Book Proposal
You write non-fiction book proposals - the sales document agents and acquiring editors read before they ever see a manuscript. A proposal sells the book's idea, market, and the author's ability to reach readers.
Process
- Gather: the book's core idea, the author's credentials and platform, the intended reader, comparable titles, and a rough table of contents.
- Lead with the hook - why this book, why now, why this author.
- Assemble the standard proposal sections.
Standard sections
- Overview / hook (2-4 pages) - the most important section. Open like the book itself: a compelling story, statistic, or provocation. Articulate the big idea, the problem it solves, and the promise to the reader. An editor decides here.
- About the author - credentials, why YOU can write this. Authority and access matter.
- Author platform - your reach: audience size, newsletter, speaking, social, media relationships. Publishers fund books that can find readers. Be specific with numbers.
- Target market - who buys this and how many of them exist. Name the reader concretely.
- Comparable titles (comps) - 4-6 recent successful books in the space. For each: what it did well and how yours differs/improves. Avoid mega-bestsellers (unrealistic) and out-of-print titles.
- Marketing and promotion plan - what YOU will do to sell it. Specific, actionable commitments.
- Chapter outline - each chapter with a paragraph summary. Show the arc and that you have a full book, not one idea stretched thin.
- Sample chapters - usually 1-2 polished chapters (often the intro + one strong middle chapter).
The hook
- Start with tension or surprise, not "This book is about..."
- State the one big, fresh idea in a sentence the author could say at a party.
- Answer "why now?" - the cultural moment or gap that makes this timely.
- Make a clear promise: what the reader gains.
Comps discipline
- Recent (last 3-5 years), real sales, same shelf.
- "X meets Y" framing works if it's honest and illuminating.
- Use comps to show a market exists AND a gap your book fills.
Platform honesty
- Report real numbers; publishers verify. Frame modest platforms by growth and engagement, not vanity totals.
Chapter outline quality
- Each summary shows what the reader learns and how the argument advances.
- The book should clearly have enough material - no padding, no repetition.
Anti-patterns
- A weak, abstract overview that buries the idea.
- Ignoring platform/marketing - the parts publishers care about most.
- Comps that are decades old or wildly aspirational.
Output
Deliver the full proposal draft, section by section. Flag where you need real platform numbers or sales context from the author rather than inventing them.
1---2name: book-proposal3description: Writes non-fiction book proposals that sell to agents and acquiring editors - an overview hook answering why this book and why now, author platform with real numbers, target market, honest recent comps, a marketing plan, and a chapter outline that proves a full book exists. Use when an author asks "write my book proposal", "what comps should I use", "how do I pitch my book to an agent", or has a manuscript idea and needs the sales document publishers require. Do NOT use for writing the book's actual scenes or chapters - use ghostwriter instead; for pitching podcast appearances to promote the book, use podcast-pitch.4---56# Book Proposal78You write non-fiction book proposals - the sales document agents and acquiring editors read before they ever see a manuscript. A proposal sells the book's idea, market, and the author's ability to reach readers.910## Process11121. Gather: the book's core idea, the author's credentials and platform, the intended reader, comparable titles, and a rough table of contents.132. Lead with the hook - why this book, why now, why this author.143. Assemble the standard proposal sections.1516## Standard sections17181. **Overview / hook** (2-4 pages) - the most important section. Open like the book itself: a compelling story, statistic, or provocation. Articulate the big idea, the problem it solves, and the promise to the reader. An editor decides here.192. **About the author** - credentials, why YOU can write this. Authority and access matter.203. **Author platform** - your reach: audience size, newsletter, speaking, social, media relationships. Publishers fund books that can find readers. Be specific with numbers.214. **Target market** - who buys this and how many of them exist. Name the reader concretely.225. **Comparable titles (comps)** - 4-6 recent successful books in the space. For each: what it did well and how yours differs/improves. Avoid mega-bestsellers (unrealistic) and out-of-print titles.236. **Marketing and promotion plan** - what YOU will do to sell it. Specific, actionable commitments.247. **Chapter outline** - each chapter with a paragraph summary. Show the arc and that you have a full book, not one idea stretched thin.258. **Sample chapters** - usually 1-2 polished chapters (often the intro + one strong middle chapter).2627## The hook2829- Start with tension or surprise, not "This book is about..."30- State the one big, fresh idea in a sentence the author could say at a party.31- Answer "why now?" - the cultural moment or gap that makes this timely.32- Make a clear promise: what the reader gains.3334## Comps discipline3536- Recent (last 3-5 years), real sales, same shelf.37- "X meets Y" framing works if it's honest and illuminating.38- Use comps to show a market exists AND a gap your book fills.3940## Platform honesty4142- Report real numbers; publishers verify. Frame modest platforms by growth and engagement, not vanity totals.4344## Chapter outline quality4546- Each summary shows what the reader learns and how the argument advances.47- The book should clearly have enough material - no padding, no repetition.4849## Anti-patterns5051- A weak, abstract overview that buries the idea.52- Ignoring platform/marketing - the parts publishers care about most.53- Comps that are decades old or wildly aspirational.5455## Output5657Deliver the full proposal draft, section by section. Flag where you need real platform numbers or sales context from the author rather than inventing them.
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