After the writer submits a query letter to an agent or
editor, if the project fits the agency’s or publisher’s interests, they will
request a proposal. So, how do you write a proposal?
Begin with a
cover letter. This is similar to the
query. In the first paragraph, remind the editor that he asked for the
proposal. In the last paragraph, describe the enclosures.
The next page is the title page. Your name and
contact information single-spaced and in block-style goes in the upper
left-hand corner. Using 36-point and italicizing, center the title. Make it
five words or less, have it be catchy, and indicate something about the story.
A
table of contents is optional. If you use one,
place it after the title page.
The executive summary introduces the project in a
succinct form. Often the editor will make a preliminary decision based only on
a scan of this summary and a few of the submitted pages. Write its nine points
in an outline form. The first point is the title. Follow with: the genre and
sub genre, then the high concept sentence, the target audience, the length,
indicate whether the project is polished and available or give a completion
date, next comes a one paragraph summary, then a short one-paragraph biography.
End with a short marketing summary.
Ideally, a high-concept one-liner contains twenty-five words
or less. Confine yourself to one or two major characters and stay with one
thread of the story. Show how the character is in conflict and use words that
promote empathy.
Be specific about the target readers. Select them based on
their worldview, interests, gender, age, or anything that narrows down the pool
of readers to indicate particular people to whom the marketing should aim.
The word count for adult fiction runs between 60,000 and
120,000 words, depending on the genre and the publisher. Always check
guidelines before you submit.
The next page of the proposal contains the
competition.
Research
Amazon.com and find three to five books in your genre. List their
titles and authors. For each one, write a short paragraph summary and tell how
it is similar to and different from your work.
Though not mandatory, you can include character sketches.
Write approximately a page for each major character. Include any essential back
story, their goals, and how they relate to the story.
A two-page single-spaced or a three- to five-page
double-spaced synopsis comes next. Write it in third person present
tense. Focus on the main plot points and write them in order, showing the
story’s beginning, middle, and end. The first time a character appears, write
his name in capital letters. Open with a hook that contains the main character
and a crisis. Show how he intends to solve the crisis. Be sure to include
motivations and emotions.
An expanded version of your
biography comes next.
Write it in third person. List your credits, pertinent education, and life
experiences.
The all important marketing section appears last. The
editor wants to know about your platform and who you can reach through
organizations, speaking engagements, columns. Include the URLs of your website
and/or blog.
Your well-written proposal is the first step in a long
process. If the editor is interested, he’ll ask for the complete manuscript. If
he likes that, he passes it on to the first of several committees that
ultimately decide whether the book will be published.—Quinn
