Book Proposals That Sell

For aspiring authors ready to move from a great idea to a published book, this guide demystifies the single most important document in nonfiction publishing: the book proposal. Drawing from his extensive experience as an acquisitions editor and literary agent, W. Terry Whalin argues that writing the full manuscript first is a backward approach, revealing that the vast majority of nonfiction deals are secured with a powerful proposal alone. He systematically breaks down the essential components of a winning proposal, many of which never appear in the final manuscript but are critical for convincing publishing houses to invest.

What sets this resource apart is its practical, insider perspective, translating industry expectations into actionable steps any writer can follow. Whalin doesn't just explain what a proposal needs; he clarifies why each element matters to the editors and marketing committees who hold the keys to a book deal. This is an indispensable toolkit for any serious nonfiction writer, transforming the daunting task of proposal writing from a guessing game into a strategic, manageable process that dramatically increases the odds of getting published.