# Book Proposal

> 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.

- Skill: `skillmedev/book-proposal` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add skillmedev/book-proposal`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/skillmedev/book-proposal/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Marketing & Growth
- Author: SkillMedev (https://skillmd.com/u/skillmedev)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/skillmedev/book-proposal

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# 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

1. Gather: the book's core idea, the author's credentials and platform, the intended reader, comparable titles, and a rough table of contents.
2. Lead with the hook - why this book, why now, why this author.
3. Assemble the standard proposal sections.

## Standard sections

1. **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.
2. **About the author** - credentials, why YOU can write this. Authority and access matter.
3. **Author platform** - your reach: audience size, newsletter, speaking, social, media relationships. Publishers fund books that can find readers. Be specific with numbers.
4. **Target market** - who buys this and how many of them exist. Name the reader concretely.
5. **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.
6. **Marketing and promotion plan** - what YOU will do to sell it. Specific, actionable commitments.
7. **Chapter outline** - each chapter with a paragraph summary. Show the arc and that you have a full book, not one idea stretched thin.
8. **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.