Intro
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of writing a book proposal? You’re not alone. Whether you’re aiming for traditional publishing or self-publishing, crafting a compelling proposal can be a daunting task.

In the Unwritten Book Summit with Emily Crookston I shared the key components of an effective book proposal, how the proposal process can help improve your manuscript, and signs that traditional publishing may be the right route for you. By the end, you’ll understand why every author should invest the time to write a book proposal, and how it can be a game-changer for getting your book noticed and into the hands of readers.

What you’ll learn:

⭐Why writing a book proposal is important even if you plan to self-publish.

⭐How a book proposal clarifies your book’s context and target audience.

⭐How to determine if traditional publishing is the right path for your book.

⭐The key components of a nonfiction book proposal.

⭐How writing a book proposal can help improve and refine your book.

⭐Why you need to balance your creative process with the business aspects of publishing.

⭐Ways to get your book noticed and into the hands of readers.

Key Moments:

02:07 Why You Need to Write a Book Proposal 

03:14 How to Identify Your Book’s Target Audience 
05:22 Key Questions to Ask When Writing a Book Proposal 

06:54 Shifting from Internal to External Perspective 

09:44 Signs Traditional Publishing May Be a Good Path For Your Book 

13:16 The Components of a Strong Book Proposal 

16:03 The Iterative Process of Writing a Book Proposal

Why You Shouldn’t Skip the Book Proposal

Writing a book proposal isn’t just for traditional publishing. It’s an opportunity to clarify your book’s broader context, home in on your target readers, and sharpen your marketing strategy. Even if you’re going the self-publishing route, crafting a solid proposal can significantly elevate the quality of your book and how you position it in the market.

How to Pinpoint Your Target Audience

Identifying your audience is one of the most critical parts of a book proposal. The most important part is looking beyond the obvious—your super supportive friends and family—and really digging into who out there will be excited about your book. This is the key to creating a marketing plan that connects with the right readers and makes your book stand out.

Key Questions to Guide Your Proposal

As you write your proposal, there are a few essential questions to keep in mind: What makes your book unique? Who are your competitors? What’s your author platform like? By answering these questions, you’ll create a proposal that not only showcases your book but also convinces publishers (and readers) that it’s worth paying attention to.

Shift Your Focus: From Author to Reader 

One of the trickiest parts of writing a proposal is shifting from thinking about why you want to write the book to why readers will want to read it. Writing a book is never about you; it’s always about the reader–even a memoir. So, it’s important to get out of your head and focus on the value your book offers to your audience. This mindset shift makes your proposal way more compelling and helps you connect with your readers on a deeper level.

Is Traditional Publishing Right for You?

Not everybody needs to take the traditional publishing path. But traditional publishing might be a great fit if you want support with writing, editing, marketing, or distribution. The biggest benefit with traditional publishing is that you will gain more connections and an enhanced distribution network. However, if you have got a strong platform and want to keep control, self-publishing could be a better option—just be ready to manage the entire writing, editing, production and marketing process yourself.

What Makes a Strong Book Proposal? 

A solid book proposal covers all the essentials: a clear overview of the book, details about your audience, an outline of your platform, an annotated table of contents, and a few sample chapters. Remember, it’s not just about the content—it’s also about demonstrating your ability to effectively reach readers and promote the work.

The Proposal-Writing Process is a Journey 

Writing a book proposal is often an iterative process. As you dive into the details—like who your readers are and what the competition looks like—you may find yourself rethinking your book’s structure or content. This process makes your proposal (and your book) stronger, and ultimately, more marketable. While writers might hold their nose at this part of the process, it ends up making the book much, much better.