# Book Proposal > Writes non-fiction book proposals with overview, market analysis, competitive titles, chapter outlines, and sample chapters. - Skill: `reaperinvest/book-proposal` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/book-proposal` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/book-proposal/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/book-proposal --- # Book Proposal ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Write a non-fiction book proposal for a literary agent or publisher - Create the full proposal package including overview, market analysis, and chapter outlines - Develop competitive title analysis and author platform positioning - Produce a sample chapter that demonstrates writing quality and book tone **DO NOT** use this skill for fiction proposals, self-publishing plans, or book marketing. This is for the formal book proposal document used to pitch agents and publishers. --- ## Core Principle A BOOK PROPOSAL DOES NOT SELL A BOOK — IT SELLS THE MARKET FOR THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR'S ABILITY TO REACH THAT MARKET, BECAUSE PUBLISHERS ARE INVESTING IN A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST GOOD WRITING. --- ## Phase 1: Brief ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Book concept** | "What is the book about in one sentence?" | No default — must be provided | | **Target reader** | "Who will buy this book and why?" | No default — must be provided | | **Author credentials** | "What qualifies you to write this book?" | No default — must be provided | | **Platform** | "What is your existing audience? (email list, social, speaking, media)" | No default — must be provided | | **Competitive titles** | "What 3-5 books are similar to yours?" | No default — research required | | **Manuscript status** | "How much is written?" | Concept stage — nothing written | **GATE: Confirm the brief before building the proposal.** --- ## Phase 2: Structure ### Book Proposal Components ``` 1. Title page 2. Overview (2-3 pages) — the hook, concept, and why this book matters now 3. About the Author (1-2 pages) — credentials, platform, and why you 4. Market Analysis (1-2 pages) — who buys this book and how large the market is 5. Competitive Analysis (1-2 pages) — similar books and how yours is different 6. Marketing Plan (1-2 pages) — how you will promote the book 7. Chapter Outline (5-10 pages) — every chapter with title, summary, and key takeaways 8. Sample Chapter (15-25 pages) — one full chapter demonstrating your writing ``` Total proposal: 30-50 pages ### Overview Framework ``` ## Overview Structure **Paragraph 1:** The hook — why this book needs to exist right now **Paragraph 2:** The problem — what the reader is struggling with **Paragraph 3:** The solution — what this book delivers **Paragraph 4:** The approach — how the book is structured and what makes it unique **Paragraph 5:** The author — why you are the person to write it (brief, expanded later) **Paragraph 6:** The market — who will buy it and how many of them exist ``` **GATE: Present the proposal structure and overview outline for approval.** --- ## Phase 3: Write ### Overview Write 2-3 pages that make an agent unable to put the proposal down: - Open with a compelling stat, story, or bold claim - Clearly state the book's thesis in one sentence - Explain what the reader will gain (specific transformation) - Establish urgency — why NOW - Preview the structure (narrative, framework, workbook, etc.) ### About the Author ``` ## Author Bio for Proposal **Paragraph 1:** Professional credentials and relevance to the topic **Paragraph 2:** Platform and reach — email list size, social following, speaking frequency, media appearances **Paragraph 3:** Writing experience — previous publications, guest articles, newsletter subscribers **Paragraph 4:** Promotional assets — what you will do to sell this book (specific and committed) ``` ### Market Analysis ``` ## Target Audience **Primary reader:** [Demographics, psychographics, buying behavior] **Market size:** [Number of potential readers, industry size, relevant statistics] **Buying triggers:** [What makes someone pick up this book — career change, problem, aspiration] **Where they buy:** [Amazon, airport bookstores, conferences, bulk orders] ``` ### Competitive Analysis For each of 3-5 competitive titles: ``` ## [Book Title] by [Author] ([Publisher], [Year]) **Amazon rank:** [Current rank in relevant category] **Relevance:** [Why this book is comparable to yours] **Differentiation:** [How