How To Write A Nonfiction Book Proposal May 28-June 7

In this course, you will learn the basics of non-fiction trade book proposals, receive feedback on your proposals and queries, and become part of a community of writers.

This course is carefully designed to help you work through all the components of a book proposal through a series of easy exercises that ask you to hone in on the most essential elements of your book. It will help you develop, refine, or revise non-fiction proposals for literary agents, trade presses, and university presses. You will have access to explanations of all the elements that a standard book proposal should include, discussions of the differences between trade and university presses and small and large publishers, as well as the process of finding an agent, the ins and outs of query letters, whether or not you need a 'platform,' and the crucial but oft-misunderstood purpose of comparative and competing titles. Also included are Q&As with editors at trade and university presses.

I will provide feedback on every exercise and draft posted by every participant. I will do so to the group, offering everyone even more insight, as they can see how I respond to the ideas of others, which I think is almost more helpful than helpful on one's own work! Others in the group can also weigh in, creating a community of people working together. Past participants in these classes have continued on to work with each other, creating writing groups. Some have lasted for years!

People who take this course do receive contracts! A better marketer would provide you lots of testimonials and give you links to those books, but until I become that marketer, know this: there are books now in this world that were born in this course, and there are even more in production, soon to be published. Academics, take note: this is a very popular course with PhDs who have trade book ideas, and there is an informal pipeline from Thinking Writer "alums" to university press acquisitions. (And I'm happy to work with your institution for payment.)

The course is online and asynchronous. There are no set times or work requirements. All enrollees are encouraged to complete the exercises and receive feedback on book ideas during the course, but it is not mandatory. You can participate daily or choose to lurk and learn: the course is also useful for those who simply want to understand the ins and outs of proposals as well as those with completed proposals they are ready to send out. All the materials are accessible after the course ends, so if you are busy during course, you can ‘take’ it later. Log on and participate whenever your schedule allows.

Finally, by enrolling in this course you will become part of a community of other writers working on proposals. Friendships and writing groups often form between participants who continue to work together after the course ends.

Note on memoirs: I've seen an uptick on memoir writers in the course recently, and while the course will help you with your proposal, please be aware that if you do not have significant clips already, it will be very difficult to get a traditional publishing contract.

Course enrollment will be capped at 12 participants. If you are looking to register and are allowed to hear, that means there is still space (it will shown "Sold Out" once the spots are gone).

Anne Trubek is the founder and publisher of Belt Publishing as well as the author of So You Want To Publish Is Book? (Belt, 2020), The History and Uncertain Future of Handwriting (Bloomsbury USA) and A Skeptic’s Guide To Writers’ Houses (University of Pennsylvania Press). She has edited Voices from the Rust Belt, The Cleveland Neighborhood Guidebook, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology and Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age.

FAQs:

HOW MUCH TIME IS REQUIRED?
There are no set times when the course meets. Every morning, I will post new content. You choose when to read it, and if you want to respond (many of the posts are followed by short assignments).

HOW FAR ALONG SHOULD I BE?
Having a basic idea of your topic and thesis and some ideas about structure is probably the "best" place to be when you take the course. But many people take the course because they inspiration to focus their basic topic, and others take it to revise already drafted proposals. I don't want to keep saying "the course accomodates a range" but it really does!

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS?
In the first week, I will give you daily short exercises aimed at honing the keys to a good book proposal: a focused topic, knowledge of the field, how to anticipate and answer potential agent and editor questions and concerns, and how to demonstrate your expertise. My method involves boiling down your book to the most essential components, so the assignments focus on economy and have short word limits. In the second week, you will have a chance to draft chapter summaries and we will discuss researching presses, agents, platforms, and marketing. In between, I will share Q&As with editors and agents. I will provide feedback on everything everyone in the course posts on the private WetInk site we use for the course.

BIG CARTEL ADDS TAX, WHY?
It's confusing! I can't seem to override it. But you can $400 to me via PayPal at [email protected] instead.

NONE OF THESE ARE MY QUESTIONS
Email me! [email protected]. I love answering questions.