How to Write a Book Proposal

Praise

"Indispensable!" —W. Bruce Cameron, New York Times best-selling author of A Dog's Purpose
 
"A treasure trove of ideas to get your work published!" —Mark Obmascik, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Big Year and Halfway to Heaven
 
"Sets a new gold standard for aspiring authors!" —Madeleine Morel, literary agent, 2M Communications

"Two top publishing pros, Jody Rein and Michael Larsen, offer here an invaluable guidebook for anyone trying to figure out how to best present your story so that those in power will pay attention. Step by step, they take you through the process of creating your proposal, giving you priceless insight into what will work best for YOU. They demystify and clarify, and make the whole process make sense. Trust them; you won’t be sorry." –CHUCK ADAMS, Executive Editor, Algonquin Books

"Jody Rein taught me how to write my very first book proposal, which resulted in my very first book sale, the New York Times best-selling 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter. Now she's taken that pragmatic advice and turned it into an indispensable guide for neophytes and seasoned professionals alike, full of hands-on, practical advice on what to do and when to do it to ensure a professional, winning book proposal!" –W. BRUCE CAMERON, best-selling author of A Dog's Purpose

"The fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal sets a new gold standard for aspiring authors." –MADELEINE MOREL, literary agent, 2M Communications Ltd.

"Michael Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal has been the respected standard in the field ever since it was first published. Now in its fifth edition, it continues to be the best resource for any author wishes to land an agent and a commercial publishing deal. The market is more competitive than ever, and this book gives you the edge you'll need." –JANE FRIEDMAN, publishing consultant

"Jody Rein knows what publishers want. This book is a treasure trove of ideas to get your work published." –MARK OBMASCIK, Pulitzer Prize-winning best-selling author of Halfway to Heaven and The Big Year

"How to Write a Book Proposal 5th Edition is hands down the most thorough and helpful proposal-writing guide on the market. Rein and Larsen eliminate all guesswork and provide writers with exactly what they need to craft pitches that sell! I wish I'd had this gem years ago." –TONI ROBINO, best-selling collaborator and coach, Windword Literary Services

"The fifth edition of this book will change everyone's dream of writing and publishing a book into actual REALITY! The ideas in this edition have been integral to the publication of my last six books. And I love the inside scoop and behind-the-scenes stories of the publishing world. I LOVE this book! Thank you Jody Rein and Mike Larsen!" –MARK KISTLER, best-selling author of You Can Draw in 30 Days! and Emmy Award-winning host of PBS' Mark Kistler's Imagination Station

"This book is truly the ultimate resource for writers who want to land a book deal; it's written by two extremely experienced publishing pros who understand the industry and know what it takes to break in. If you are serious about taking the path to traditional publishing, buy this book now and absorb every word. Highly recommended!" –STEPHANIE CHANDLER, author of The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan and CEO of NonfictionAuthorsAssociation.com

"How to Write a Book Proposal is THE resource for aspiring nonfiction authors. It breaks down what we are looking for as agents with useful examples and tips from our side of the desk. I recommend it!" –GORDON WARNOCK, Partner, Fuse Literary Agency

"Take it from someone who has seen A LOT of book proposals: the advice in this book is the real deal. More than simply a 'how-to,' the fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal shines a light on virtually every aspect of book publishing today. And it's fun to read!" –JUDY KLEIN, former VP, Farrar, Straus & Giroux; owner, Kleinworks Agency

"The no-nonsense title says it all. This book is your ticket to getting published, full of practical advice from pros with long records of helping authors turn good ideas into salable and successful books." –CHARLES SLACK, author of Liberty's First Crisis, Hetty, Noble Obsession, and Blue Fairways.

"Jody Rein, former executive editor with divisions of HarperCollins Publishers and Penguin Random House, is the founder of boutique literary agency Jody Rein Books, Inc., and respected publishing consulting and coaching firm Author Planet Consulting. Jody has represented, published and coached hundreds of authors through successful publication in every form, from e-books to international bestsellers to major motion pictures. Michael Larsen, co-director of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference, is the author or co-author of eleven books. He is an author coach and a former agent, having co-founded the Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency, which sold books to more than 100 publishers and imprints. Together they draw upon their years of experience and expertise to publish the updated and expanded fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal: The Insider's Step-by-Step Guide to Proposals that Get You Published. Being a complete and comprehensive course of step-by-step instructions and impressively informative commentary, How to Write a Book Proposal is absolutely essential reading for any author wanting to 'turn pro' and make a living with what they write be it fiction, non-fiction, or a combination of both. Of special note are the four appendices (The Publishing Process; The Virtual Media Kit; Four Sample Proposals; Sample Proposals Index), a listing of Additional Resources, and a four page Index. Simply stated, no personal, professional, community, or academic library's Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections should be without a copy of this newly revised fifth edition of How to Write a Book Proposal: The Insider's Step-by-Step Guide to Proposals that Get You Published." —Midwest Book Review