Why is writing a book proposal so HARD?

Your guide to a common problem and its hellish, nonlinear solution

Prologue

I’m aiming this post at authors who are familiar with book proposal basics: who know, for instance, that nonfiction is generally sold on proposal, fiction on full manuscript.

What follows will be most useful if you’re a. trying to get agents interested in an existing proposal or b. in the middle of editing your proposal with an agent or freelance editor.

If you’re a n00b after a more basic “what is proposal” explainer, Jane Friedman has a good, free one here.

OK, with that out of the way:

I can tell you right now what your proposal needs.

Am I psychic and competent like no one you’ve ever met? Or are these things just not all that mysterious or shocking? I choose option A.

Successful nonfiction books and book proposals have the following things in common: