had a different idea in mind for this month’s “What I’m Writing” update. But if I’m being honest with you, there’s really only one thing consuming my writing life right now—and that’s my book proposal.
What’s a book proposal? Good question. It’s the same one I asked last November when I was told I needed one.
After some panicked Googling, I learned that a book proposal is basically a detailed pitch an author writes to show an agent (and eventually a publisher) exactly what their book is, who it’s for, and—most importantly—why it will sell. Most writers craft their proposals early on in the writing process. Me? I finished the manuscript first and then circled back to the proposal. Not the typical path, but then again, not much about this journey has followed a straight line.
Here’s the surprising part: most of the proposal isn’t about the book itself. My current draft is about 7,500 words long (that’s 30 pages!) and only 2,500 of those words are actually a sample from my novel. The rest? It’s all about marketing.
Let me give you a peek behind the curtain:
📚 What’s in a Book Proposal
🔹 Book Hook & Summary First up is the “hook”—a one-sentence pitch that captures the heart of the story, introduces conflict, and makes readers (and hopefully publishers) want more. Here’s my current version:
“In the wake of her mother’s sudden death, 14-year-old aspiring writer Lily grapples with grief-induced writer’s block, only to uncover an untold secret from her mom’s past that could either break her or reignite her passion for words.”
This is followed by a longer, multi-paragraph plot summary that walks the reader through the story’s arc, tone, and emotional stakes.
🔹 Comparative Titles Next, I read 5–7 books similar to mine (in terms of genre, age group, and themes) and wrote short analyses of each—highlighting why these books sold well and how mine offers something fresh. Think: “the same but different.”
🔹 Platform & Network Reach Here, I share details about my personal network, professional connections, and public platforms—any way I might help promote the book once it’s published. From school visits to social media, publishers want to know who’s in your corner.
🔹 Launch & Marketing Plan Finally, I outline what I plan to do to help launch this book into the world. For me, that means writing a middle school unit plan, creating book club questions, and showing I’m ready to partner with publishers to get the word out.
So there you have it—Book Proposal 101. It’s not glamorous, but it’s necessary. And I’m deep in revision #3, aiming to wrap it up by the end of May. My goal is to finish my book proposal (I’m on my third major revision) in May and find my agent. From there, we send my book proposal out to publication companies and hope for a contract.
Fingers crossed. And as always—stay tuned.
My workstation, where chaos and creativity collide
(note super-helpful emotional support dog in the background)