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GLL accepts fiction and nonfiction submissions. Genres of interest include: narrative nonfiction, current events/politics, business, lifestyle, and cooking.
For all nonfiction proposals, GLL requires an attractive submission package including two sample chapters. See GLL’s Nonfiction Proposal FAQ and recommended proposal template below.
Please submit only one proposal at a time.
GLL accepts queries by email only.
GLL receives many submissions on a monthly basis, all of which receive careful consideration. Thank you for your patience with this process. GLL requests that all submissions be sent on an exclusive basis.
Proposal FAQ & Template
FAQ
The Nonfiction Book Proposal Frequently Asked Questions
A book proposal is a structured outline that describes an idea for a nonfiction book project. It is first submitted by the author to an agent and then by the agent to publishers.
More often than not, the agent and writer will work together to revise and modify a proposal before submitting it to an editor. Depending on the material, this may be done quickly or it may take significant time and effort. In every case, the goal is to make the proposal as intriguing and irresistible as possible so the editor comes back with an attractive offer.
Please remember to include a one-page cover letter (aka query letter) with your proposal that briefly explains the subject matter of your book and why you are qualified to write it. Describe who your audience is and include pertinent details about your bio. Be sure to list the documents included with your query (proposal and any supplementary materials).
A book proposal is the publishing industry’s version of a pitch deck. In other words, it is a persuasive document used by an author to convince an agent (and then editor) that an idea is a marketable and sellable concept in book format.
While there’s no industry standard for a nonfiction book proposal, all proposal documents contain similar elements. For your convenience, we offer the Green Light Lit template, free of charge. After downloading the template, customize it to your individual project. Consider including additional material such as graphics, charts, etc. to make it as engaging as possible.
Remember, agents and publishers are inundated with query letters and proposals on a daily basis. The best advice we can give is to keep your materials clean, crisp and to the point. Assume you are writing your proposal for someone with a short attention span.
nonfiction book proposal Template
Please note that each proposal section should be as clear and concise as possible. The cleaner and simpler, the better.
Similar to an “executive summary” in a business plan, here you will state the premise of the book and include a strong “hook” that reflects the unique selling proposition for the title. Keep the overview short (1 to 3 pages). Include a catchy, single sentence sales handle describing the project (as if you were doing an elevator pitch).
Create a 2-3 paragraph biography. Don’t be modest. List all of the reasons you are qualified to write this book. Include fun facts about yourself and your hobbies – whatever will highlight your personality. Don’t forget to include any previous publication information and whether or not you have had any experience with media.
State here the projected length of your book and if you wish to include any illustrations, photos, line drawings, etc. Note the envisioned trim size and format of the book as well.
This TOC should resemble the actual TOC in your book. The chapter titles should be as informative and engaging as possible and reflect the overall tone of the material.
In this section, repeat the TOC chapter titles and also briefly explain what each chapter is about. Think about this section as the road map for the book; the information here tips off the reader to the themes of each chapter and shows how everything comes together to convey the overall message of the book.
Green Light Literary requires TWO (2) sample chapters with each proposal. This is where an author shows off his or her writing skills, so select your strongest material. Needless to say, the chapters you choose may depend on what you’ve already written. Make sure the chapters clearly represent the book’s tone, depth and style.
In this section, describe your intended audience. Who is the reader of this book? How big is this market? Why will they be interested in your book?
This is a critical part of the proposal. This section shows that you have done due diligence about your competition. Basically, you are making a case for your book’s publication. First, research current titles that are in the same subject area, paying particular attention to best-selling and trendy titles. Then make a list and note how your book differs from each competitive title. Be brief but thorough. Keep in mind that editors may use this list to look up sales figures (if a title happens to be from their publishing house) to determine if there is a viable market for the subject matter.
The easiest way to come up with comparable titles is to search Amazon or browse the shelves at your local bookstore. Remember to include a sentence afterwards about why you selected this comparison title. Please follow this format:
Book Title, Author Name, Publisher, Publishing Date, Format (i.e. hardcover or paperback), Price (i.e. $19.99)
The purpose of this section is to highlight how you can be the best advocate for the title. This is where you’ll outline your personal media platform – meaning any vehicle you have for reaching your target audience. Do you have a website, a blog with a hearty mailing list of subscribers, social media presence via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and/or Instagram? Indicate the total number of followers on each site. Do you have endorsements or testimonials from your audience? Do you have media contacts? Have you been on tv or radio? Do you do speaking engagements? Lectures? Do you teach?
Do you have any other material that you want to include with the proposal to reinforce your gravitas for this project? For example, do you have articles that demonstrate the timeliness of your subject matter? Do you have photographs or other relevant documentation? Do you have previously published books or articles to share?
NOTE: As previously mentioned, there is no industry standard for a nonfiction book proposal although all proposal documents are similar in format.
Every day, agents and publishers are inundated with query letters and proposals. Recent marketplace observation suggests that the most well-received proposals are short, clean and crisp. So, while there are many components outlined for the proposal template above, please know that less is more. Write your proposal for someone with a short attention span. This forces you to clarify your ideas.
For additional resources about writing a nonfiction proposal, please check out Michael Larsen’s book, How to Write a Book Proposal.