your book differs — angle, audience, depth, approach, recency] ``` Close with: "My book fills the gap between [Book A] and [Book B] by [specific differentiation]." ### Chapter Outline For each chapter: ``` ## Chapter [N]: [Title] **Summary (150-250 words):** What this chapter covers, the key argument, and what the reader learns. **Key takeaways:** - [Takeaway 1] - [Takeaway 2] - [Takeaway 3] ``` ### Sample Chapter - Choose the strongest chapter (not necessarily Chapter 1) - 15-25 pages, fully written and polished - Demonstrates your voice, depth, and the book's approach - Includes stories, frameworks, and actionable content --- ## Phase 4: Polish ### 1. Proposal Checklist ``` - [ ] Overview hooks the reader in the first paragraph - [ ] Book's thesis is stated in one clear sentence - [ ] Target reader is specific (not "everyone who wants to succeed") - [ ] Market size is supported with data - [ ] 3-5 competitive titles analyzed with clear differentiation - [ ] Author platform is quantified (numbers, not vague claims) - [ ] Marketing plan is specific and committed (not "I will use social media") - [ ] Every chapter outline has a summary and takeaways - [ ] Sample chapter is polished and demonstrates the book's full quality - [ ] Proposal is 30-50 pages total - [ ] Formatted per agent or publisher guidelines ``` ### 2. Common Agent Questions (Prepare Answers) - "What is the book's one-sentence pitch?" - "Who is this book for, specifically?" - "How is this different from [obvious competitor]?" - "What is your platform and how will you promote the book?" - "When can you deliver the manuscript?" - "Are you open to editorial direction on the concept?" ### 3. Submission Strategy ``` ## Agent/Publisher Outreach Plan 1. Research 10-15 agents who represent similar books 2. Personalize each query letter (reference books they have sold) 3. Send in batches of 5 (adjust pitch based on feedback) 4. Follow up after 6-8 weeks if no response 5. Track all submissions in a spreadsheet ``` --- ## Example 1: Business Strategy Book Proposal ``` Title: "Systems Over Hustle: The Solopreneur's Guide to Working Less and Earning More" Reader: Solopreneurs earning $3K-$10K/month who are burned out Differentiator: Practical systems framework (not mindset advice), author runs a 7-figure solo business Competitive titles: "Company of One" (different angle — scaling), "The E-Myth Revisited" (different audience — small business, not solo) Platform: 15,000 email subscribers, 25,000 LinkedIn followers, 30 speaking events/year ``` ## Example 2: Industry Expertise Book Proposal ``` Title: "The Content Multiplier: How to Build a Media Business from One Weekly Post" Reader: Content creators and solopreneurs who publish weekly Differentiator: Step-by-step repurposing system backed by data from 500+ content creators Competitive titles: "Content Inc." (broader scope), "They Ask, You Answer" (different channel focus) Platform: 8,000 newsletter subscribers, podcast with 50K downloads/month ``` --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Selling the book, not the market** — publishers want to know the market size and your access to it, not just that the book is good. - **No platform** — a brilliant proposal from an author with no audience usually gets rejected. Build the platform first or address the gap honestly. - **Vague competitive analysis** — "My book is different because it's better" is not analysis. Be specific about the gap your book fills. - **Sample chapter is unpolished** — this is the writing sample agents judge you by. It must be your best work. - **"Everyone" as the target reader** — "This book is for anyone who wants success" means it is for no one. Narrow the audience. - **Marketing plan says "social media"** — agents want specifics. "I will email my 15,000 subscribers, secure 20 podcast guest spots, and speak at 10 events" is a plan. --- ## Recovery - **User has no platform:** Be honest in the proposal and show a platform-building plan. Alternatively, self-publish first to build credibility and an audience. - **Cannot identify competitive titles:** The book idea may be too niche or too broad. Refine until you can find 3-5 books that exist in the same space. - **Sample chapter is not strong enough:** Hire an editor for the sample chapter specifically. It is worth the investment — this is the chapter that sells the book deal. - **Agent rejections pile up:** Revise the overview and pitch based on feedback. If no feedback, the problem is usually the market size argument or the platform section.