Nonfiction Book Proposal
GUIDE TO NONFICTION COURSESNonfiction Book Proposal is a 4-week class, which includes a mixture of lectures and book proposal assignments. It’s for beginners or anyone who wants a refresher. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
Perhaps you’re near completion of a nonfiction book. Or perhaps you’ve just hatched an idea or begun roughing out a draft. Before you proceed further, you should know…
Most nonfiction books are sold to publishing houses on the basis of a proposal—a 20 to 40-page document that pitches the book’s content and marketability and is supplemented by sample chapters. Agents and editors don’t want to see the finished book. They want to see the proposal.
Here you will learn everything you need to know about nonfiction book proposals and, to focus your concept, you’ll write (and refine) your book’s catalogue copy—a brief description that reveals the book’s essence. All under the guidance of an established literary agent.
The class really took the idea of a book proposal and fleshed it out in a step by step manual. It was very helpful to me and I am now motivated to continue with my proposal.
Serge Avery
History instructor
Notes
This course deals with all kinds of nonfiction books. (Memoirs, however, are sometimes sold with proposals, and sometimes sold after the complete work is written. Often it’s best to write the complete memoir, but this course can help you discern the scope and marketability of your memoir.)
After this course, you can get one-on-one help through Nonfiction Book Proposal Doctoring.
You might also consider How to Get Published, but Nonfiction Book Proposal is a good place to start for nonfiction writers.
Upcoming Classes
If you show Covid symptoms OR If you have been exposed to someone with Covid – Don’t come to class for at least 5 days after showing symptoms or exposure, and then take a test to confirm that you are negative. Let your teacher know and we’ll work to give you access to your missed classes via Zoom.
If you have any questions about this, you may call (212-974-8377) or email us ([email protected]).
Price
Registration fee $25, paid once per term
4-Week
-
Online
Anytime, week-long sessions
Tuition: $185
Syllabus
This course gives you a firm grounding in the basics of creating a nonfiction book proposal, and helps you focus a concept for a nonfiction book. Course components:
Lectures
Writing and receiving feedback on catalogue copy for your book (each student presenting work two times)
Week 1
Focusing Your Idea: Defining your book. What is a book proposal? Catalogue copy—angle, credentials, excitement. Catalogue copy analyzed. Titles.
Week 2
Anatomy of a Proposal: Analysis of the parts of a book proposal—Overview, Market, Competition, Promotion, Author, Details, Chapter Outline, Sample Chapters. (Complete book proposals are given to students.)
Week 3
Creating Your Proposal: Advice on handling the parts of a book proposal—Overview, Market, Competition, Promotion, Author, Details, Chapter Outline, Sample Chapters.
Week 4
The Submission Process: The steps from idea to publication. Understanding publishing houses, editors, and agents. Should you approach agents or editors first? Researching the right agents and editors for your book. What to send, how to send it. Query letters. Response. Rejection. Contracts. Self-publishing.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
Teachers
Sharon Pelletier
Sharon Pelletier is a vice president and senior agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, where she represents upmarket adult fiction, from book club and women’s fiction to elevated suspense and romance, and select narrative nonfiction. She previously worked on the editorial side at small presses and Barnes & Noble.
Read moreis a vice president and senior agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, where she represents upmarket adult fiction, from book club and women’s fiction to elevated suspense and romance, and select narrative nonfiction. She previously worked on the editorial side at small presses and Barnes & Noble.