Pitch Perfect Writing a Killer Book Proposal - John Fayad
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Pitch Perfect
Writing a Killer Book Proposal
John Fayad
Writer and Literary Coach
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.My Experience
CEO & Publisher, Business Book Review ®
The Literary Coach TM
Book Concept Development | Developmental Editing | Ghostwriting
Berrett-Koehler Jossey-Bass
HarperCollins Palgrave Macmillan
John Wiley & Sons Simon & Schuster
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Why a Book Proposal?
All non-fiction books are contracted as book proposals
• Agents scan hundreds of book projects every year
• Will not read full manuscripts
A book proposal concisely describes:
• Your book concept
• Why you should be the one writing it
• Why your book will be embraced by readers
Helps clarify your premise
• Before you begin the actual writing process
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.The Complete Book Proposal
• Overview
• About the Author
• Competitive Analysis
• Promotional Plan
• Chapter Abstracts
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Overview
• Concise and compelling summary of the overall idea of your
book and the need(s) that it fulfills
• Speaks to why your perspective is of value / is unique / is timely
• Includes a short author bio, the format of the book, and a brief
description of each chapter
• Brevity is key: 1,500 to 2,000 words
• Is written last
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.About the Author
Speaks to your relevance and marketability
• Written in the third person
• Opens with a ~100-word mini-biography in story form
• Professional work experience
• Alliances, partnerships, associations
• Media and public-speaking appearances
• Published books / articles / blog series
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Competitive Analysis
Value to the Author
• Expands personal knowledge
• Clarifies your book’s premise:
• Does your book fill a void?
Ask yourself
• How and where do competitive titles fall short?
these questions • How does your book offer more?
• Produces your best positioning statements
• Identifies potential agents and publishers
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Competitive Analysis
Value to the Agent and Publisher
• Speaks to your book’s uniqueness and contribution
• Shows your command of and passion for the subject
• Suggests how to position your book
• Gives them an indication of public interest
• Allows them to predict sales
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Competitive Analysis
Tips on selecting and comparing
• Do it early
• Never say, “there’s no competition”
• Nothing over five years unless special
• Criticize with respect
• Showcase a different attribute with each comparison
• Open with a summary of the section
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Example:
Competitive Analysis - Summary
There are a few books that speak to [my subject], but in studying these works,
I believe [my book title] goes beyond the conventional wisdom in three ways:
1. Positioning
2. Positioning
3. Positioning
Competitive Analysis – Books Selected
Title
Author(s)
Publisher, year of publication
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Promotional Plan
Your promotional section must show:
• Preparation and enthusiasm for self-promotion
• Intent to promote the book before and well after the pub date
• Your reach and frequency
• Social media resources
• Potential endorsers
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Promotional Plan
Contents of the Promotional Section:
• Keynotes / Panel Discussions
• Articles / Blogs
• Website / LinkedIn / Facebook / Other Social Media
• Professional relationships, affiliations
• Potential endorsers
“I intend to participate … submit … promote … approach”
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Chapter Abstracts
The Purpose of Chapter Abstracts:
• Shows your command of the subject
• Your ability to write
• Gives agent and publisher an idea of your book’s organization,
logic flow, content, and tonality
• Indicates you’re prepared to deliver the manuscript
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Chapter Abstracts
Each abstract has two sections, written in two voices:
• Voice to the agent/publisher - explaining the chapter in a short
italicized paragraph preceding the chapter abstract (~100 words)
• Voice to the reader - an excerpt or sample lifted from anywhere in
the chapter (500 to 700 words)
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Example:
Chapter 8: Cultivating Potential Successors
Chapter eight reveals techniques for approaching succession planning as an on-going process, including how to
establish a leadership pipeline development process. I offer insights into the kinds of leadership development
programs and challenging assignments boards are using today to test and assess internal candidates. This chapter
will contain descriptions of such programs that I have made operational at several Fortune 100 companies.
***
Sixty-seven percent of directors surveyed indicate that the greatest challenge to CEO succession planning is a
scarcity of candidates.1 In our practice, we find that the perception of too few candidates is a result of not
approaching succession planning as an on-going process, which requires continuous leadership development.
The relationship is all too clear: Leadership continuity ensures business continuity. Creating a culture of leadership
development, at all levels, sustains a company’s performance and ensures retention of its key talent. It most
importantly creates an environment that encourages and nurtures the development of the next CEO from within.
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.The Query Letter • A compressed version of the Overview
• Stimulates interest and a request for the proposal
• Inventive lead and compelling first paragraph
• No more than one and one-half pages
The Query Email • A compressed version of the Query Letter
• Compelling first paragraph
• No more than three short paragraphs
• Call to action: “I’m prepared to send my book proposal at your request.”
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.How to approach Literary Agents
• Produce book proposal and query letter
• Research literary agents for interests and guidelines
• Send query letter to agent(s) to solicit the proposal
• Agent will request proposal
• May ask for a reorganization or rewrite
• Will send contract stipulating exclusivity
• Will pitch to their favorite acquisition editors
• Publisher will request phone meeting / will send contract
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.Thank You
jfayad@TheLiteraryCoach.com
770-414-0415
www.TheLiteraryCoach.com
© Copyright 2015 ~ John Fayad & Company, Inc.You can also read
