How to Write Your Nonfiction Book Proposal

Introduction

Hello, friends! As writers, I’m sure we all have a nonfiction book idea rattling around in our heads, whether it's a heartrending memoir, a witty self-help book, or a research-intensive history. But what happens when we decide to make that idea a reality? How do you get started, and how does a book make its way into a publisher’s hands? How does this differ from fiction’s process?

One of the major differences between fiction and nonfiction is what is required when attempting to get a publishing deal. In fiction writing, you generally need to have a full manuscript complete before you even set foot in the house. If you’re writing a nonfiction book, however, all you need to come in with is a proposal. This is a brief argumentative outline of your potential book.

In this blog post, I’m going to provide a short outline for a nonfiction proposal and some helpful tips to make yours the best it can be. If you have any questions or want to discuss your book proposal, feel free to reach out via email! 

“Writing nonfiction is more like sculpture, a matter of shaping the research into the finished thing.” —Joan Didion

Prerequisites

In order to be as successful as possible, you need to be aware of the market and the publishing industry as a whole. Before you get to work on your proposal, take the time to research market trends and publishers that are looking for nonfiction right now! This will help you tailor your proposal both to the particular moment you’re writing in and specific publishers interested in your work. Get involved with writing communities online and in person to help you keep your finger on the pulse of any new genre shifts and calls for nonfiction proposals. 

I’d also recommend reading other books in your specific niche. Similar to the previous strategy, this will help you learn what is popular in the nonfiction sphere and allow you to tailor your book to the industry. Furthermore, you’ll be able to gather more inspiration and techniques to strengthen your work. Plus, you get to read fun books and call it work! Wins all around! 

Although the publishing sphere should absolutely be a major consideration for your approach to your book, the most important thing is to enjoy what you’re doing. Keep in mind what you find interesting and make sure you pursue that. Passion for your writing is more valuable than simply hopping on trends to get published. The goal is to strike a balance between your interests and publishers’! 

Warm-Up

Time to get those creative juices flowing! Quickly jot down 3–5 ideas you’ve had for a nonfiction book. These don’t have to be fully-fledged ideas; have some fun with it! You might just find your next project . . .

Brief example: 

Image created by Sarah Angstadt

“The challenge of nonfiction is to marry art and truth.” —Phyllis Rose

Elements of a Great Nonfiction Proposal

While this isn’t entirely comprehensive and your proposal may contain different information than these sections, this provides a good starting place to begin your work. 

• Concept Statement

  • Pitch (Describes what your book is about)

  • Author Biography 

  • Comparable Titles (Books that are similar to yours)

  • Target Audience (Who you expect to read your book)

  • Marketing Strategy (How you plan to advertise)

  • Timeline (When you can expect your book to be complete)

• Chapter Outline

• Sample Pages

Concept Statement

This will be the first section of your proposal, containing a summary of your project, your qualifications, and information as an author, and books that are comparable to yours. Let’s take some time and really dive deep into each of these elements. 

Note: This outline is just a suggestion! These elements can be in any order and intertwine with one another depending on what you find most intuitive or works best for your book. 

Pitch

As this is the first thing a publisher is going to see (besides the title), you can think of your pitch as your hook, somewhat similar to the blurb on a published book. The goal here is to summarize your project: provide a brief outline of its arc, argument, and conclusions. The pitch is an art of subtle argumentation, so include details that will convince a publisher that the book will sell well, such as how it is topical or is an intervention in the field that has not been seen yet. The goal here is not to focus on the content of your book, but rather why it will sell. This is more of a business endeavor than an artistic one. The artistry comes when you’re actually putting your book together. 

Note: Unlike a book blurb, the pitch is most commonly written in first person. Approach this like a presentation you’re giving to the publisher, so make it personal, but professional!  

Example: “California, August 1974. The Watergate Scandal is well underway, and the American people are reckoning with the fact that their very own president had deceived them so absolutely. Little did they know that another betrayal, albeit a more minor one, was about to rock the auto industry. Oil prices remain high even after the release of OAPEC’s embargo against the United States. People are desperate for a way to solve this energy crisis, leaving the door open for anyone able to promise a solution.

Enter Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael, or “Liz” as she was more commonly known, a blunt-speaking and six-foot-tall middle-aged woman. She claims to have just what the doctor ordered: a fuel-efficient three-wheeled car called “The Dale” that will revolutionize the automotive industry. There's only one problem: no commercial model exists, nor will it ever.” 

Author Biography

Here’s where you will outline who you are. You should include any details that strengthen your credibility, such as previous publications, experience in the field you’re writing about, and any unique qualities you have that may entice a publisher to work with you. You’re trying to convince them that you are the best possible person to write this book.   

Comparable Titles

To place yourself in the market, you should be aware of other books in your niche. List popular books that are similar to your own to indicate an audience for your book. This can also serve to further indicate the fact that your specific topic hasn’t been covered or explored from your approach. 

