Non-fiction Book Proposal Template
Note: The Book Proposal Template is available to download as an interactive PDF, so you have the choice of printing out the document and filling it in on paper, or answering the questions inside the PDF file itself. Remember that you'll need to save the document afterwards to make sure you don't lose your answers.
Are you serious about your book?
Do you want it to be a success, to reach the intended readership, and to make a difference to their lives? Or are you going to be satisfied just being able to say "I've written a book", ignoring the fact that no one has actually bought or read it?
Books don't exist in isolation and if you don't make a proper plan before you start, however good your writing is, it's liable never to be read. But by taking a leaf from the world of traditional publishing you can vastly improve the chances of success.
Traditional publishers don't just read any manuscript. They want to see a book proposal that puts the book in context, tells them why the author is the person to write it and where it fits within the bigger picture. If the project is well constructed, they may then consider the actual book. Even if you are planning to self-publish your book, there is a lot to be learned from carrying out the same exercise before you actually start writing.
Completing this Book Proposal will help you:
- clarify your ideas
- give you a better idea about the feasibility of your project
- show you areas you need to look at more closely
- highlight opportunities you haven't considered
It will also provide you with a sound jumping off point for your writing project, which you can come back to if you lose momentum, have doubts or feel a bit lost later on.
