For authors, researching and writing are paramount when it comes to producing a book. What authors may not give as much thought to is coming up with a marketing plan for their book. This is where book proposals come in.
A book proposal is a document that authors submit to publishers to convince them of their project’s originality, viability, and marketability. It serves as a business plan, outlining the book’s key selling points and aligning it with a target audience. In this way, authors must understand how to approach making a book proposal effectively, ensuring that all these aspects are identified in advance.
The importance of a book proposal
Imagine someone brings you a car and asks you to sell it on their behalf. You’d expect this person to provide you with details to improve your chances of selling the car to someone. What makes the car unique from previous models? What makes it stand out from other cars on the market? Who is the kind of person who would want to buy such a car? By finding an answer to these questions, you get a sense of the specifics of your product and what is appealing about it.
A similar approach is necessary when selling a book. Why is this book original and necessary now? What makes it more appealing than other books on the market or in the same research field? Who is the target audience for such a book? By thinking through these kinds of questions in your book proposal, you’re providing your desired publisher with the specifics necessary to market your book effectively.
Getting your book proposal ready
Taking the time to outline your book proposal may feel detrimental to your research and writing time, but preparing such a document helps your project in the long run. Outlining the individual elements of your book allows you to conceptualize how all these elements will come together to produce a coherent and original piece of research.
Although specific details required may vary by publisher, let’s look at some of the information you’ll need to provide in your book proposal.
Basic author/editor information
This will include your title, name, institutional e-mail address, position, and affiliation.
Cover letter
Your cover letter should focus on why you believe that your desired publisher is the right one for your book. Maybe give an example of a previous publication of theirs and how your book fits alongside their publishing catalogue while offering something new, too.
Your cover letter should aim to be direct and concise. Aim for around 4–5 paragraphs and between 250–300 words.
Topic and approach
This is where you outline the purpose of your research, any methods used, and summarize the key findings and conclusions.
Here, you’ll want to explain what your research set out to prove. Proceed with an overview of the book’s main arguments, showcasing their logical progression and validity. Finish by outlining what your book discovered (and what it might have failed to) through the application of its original thesis.
You should still aim to be concise when giving this information. The easier it is for you to describe your research purpose and results efficiently, the clearer the concept of your book will be for you in your mind. This will help you later when it comes to speaking about and marketing your book.
Rationale
Your rationale includes a description of your target audience, the existing literature, and your book’s novelty within this context.
Knowing your book’s target audience is key. There are likely other people out there wishing to find answers to questions or issues that your book is seeking to address. Try and keep this common ground between yourself and others in mind when writing. This doesn’t mean you have to change your writing style to cater to this audience; it simply aids you in aligning your book with definitive intellectual and cultural circles to increase visibility and engagement.
Thinking through the existing literature and your book’s novelty within this context is also crucial for finding a place for your book in intellectual and cultural markets. Why is your book necessary in today’s research landscape, and what gaps in the literature does it fill? In essence, define the urgency and originality of your research.
Number of figures/photos/tables
If your book contains material such as figures, photos, or tables, make sure to identify how many there are.
Detailed chapter outlines or tables of contents
Here’s where you flesh out the content and direction of each chapter. Like your book, your chapters should have a logical progression that you can easily define. This smaller-scale progression should tie in with the other chapters, ensuring coherence. Concentrate on what each chapter brings to the book’s overarching argument, summarising its key elements, methods, and issues.
List of authors, inc. affiliations (for edited books)
If your book is an edited book with a list of contributors, you’ll need to provide their names along with their affiliated institutions.
Potential referees
To come up with a list of potential referees, first find established researchers who can judge your research. Focus on those with a proven track record of publications/reviews or who are currently working in your research field.
It’s also important to ensure there are no conflicts of interest when choosing your referees.
Submission/publication history
List any previous submissions undertaken or publications you have. This will help your desired publisher get an understanding of your track record and what other kinds of publications you’ve been involved with.
Author/editor CV
As you would for a job application, provide an up-to-date and relevant author or editor CV.
Sample chapters
If possible, provide 1–2 sample chapters from your book. This will give your desired publisher an insight into your technical ability, logicality, and cohesiveness when it comes to writing and structuring.
Beyond your book proposal
Drafted your book proposal? Now for an equally important task: choosing a suitable publisher.
A good place to start would be to identify if other publishers out there are publishing books similar to yours. This may be a good indication that your book would align with the publisher’s target audience and marketing strategies.
Importantly, you want to ensure that you are submitting your book proposal to a trusted publisher. Is it easy to discover the latest books distributed by this publisher? Can you easily identify and contact the publisher? Is the publisher clear on their website about the type of peer review used? These are just some of the questions you can ask yourself when finding an appropriate publisher. For a more comprehensive checklist, see the Think. Check. Submit guide.
Ready to start your journey to publication? MDPI Books is here to support you every step of the way. Submit a book proposal with us today and receive constructive feedback. Let us help you turn your ideas into a reality.