Example: “Rachel DeLoache Williams’s My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress demonstrates the kind of interest my book could generate. While this book is more focused on a modern, high-profile and fashionable scam artist, it speaks to the same sort of themes of class, gender and what it means to perform femininity in a modern era. The story of Anna Delvy, the focus of Williams’s book, was also developed into a Netflix television series that generated a great deal of viewership and content, particularly on TikTok. In Bad Blood, John Carreyrou explores a similarly fraudulent corporation, that of Elizabeth Holmes’s Theranos. This exploration of Silicon Valley scam artistry, published by Penguin Random House, demonstrates that there is a vested interest in corporate falsehoods and that books like these can become bestsellers."

Target Audience 

Now it’s time to answer the question, “Who is going to read my book?” Be specific in your demographic analysis—don’t just say “women” or “people interested in X topic.” Make sure you’re really honing in on specific groups of people who you expect to be interested.

Example: “I will be targeting a largely female and progressive audience and will be angling my advertising towards them. I expect that people who are interested in true crime will also likely be interested in this book.”

Marketing Plan 

In this section, you’ll outline different advertising strategies to get your book into consumers’ hands. Think cover styles, social media, in-person events, readings, etc. This is one of the reasons it is so important to be aware of the industry before you attempt a proposal, as you’ll be more aware of what is popular at the moment. This will also go hand in hand with your target audience section, as you will be tailoring any and all marketing to them. 

Example: “I plan to utilize online marketing, things like BookTok and Writing Instagram, to generate the kind of hype necessary to sell this. This book will be roughly 200 pages to allow for greater readability by this audience. Furthermore, I will be drawing parallels to other high-profile scam artists that have gained popularity in the past five years, such as Anna Delvey and Elizabeth Holmes.” 

Timeline

Let’s crunch some numbers! Consider your writing process and the approximate length of the book, and give an estimation for how long you think it’ll take to complete. Include time for research as well as writing! 

Chapter Outline

After your concept statement, you should lay out every chapter of your book, providing a brief summary of each one. Make sure to really take your time with this and ensure the progression is logical. This will also likely help you finalize your vision for the project and clarify the pacing. 

Sample Pages 

Here, you’ll provide a taste of your writing style. You don’t have to have written the full book; in fact, no one expects you to, but by providing a few pages, publishers get a better conception of the tone and approach you’re taking to this project. 

Tips and Tricks 

• The worst thing a proposal can be is generic! Make sure your writing has your own personal flair. While you should remain professional, always remember that professional doesn’t mean boring.

• Edit, edit, edit! Make sure your writing is as clean as possible. Go over every page with a fine-tooth comb to guarantee there are no errors, as any small mistakes may cause a busy publisher to discard your hard work.  

  • It’s always helpful to have someone else look over your work! Oftentimes, when I’ve been staring at a project for too long, certain mistakes begin to pass me by. Get a friend, beta reader, or editor to guarantee your writing is as strong as it can be. 

• Be efficient but detailed. The strength of your proposal lies in the amount of thought you’ve put into it, not the beauty of your prose. Be technical and precise in your details and focus on the argument you’re making. You’re advocating for why your book is marketable and going to sell well, and when it comes to writing a proposal, that’s all that matters.  

“An author’s ability to bring a marketing synopsis to the table – along with a great manuscript – makes a difference in what books get picked up. This is true for both fiction and nonfiction titles. You need to show your publisher what you’ve got in your marketing arsenal.” —M.J. Rose

Conclusion 

Now that you have an idea of how to approach a nonfiction book proposal, I hope this inspires you to finally try to make your dream book a reality. Dive into nonfiction writing—I’m sure you have a story just waiting to be told. If you have any further questions about anything I’ve covered here, please feel free to email.

 Happy writing!

Resources 

Crafting the Non-Fiction Book Proposal: Tawny Lara and Dry Humping – Eric Smith provides a great example of a real nonfiction proposal, and is a great opportunity to get a real visual on a successful proposal. 

Your Guide to Publishing a Non-Fiction Book - The New York book editors provide advice for every stage of the process of getting your book picked up. 

How to Submit a Non-Fiction Proposal – Andrew Lonnie provides another format for your nonfiction proposal and tips to get a publisher’s attention. 

Common Reasons Nonfiction Books Don’t Sell – Jane Friedman approaches the reasons why certain nonfiction books don’t get published and how you can avoid these pitfalls.

Sarah Angstadt is an intern at A.E. Williams Editorial and a current senior at Agnes Scott College, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English literature. While she has never worked in book publishing before, she has had the opportunity to edit multiple magazines and work with authors on a diverse swathe of writing. You can reach her via the company LinkedIn page, the company Facebook page, or email.