Tips before you write your book proposal
February 10th, 2008
Before starting your book proposal, make sure that you have a strong book concept, an interesting approach and a catchy title.
Clearly identify your market, your niche, and understand what your proposal is intended to achieve. Make sure that your book is of the best quality:
that it is interesting, well written, and filled with information that will really help readers.
*** 6 Action Steps****
1. Be honest. Does the world need another book on your topic?
Check bookstores and get in the know about what books exist.
If you think that your book is better and brighter, then
perhaps it’s meant to be.
2. Don’t let anyone talk you out of your dream. If you believe
in your idea and it does not exist, then don’t postpone
success.
Many agents have turned down ideas and said, “It’s just a
magazine article,” but those ideas sold.
3. Search online. Search everywhere. Talk to bookstore owners;
see what’s out there. Study your competition.
Learn what other authors have done. Were their books
successful?
4. Research your book’s title. You might be surprised to find
that your title already exists. Was it on your topic?
The same title could be used for a book for kids and one
about pets. Don’t rule out a great title, but make sure that
your book won’t be confused with or be considered derivative
to another book unless that’s your intent.
5. Create an outline. Outline your book and see if you are
still glued to the project after you set up what your
chapters are about, etc. Sometimes people discover they
really don’t have a great deal to say, whfereas others find
the proof in the outline.
6. Write a Dear Reader letter. Try this assignment: write a
letter to your reader and state what you plan to deliver in
your book. It’s a promise to the reader. You’ll know after
writing this letter and sharing it with others if there’s a
burning passion in you to write this book.
Then, keep your promise!
get our free million dollar rolodex at http://www.rickfrishman.com
Rick Frishman, the founder of Planned Television Arts, has been one of the leading book publicists in America for over 30 years.
Working with many of the top book editors, literary agents and publishers in America, including Simon and Schuster, Random House, Wiley, Harper Collins, Pocket Books, Penguin Putnam, and Hyperion Books, he has worked with best-selling authors including Mitch Albom, Bill Moyers, Stephen King, Caroline Kennedy, Howard Stern, President Jimmy Carter, Mark Victor Hansen, Nelson DeMille, John Grisham, Hugh Downs, Henry Kissinger, Jack Canfield, Alan Deshowitz, Arnold Palmer, and Harvey Mackay.
In addition to his work at “PTA” Rick has now taken on the new role as Publisher at Morgan James Publishing in New York. David Hancock founded Morgan James in 2003 and in 2007 “MJ” published over 130 books. Morgan James only publishes non fiction books and looks for authors with a platform who believe in giving back. Morgan James gives a portion of every book sold to Habitat for Humanity. (www.morganjamespublishing.com)
Rick has also appeared on hundreds of radio shows and more than a dozen TV shows nationwide including OPRAH and Bloomberg TV. He has also been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Selling Power Magazine, New York Post and scores of publications.
He is the co-author of eight books, including national best-sellers GUERRILLA PUBLICITY and NETWORKING MAGIC. Along with media personality Robyn Freedman Spizman, Rick also co-wrote the popular four-book series AUTHOR 101 TM and recently they teamed up for their highly acclaimed book entitled WHERE’S YOUR WOW? 16 Ways To Make Your Competitors Wish They Were You! (McGraw Hill, March, 2008).
He is the co-host (with attorney Richard Solomon) of the radio show Taking Care of Business, which airs every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 pm on WCWP-Radio in Long Island, New York. (www.tcbradio.com) Rick has a B.F.A. in acting and directing and a B.S. from Ithaca College School of Communications and is a sought after lecturer on publishing and public relations and a member of PRSA and the National Speakers Association.
Rick and his wife Robbi live in Long Island with their three children, Adam, Rachel and Stephanie, and a cockapoo named Rusty.
Go to www.rickfrishman.com for more information and to get Rick’s “Million Dollar Rolodex.”