The 10 Most Important Parts of a Proposal
A patient complains to his psychiatrist: “Nobody pays any attention to me.”
The psychiatrist says: “Next.”
You may only have seconds to seize the interest of agents and editors before they say to themselves: “Next.” In descending order of importance to agents and editors, the ten most important elements in proposals for promotion-driven books aimed at big and midsize houses are:
- The idea: Is it fresh and exciting?
- The promotion plan: Will it get enough books to the cash register?
- The author’s platform: Does the author have continuing visibility online and off?
- Markets for the book: Will enough readers buy it?
- Competing books: Will it stand up to past, present, and future competitors?
- The title: Does it tell and sell—say what the book is and have a compelling reason to buy it?
- The writing: Is it a pleasure to read?
- The sample chapter: Does it prove the author can write the book?
- The outline: Does it prove there’s a book’s worth of information in the subject?
- The author’s future books: Does the author have the potential to grow?
The relative importance of these elements depends on the book and the author. For a memoir, the writing might be the most important element, and the platform, promotion plan, and competing books will be less important. If your proposal or manuscript has these elements, editors will be eager to insist to their editorial boards: “This is the book we have to buy next!”
Next up: the fiction list.
Thank you Michael, your helpfulness makes publishing a lot more possible.
Michael,
You’ve presented the most important points! Thanks so much! You’re so inspiring.
Writers need all the inspiration they can get. Many thanks!
Publishing is not just possible, it’s inevitable, even if you do it yourself. Best of luck!
Then there is luck and what about the ring?
Not that kind of proposal oops thofh luck has a lot to do in both.
Luck is definitely a factor in what happens to a proposal and the fate of a book, and a fine idea for a blog. Thanks! Your proposal is a proposal for the working marriage between you, perhaps an agent, and your publisher. Like a wedding agreement, the contract with a publisher (and an agent) formalizes the relationship. May all your relationships be long and happy.
Thanks for these tips, Michael. About having a great first chapter: what if our novel manuscript (like my own Chanser Rules) has a first chapter that is not typical of the whole novel? I notice that some agents, like Elizabeth Pomada, want only the first ten pages (or first chapter, etc.)
Assume agents and editors only read far enough to make a decision, and they are forced to decide quickly. Good luck.
Many thanks for writing. Publishing is more possible than ever. The challenge is to pick the right option for you now. Best of luck.
I wrote a post about luck. It’s essential. What ring? Didn’t get the second sentence. Good luck.,
Agents and editors only read far enough to make a decision, and because they’re swamped, they’re forced to make that decision asap. Hook ’em on page one.