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Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why

by Jeff Herman

Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Want to publish your book?

Learn how—it’s easier than you think!

Charismatic authors and literary agents Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman have successfully sold hundreds of titles and learned—through trial and error—how to write a flawless book proposal that publishers can’t resist. Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:

• How to shape your idea and create a title

• Ways to get to know the market and competition

• Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter

• The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals

• How ten actual proposals (included here) were successfully sold to publishers—and why

"A submission from Jeff Herman always gets moved to the top . . . his new book will show you how to move to the top."—Frederic W. Hills Vice President, Simon & Schuster

"This book will take writers to the highest level of proposal writing and success."—Roger Cooper Quality Paperback Book Club

"If you want your proposal to ignite a busy editor’s interest, read this book."—Adrienne Hickey Senior Acquisitions Editor, AMACOM Books

Book News Annotation:

The authors (both are literary agents, Deborah is an attorney as well) provide easy-to-understand advice on writing and submitting a book proposal, with chapters on the stages of the process, and suggestions for additional bibliography. They demonstrate what makes a good proposal by including ten actual proposals, each heavily annotated by the Hermans, to show how different aspects of the proposals are or are not effective and why.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Synopsis:

Complete guidelines on how to find the right agent and how to sell a book idea to a publisher, includes ten successful proposals and a list of resources.

About the Author

JEFF HERMAN is president of his own very successful literary agency and has been profiled in Success, Entrepreneur, and Publishers Weekly. His Web site is www.jeffherman.com.

DEBORAH LEVINE HERMAN is an attorney, a literary agent, a writer, and a proficient "proposal doctor."

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSAL--AND SOME ADVICE THROWN IN.

The Concept: Shaping Your Idea.

The Title: Creating an Image.

The Overview: Writing Power Paragraphs.

The Markets Section: Who Will Buy Your Book?

The Competition Section: What else Is Out There?

The Promotion Section: What Can You Do to Help Your Book Sell?

The Author Background Section: Presenting Yourself in Your Best Light.

The Outline: Getting It Organized and Making It Persuade.

The Sample Chapter: Proving You Can Do the Job.

What About Fiction?: The Art and Science of Selling Fiction.

Writing Memoir and Narrative Nonfiction.

Query Letter, Submissions, and Sage Advice.

10 PROPOSALS THAT SOLD--AND WHY.

Proposal 1. 10 Habits of Naturally Slim People...And How to Make Them Part of Your Life.

Proposal 2. How to Get Clients: An Easy and Practical Program to Build Your Business.

Proposal 3. Black Roots: A Beginner's Guide to Tracing the Family Tree.

Proposal 4. How Saturn Reinvented the Customer Loyalty Wheel: "No Hassle" Steps ANY Business Can Use!

Proposal 5. The Creativity Toolbox.

Proposal 6. In the Beginning ... A Keepsake Record of Before-Birth Memories Written and Illustrated by "Julie Karen".

Proposal 7. Trust Your Guts! Develop Your Business Intuition and Win--Consistently.

Proposal 8. Workstyles to Fit Your Lifestyle: The Hands-on Guide to Temporary Employment.

Proposal 9. Heart and Soul: A Psychological and Spiritual Guide to Preventing and Healing Heart Disease.

Proposal 10. Taxes Made Easy for Home-Based Businesses: The Complete Plain Language Tax Guide for Home-Based Entrepreneurs and Home-Office Workers.

Book Proposal Terms.

Suggested Reading.

Web Sites.

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
SLH, November 30, 2006 (view all comments by SLH)
I thought this book was very informative. Jeff and Deborah seem to really know their stuff. If you are thinking of writing a book and aren't sure about how to get started or aren't sure what is needed in a book proposal - this is the book for you.

The book is split into two sections. Section One tells you how to write a successful book proposal. Section Two has ten examples of proposals that have been sold to publishers.

In the Introduction, Jeff and Deborah tell you about the importance of a nonfiction book proposal, the contents of a book proposal, and how the book works. It is all laid out in a very easy to understand format.

In Section One, Jeff and Deborah explain chapter by chapter how to write the proposal.

Chapter One: how to shape your idea
Chapter Two: how to create a title
Chapter Three: how to write an overview
Chapter Four: they explain marketing your book
Chapter Five: checking out the competition
Chapter Six: how to promote your book
Chapter Seven: they explain to you the importance of the author section of a book proposal and what to put in that section whether you be an already published writer or a newbie with no background
Chapter Eight: they remind you of your school days when you learned to write an outline and explain how an outline can be useful in writing not only your book but also can help you with your book proposal
Chapter Nine: they explain the importance of sample chapters and how they should be your "best work"
Chapter Ten: they talk a little about fiction book proposals
Chapter Eleven: talks about writing memoirs and narrative nonfiction
Chapter Twelve: explains about Query Letters and Submissions and they throw in a little advice to boot

Section Two has ten successful book proposals. Each book proposal is dissected by Jeff and Deborah and broke down into sections with little sidebars written by Jeff and Deborah explaining what was good or not so good about that section and sometimes they explain what could have made it even better.

In the back of the book they have a glossary of book proposal terms that can help you understand some of the unfamiliar terminology. There is also a Suggested Reading section for other books to look into that might be helpful as well as a section with web addresses with even more information on helping you to get published.

It is a very helpful book. It gave me the confidence to believe that I could do it.

Sandy
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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)

Product Details

ISBN:
9780471353126
Subtitle:
10 That Sold and Why
Author:
Herman, Jeff
Author:
Herman, Deborah Levine
Publisher:
John Wiley & Sons
Location:
New York
Subject:
Writing Skills
Subject:
Authorship
Subject:
Book proposals.
Subject:
Business Communication - General
Subject:
Yearbookss & Annuals
Copyright:
Edition Number:
2
Edition Description:
Revised
Series Volume:
[66]
Publication Date:
January 2001
Binding:
Paper Textbook
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
213
Dimensions:
9.28x7.52x.50 in. .76 lbs.

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