Thread by @lportwoodstacer

Want a book contract this year? You gotta write a book proposal.

But it doesn’t have to be hard. Seriously.

Doing the research & writing the manuscript (+ finding time to do it) are the hard parts.

The academic book proposal itself follows a predictable format and here it is:

1. Title. Call it a working title if you don’t like the one you have yet.

The point of a book title isn’t to be cute. It’s to let people who don’t yet know about your book see that you wrote it for them.

Straightforward & explanatory is usually better than poetic & obscure

2. Project description.

This doesn’t have to be too long. 2-3 pages will probably do it.

What’s the main thing yr arguing, what’s yr evidence, why does it matter, where does the book start & end, what is the scholarly contribution?

Here’s a template: newsletter.manuscriptworks.com/p/how-to-descr…

3. Audience.

Who is the core group of readers yr hoping to have an impact on with your book? What ongoing conversation are you stepping into and who is having that conversation?

Well-defined + realistic = appealing to publishers. Yr book isn’t for everyone & doesn’t have to be

4. Comparable books.

Not a lit review or summary of the most impt books of all time on yr topic.

A discussion of *recent* books being read by the ppl you hope will read yr book. Establishes inductively that there’s a current readership for yr bk.

Don’t say there are no comps!

5. Table of contents + chapter summaries

Here’s where you flesh out what’ll be in the book that you described in your project description.

Explain how and why each chapter fits in the book. Don’t get wrapped up in the research content beyond a quick summary. This is a map.

6. Manuscript specs.

What’s the projected word count for the finished manuscript?(everything but the index, yes your bibliography counts)

How many images, tables, diagrams, etc. will you want to include?

Look at recent books from yr target presses to see what’s reasonable

7. Manuscript status.

2 key pieces of info to provide here:

What portions of the manuscript are currently complete and could be peer reviewed right away?

Around when do you think you could have a full manuscript ready to be peer reviewed? (Be realistic & kind to yourself)

8. Author info.

Key thing to get across here is how you’ve proven yr expertise in yr area & the fact that ppl already recognize that expertise

Degrees, jobs, teaching, publications, talks, etc. all paint this picture. You probably have more qualifications than you realize

Different presses use diff language to refer to these components but they’re all basically looking for the same things. Consult submission guidelines & ask around if something doesn’t make sense.

You can ask me if you have no one to ask! DM or email [e-mail]

Would you like this list in a handy infographic format? Here you go! Get the pdf: newsletter.manuscriptworks.com/p/building-blo…

Want more guidance on how to get your academic book published this year? Everything you need to know is in THE BOOK PROPOSAL BOOK plus there are free worksheets at bookproposalbook.com

I also run a 6-week group program if you need some structure & motivation to get a proposal done. You show up with a book project, you leave ready to talk to your top publishers about it

Sign-up opens on Monday (tomorrow) at 9 PST courses.manuscriptworks.com/p/accelerator

The upcoming session of the Book Proposal Accelerator is now full, but I also have a self-paced program to walk you thru drafting a proposal step by step, with insider tips.

The Book Proposal Shortcut for Busy Scholars is open until Sunday night (1/9)

courses.manuscriptworks.com/p/shortcut