Proposal Appearance

By Rick Frishman - Nov 30 , 2007

Your proposal represents you; it’s your ambassador.

Its appearance can cause editors to form an immediate opinion about you, your proposed manuscript, and your ability to deliver what you promise—and you know how important first impressions can be!

A clean, well-organized, and easy-to-read proposal can convince editors to place your proposal atop the heap. A sloppy submission can discourage them and indicate that you’re unprofessional.

Action Steps

1.  List five key items that agents and editors must see in your proposal.
2.  Determine how you could improve your attitude and determination with regard to your proposal.
3.  What specific material can you include in your proposal to make it a better planning document?
4.  What specific information should you provide in your proposal to make it an affective selling aid?
5.  Review the basic proposal sections in your mind. What additional items could strengthen your proposal?

Remember, a proposal should be structured to quickly and clearly give agents and acquisitions editors precise information. If it doesn’t, they may not read any further.

Agents and editors need to see that the author has touched all the bases and covered all of the major points that are essential for a successful book.

A winning book proposal must show that you have a viable book idea and that the book’s subject matter will fit into the publisher’s list. It also must demonstrate that you are qualified to write the book, can write clearly, are well organized, are committed to the book project, have thoroughly thought through the project, and will vigorously promote the book.