Advice Thrown In

CHAPTER 1 The Concept: Shaping Your Idea

CHAPTER 2 The Title: Creating an Image

CHAPTER 3 The Overview: Writing Power Paragraphs

CHAPTER 4 The Markets Section: Who Will Buy Your Book?

CHAPTER 5 The Competition Section: What Else Is Out There?

CHAPTER 6 The Promotion Section: What Can You Do to Help Your Book Sell?

CHAPTER 7 The Author Background Section: Presenting Yourself in Your Best Light

CHAPTER 8 The Outline: Getting It Organized and Making It Persuade

CHAPTER 9 The Sample Chapter: Proving You Can Do the Job

CHAPTER 10 What About Fiction? The Art and Science of Selling Fiction

CHAPTER 11 Writing Memoir and Narrative Nonfiction

CHAPTER 12 Query Letters, Submissions, and Sage Advice

SECTION TWO: 10 Proposals That Sold-And Why

PROPOSAL 1 10 Habits of Naturally Slim People ... And How to Make Them Part of Your Life by Jill H. Podjasek, M.S., R.N., with Jennifer Carney

PROPOSAL 2 How to Get Clients: An Easy and Practical Program to Build Your Business by Jeff Slutsky with Marc Slutsky

PROPOSAL 3 Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the Family Tree by Tony Burroughs

PROPOSAL 4 How Saturn Reinvented the Customer Loyalty Wheel: "No Hassle" Steps ANY Business Can Use! by Vicki Lenz

PROPOSAL 5 The Creativity Toolbox by Jordan E. Ayan

PROPOSAL 6 In the Beginning ... A Keepsake Record of Before-Birth Memories Written and Illustrated by "Julie Karen" Julie K Andres

PROPOSAL 7 Trust Your Guts! Develop Your Business Intuition and Win-Consistently by Richard M. Contino, Esq.

PROPOSAL 8 Workstyles to Fit Your Lifestyle: The Hands-on Guide to Temporary Employment by John Fanning and Rosemary Maniscalco

PROPOSAL 9 Heart and Soul: A Psychological and Spiritual Guide to Preventing and Healing Heart Disease by Bruno Cortis, M.D.

PROPOSAL 10 Taxes Made Easy for Home-Based Businesses: The Complete Plain Language Tax Guide for Home-Based Entrepreneurs and Home-Office Workers by Gary W. Carter, Ph.D., M.T., C.P.A.

BOOK PROPOSAL TERMS

SUGGESTED READING

WEBSITES