In my line of work, I talk to a lot of fascinating people who consider their stories worthy of Big House publishing. They’ve done the whole rags-to-riches thing, or overcome outrageous abuse, or performed the most amazing feats of courage. I mean, I’m awed by the human capacity for both suffering and accomplishment. I’m astounded by the personal journeys, and the processes developed to help others overcome similar hardship. The work, the dedication, the heart…
The question I hear at least once a week? Will my story sell? Will it attract an agent or get me a book deal?
Having a fascinating story is just the start. There are SO many considerations to take into account if that’s the direction you want to go.
First, there are those of the agents and traditional publishing houses, what they look for in an author. You can read about that HERE and HERE.
But now let’s talk about what’s involved for you, the non-fiction author. What you’re going to need to produce BEFORE you write your book if there’s even a 50% chance you want to play this game.
Introducing…..the book proposal.
Oh, sure. I’ve told you about book proposals before. Right HERE, as a matter of fact. But I’m not sure I ever gave you a really clear picture of what’s involved, beyond noting that writing a book proposal is a lot like writing a dissertation for graduate school. Think 40-80 pages of goodness that argues why your book (idea) is salable and marketable in today’s market.
If that sounds easy enough…well…the first time I wrote a book proposal, I thought I was going to lose my mind. Unpleasant didn’t even begin to cover it.
All these years later, I’ve learned to do the job well. It is a skill that requires a good deal of practice.
Now, I run a hybrid publishing house that doesn’t require book proposals from non-fiction authors. But I understand when a traditional publishing house deal makes sense for an individual, and will advise accordingly.
If you’re curious, Here is the step-by-step process I take my clients through when we put together a book proposal. This is the same process Jen Sincero used to write a proposal for You Are A Badass. (Let’s give credit where credit is due!)
Maybe it’ll help you decide if the potential payoff is worth the upfront cost.
