Work with author and writing teacher Patricia J. Parsons to plan and execute a professional book proposal
There are many reasons why you might consider writing a nonfiction book. You may be an expert and want to share your insights in a specific area of expertise. You may be an entrepreneur who would like to showcase your knowledge and skills for potential clients. You may have a passion for a subject area and want to share your research and insights with the wider world. You might have an interesting personal story and want to write a memoir to enrich others’ lives. Whatever the reason you may have for considering writing a book, your first step is to plan and write a book proposal.
What you’ll learn
- The function of a book proposal in marketing nonfiction books to editors and agents..
- How to concisely articulate a book’s purpose and premise..
- How to identify the target market for a nonfiction book..
- The elements of a successful nonfiction book proposal..
- How to organize the proposal..
- How to hone your writing to maximize the impact of the proposal..
Course Content
- The Fundamentals of the Nonfiction Book Proposal –> 4 lectures • 12min.
- Preparing to Write the Nonfiction Book Proposal –> 3 lectures • 14min.
- How to Organize a Nonfiction Book –> 3 lectures • 15min.
- Your Target Market and Competition –> 3 lectures • 19min.
- The Elements of a Successful Book Proposal –> 3 lectures • 22min.
- Your Book Proposal in Action –> 5 lectures • 41min.
Requirements
There are many reasons why you might consider writing a nonfiction book. You may be an expert and want to share your insights in a specific area of expertise. You may be an entrepreneur who would like to showcase your knowledge and skills for potential clients. You may have a passion for a subject area and want to share your research and insights with the wider world. You might have an interesting personal story and want to write a memoir to enrich others’ lives. Whatever the reason you may have for considering writing a book, your first step is to plan and write a book proposal.
Agents and publishers demand nonfiction proposals, and if you plan to self-publish, your proposal (for yourself) provides you with direction for writing, publishing and eventual marketing.
This course is designed to help you create a draft proposal that will become the basis for your final nonfiction book proposal.
Through a series of guided exercises, you will complete the course with your draft in hand.
Your course instructor is author Patricia J. Parsons who sold her first nonfiction book to a publisher based on her first book proposal attempt in 1988. Since then, she’s written and successfully sold almost a dozen nonfiction books―all based on the proposal. A seasoned teacher, she also spent 26 years teaching writing and communication strategy as a university professor in communications studies. She lives in Toronto, Canada.