When is it Time to Write Your Book Proposal?
Soon! Very soon!
When you’re ready to start a non-fiction book, most of the time, it means you’re ready to write the book proposal. That’s what agents and editors use to decide whether to represent or buy your book.
There are all kinds of reasons to get going on your book idea:
Because you’ve always wanted to write a cookbook, and you feel ready.
You have a new book idea you want to pursue to see if it’s viable.
Because you feel ready to write a travel food-based book, a food-history book, or you have written personal essays and have a story to tell in a memoir.
And because your followers or friends keep asking for one, so it’s time to start.
When I write a book proposal, it’s a time of discovery. Writing it tells me whether I can flesh out my idea in a coherent way. It helps me identify which books compete with mine and how mine will be different. It forces me to think about promotion and the new ways I can get the word out. And as I write the proposal, it changes shape, gets filled out, and becomes more satisfying.
Whatever the reason, the hard part is getting started. That’s because it’s not as much fun as writing the actual book! A book proposal is all about strategy, a business plan, a sales pitch and an explanation. It’s long.
And another reason to hesitate is that you probably have to put yourself out there with asks for endorsements and for promotion collaborations. Most of us are not good at that. We are a sensitive bunch, and we don’t like rejection.
So it’s easy to procrastinate. But that idea keeps nagging. So if you’re ready to get going, I have a class for you, coming up soon!
Explore your thoughts in a safe, supportive environment. That’s part of what you’ll get with my Zoom class. It starts Monday, March 17 and continues for two more Mondays, on March 24 and March 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. PT/ 7-10 p.m. ET. That’s three online 3-hour classes for a total of nine hours of instruction and discussion over three weeks. The cost is $425.
I restrict this class to 10 students. That way I have time for lots of questions and feedback, and time to discuss whatever comes up about the book you’re dying to write.
Why You Need This Zoom Class
A proposal covers everything agents and editors want to know, rolled into one document that could be 20 to 60 pages long. It’s also a great way to develop your focus of the book, and your understanding of it.
Book proposals have an extremely low acceptance rate. This class teaches you what agents and editors expect, thereby increasing your chances of success. You’ll get lots of insider info and handouts, including about:
How the publishing industry works
Whether to self publish
And whether your idea excites people.
You will start writing the proposal during class. You’ll have homework each week. I and the rest of the students will give feedback. By the end of class, you’ll have a rough draft, with notes on how to shape and expand the proposal.
Other things to know:
If you’re not sure about your book idea, or you have more than one, we will discuss that.
The process I teach is the same for other kinds of non-fiction, such as memoir, food history and food travel.
All classes are recorded. If you miss one you can watch it later.
Here’s what a student said about this class:
"Dianne teaches an incredibly practical, thoughtful, and interactive course. You will leave the class with a big head start on your proposal, plus the framework to get it done. During the course, you'll connect with your classmates who will provide thoughtful feedback and encouragement on your cookbook-writing journey.
I highly recommend this course for anyone who's ever thought about writing a cookbook. You won't regret it." — Martin Sorge, @martinsorge on Instagram, winner of The Great American Baking Show.
This class gets results! Soon afterwards, Martin landed an agent (Sally Ekus) and a book deal. He is currently working on his cookbook.
So invest in yourself. Prioritize your goal to get a book published. Let’s get going on your dream cookbook, memoir, travel or food-based book together.
Thanks,
Dianne
P.S. Got a question about whether this class is right for you? Just respond to this email and I’ll reply.
My Book
Here’s the latest edition of my multiple award-winning book, Will Write for Food: 2021: Pursue Your Passion and Bring Home the Dough Writing Recipes, Cookbooks, Blogs, and More.
I’m also the co-author of:
Disclosures: I am an affiliate of Food Blogger Pro, Amazon and Bookshop.org.
Thanks for Reading
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Dianne Jacob
Editor, Writer and Coach
Email: dj@diannej.com
Website: http://diannej.com
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I can't recommend this course highly enough!
When is the class available and what does it cost?