What to Include in a Non-Fiction Book Proposal

A short guide to writing your proposal

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

If you are writing a non-fiction book, you must write a book proposal to pitch to agents and publishers. You don’t need a complete manuscript as long as you’re able to intrigue your reader and sell your story.

Below you’ll find all the requirements for a solid book proposal. Using examples from my last book proposal, I will explain the steps that eventually resulted in a publishing deal.

Remember, these are my suggestions, which have worked for me. Check the requirements of the individuals you want to approach with your book proposal, such as agents and publishers. They might require a different input. I always had a base proposal, and I adapted it to their requirements when necessary.

Book proposal requirements:

• Title and author’s name
• Short synopsis (for the back of the book) — 150 words
• Full summary — 1 A4 or 600 words
• Biography of the author — 200 words
• Summary per chapter — 250 words per chapter
• Three sample chapters

Title and author’s name