Writing a non-fiction book proposal is one of the most important steps for aspiring non-fiction authors looking to get their work published. Unlike fiction, where a completed draft is typically required, non-fiction books are often sold based on a proposal. This “non-fiction proposal” will be used both as a marketing tool and a business plan, showing publishers why your book is worth investing in and publishing.

Here are the most important steps of a non-fiction book proposal with some practical tips to help you create an eye-catching submission.

Overview

The overview of your book is essentially your elevator pitch. It should be an engaging, concise description of your book’s concept, topics, and purpose. This section of your proposal is the introduction that will allow agents and publishers to understand what your book is about and why it is timely or important enough to be published.

Some key pieces to include in this overview are:

  • A brief description of your book’s main idea.
  • The problem or question that your book addresses.
  • Why is this book needed in today’s market? Why is it timely and relevant?
  • Your personal approach and perspective.

An example overview would be:

“In a world increasingly dominated by stress and anxiety, ‘Simply Breathe’ is a step-by-step guide for individuals looking for peace and stress relief in their everyday lives. By giving advice on exercise, yoga, breathing techniques, and other practical strategies, along with some herbal and medicinal remedies to stress, this book offers a blueprint for getting rid of all of that stress in your life.”

Target Audience

Identifying your book’s target audience is very important. Publishers want to know who will buy your book and why. Be specific about demographics, interests, and the size of the market.

Some questions to answer in this section of your proposal are:

  • Who are your primary readers? What is their age, gender, profession, lifestyle, etc?
  • What are their specific needs or pain points?
  • How large is the market for this audience?

It is also helpful to include any research and statistics that you have gathered to back up your claims. If your book addresses stress and anxiety, for example, providing data on how many people suffer from this condition can strengthen your proposal. 

Comparable Titles

In this section of your proposal, you will list books that are similar to yours and how your book fills a gap or offers a unique perspective. This shows publishers that you are knowledgeable of the market and that your book has the potential to stand out and sell.

Some key steps to follow when comparing titles are:

  • Identify anywhere between 3-5 comparable books within the last 5 years. It is important to keep your comparable titles recent.
  • Briefly describe each book and highlight its strengths.
  • Then explain how your book differs from or improves upon these titles.

An example of this would be:

“While ‘The 5 Resets’ by Dr. Aditi Nerurkar focuses on strategies to reset yourself, ‘Stress Free Mess Free’ goes deeper, offering long-term solutions to stress beyond momentary resets.”

Author Bio

Publishers are investing not only in a book but also in the author who wrote that book. Your bio should show publishers why you are the perfect person to write this book. Include your credentials, expertise, and any relevant experiences that qualify you to write about this subject matter. Think of your author bio as your resume. 

Some things to include are:

  • Professional background.
  • Personal experiences related to the book’s topic.
  • Writing credentials (previous publications, blogs, articles).
  • Any media appearances or public speaking experiences.

If you are building your platform (social media following, newsletter subscribers, etc.), mention that in the author bio as well. The larger your platform, the more appealing you are to publishers.

An example of an author bio would be:

“Jane Doe is a licensed clinical psychologist and mental wellness expert with over a decade of experience helping individuals manage stress and mental health. Her work has been featured in Psychology Today and Brit + Co. She also hosts a weekly podcast on mental health and stress that reaches over 10,000 listeners per episode.”

Chapter Outline

This section gives a detailed outline of the structure of your book. While you do not need to write the entire manuscript, publishers want to see that you have a clear plan for your book’s content and organization.

The structure should look like:

  • List each chapter by title.
  • Provide a 1-2 paragraph summary of what each chapter will cover.

Each chapter description should highlight the main point, key takeaways, and any unique content within (like case studies, interviews, exercises). This gives the publisher a clear idea of how the book will progress and makes sure that your book is logically structured.

An example of a chapter outline is:

“In this chapter, readers will explore the psychological and emotional impacts that stress has on daily life. Drawing on recent studies, this chapter uncovers how stress and anxiety are affecting overall mental health and relationships.”

Marketing and Promotion Plan

Publishers want to know how you’ll promote your book. Gone are the days when publishers handled all of the marketing. Now, authors are expected to do a lot of the marketing themselves. In this section of your non-fiction book proposal, you will want to show how committed you are to helping your book succeed.

Some important pieces to include are:

  • Existing platform (email subscribers, social media followers, blog readership). 
  • Plans for book signings, speaking events, or workshops.
  • Media connections or relationships with influencers who could promote the book.
  • Ideas for online promotion (podcast interviews, webinars, guest blogs).

Even if your platform is not big, showing enthusiasm and outlining specific promotional strategies will give your proposal a lot more strength. 

An example of a marketing and promotional plan is:

“I plan to utilize my email list of 5,000 subscribers and social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok where I run Bookstagram and BookTok accounts for mental health and anxiety-related books and have a combined following of 10,000. I also intend to pitch guest articles to major wellness blogs and appear on podcasts focused on mental health and stress.”

Sample Chapters

The final step in your non-fiction book proposal should be including 1-3 sample chapters. These chapters give the publisher a taste of your content and writing style. Choose chapters that you think are particularly interesting and strong.

Some tips for sample chapters are:

  • Choose chapters that cover the book’s main themes.
  • Make sure the writing is edited and polished.
  • Keep the tone consistent with the rest of your proposal. 

Creating a non-fiction book proposal is an extremely important step in securing a publishing deal. By including a well-thought-out overview, audience analysis, comparable titles, and more, you will show publishers your professionalism and the marketability of your book. Approach each section carefully, and remember that this proposal is your chance to show off not only your book but also yourself as a dedicated and informed author.