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> I'm fine-tuning an outline for a book proposal, and I'm having some
> doubts whether I should include it with my proposal entirely, or partly.
Before you tie yourself in knots over the proposal, I suggest that you write
a simple one page query letter outlining your proposed topic and your
qualifications for writing about it. The publisher will then tell you
whether or not they are interested in any book on that topic -- based on the
sales potential of such a title. If there are similar books on the market
they will look at how well they are selling and see if there is a market for
another.
If there is no market for such a title, they won't read a proposal and you
don't need to waste time writing one. If there is a market, then your query
letter has opened the door and your proposal will go to an actual editor and
not to the slush pile. Also, the editor will tell you exactly what they want
to see in a proposal.
And no, they won't steal your idea. If they like it, the cheapest way for
them to acquire it is to have you write it. And if they think you have good
book ideas, they will want you in their stable.
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Mark Baker
Analecta Communications
www.analecta.com
+1 613 614 5881
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