Which comes first, when creating your book proposal? Generally, it is the synopsis. What if the synopsis has you absolutely stumped and you just can’t get off dead center with it?
This happens to some of my online book proposal course students. And I tell them to set aside the synopsis for a while. I suggest that they continue on with the marketing section where they clearly outline their target audience—determine who this book is for. I recommend that they complete their market analysis and even outline their marketing plan. Some of my students don’t quite get a handle on their synopsis (especially for a nonfiction book) until they’ve fleshed out their chapter summaries. And I let them know that is okay.
While most authors are clear as to the proposed focus and flow of their books, others are working with just an idea. And it takes some of them time to really get a handle on their proposed book. The book proposal is a great tool for this purpose. And if you can’t manage the typical first step to writing a book proposal—writing the synopsis—it is okay to work on the other aspects of the proposal in hopes that the purpose and tone of the book will be revealed. You certainly do not want to start writing the book at this point—not until you are clear about the purpose and direction of your book.
Sometimes, while working on their book proposals, authors are sent in a very different direction with their projects than they expected. In fact that is one of the beauties of the book proposal—to help the author determine if this book is a viable product. If not, can they tweak it or make even major changes to the concept in order to create a book that will sell in the marketplace?
If you can’t write a synopsis or your teacher or mentor keeps sending you back to the drawing board with it because it just isn’t a strong enough portrayal of your proposed book, consider devising a one or two sentence description of your nonfiction book. This might give you a clearer view of your project and, believe it or not, this might be the break-through moment that prompts you to outline that synopsis.
If you need more inspiration, move on to the marketing section. Determine who is your audience for this book—what audience do you want to approach? What do they need/want in a book on this subject? Complete a market analysis to find out what else is out there like your book and what is obviously missing.
One of my students had to complete the entire book proposal—even the chapter summaries—before she could write a succinct and descriptive synopsis. In fact, she had to revise the chapter summaries several times before the book’s purpose and a reasonable flow emerged. It took a while, but she now has what could be a viable product to pitch or to publish.
When should you write your book proposal? For nonfiction, definitely before you start writing the book. You will learn volumes through the book proposal process that could drive the direction of your book. Go ahead and write the book and you might end up with something like all the other books on this topic. You might produce a book without much purpose. But if you write that book proposal first, you will more clearly see what is needed, by what segment of readers and you’ll discover how to best target this market.
Announcement
Jumbo Publishing ran a nice piece about me and my latest book—one that, if you are promoting a book, writing one or thinking about writing one, you need to order TODAY.
Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011) http://amzn.to/oe56Ia
There are 17 customer reviews at the Amazon book page. Wow! And they’re all 5-star reviews, except for one—someone gave it 4 or 4.5, not quite sure. Still high marks.
You may not think you need a book on book promotion because you have some of your own ideas for promoting your book. But believe me (and many, many others who have been there), book promotion is much bigger than you can imagine. You will need the big guns and this book is one of those big gun books. Buy my book, but don’t stop there. Also purchase Penny Sansevierie’s or Steve Weber’s books on Internet book marketing and John Kremer’s book of 1001 ideas and Brian Jud’s book on promoting books outside the bookstore.
For more about me and my work visit my websites.
http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
Sign up for my online book proposal course here: Be sure to read “How Does an Online Course Work?”
http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm