| name | book-proposal |
| description | Writes non-fiction book proposals with overview, market analysis, competitive titles, chapter outlines, and sample chapters. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Book Proposal
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Write a non-fiction book proposal for a literary agent or publisher
- Create the full proposal package including overview, market analysis, and chapter outlines
- Develop competitive title analysis and author platform positioning
- Produce a sample chapter that demonstrates writing quality and book tone
DO NOT use this skill for fiction proposals, self-publishing plans, or book marketing. This is for the formal book proposal document used to pitch agents and publishers.
Core Principle
A BOOK PROPOSAL DOES NOT SELL A BOOK — IT SELLS THE MARKET FOR THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR'S ABILITY TO REACH THAT MARKET, BECAUSE PUBLISHERS ARE INVESTING IN A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY, NOT JUST GOOD WRITING.
Phase 1: Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Book concept | "What is the book about in one sentence?" | No default — must be provided |
| Target reader | "Who will buy this book and why?" | No default — must be provided |
| Author credentials | "What qualifies you to write this book?" | No default — must be provided |
| Platform | "What is your existing audience? (email list, social, speaking, media)" | No default — must be provided |
| Competitive titles | "What 3-5 books are similar to yours?" | No default — research required |
| Manuscript status | "How much is written?" | Concept stage — nothing written |
GATE: Confirm the brief before building the proposal.
Phase 2: Structure
Book Proposal Components
1. Title page
2. Overview (2-3 pages) — the hook, concept, and why this book matters now
3. About the Author (1-2 pages) — credentials, platform, and why you
4. Market Analysis (1-2 pages) — who buys this book and how large the market is
5. Competitive Analysis (1-2 pages) — similar books and how yours is different
6. Marketing Plan (1-2 pages) — how you will promote the book
7. Chapter Outline (5-10 pages) — every chapter with title, summary, and key takeaways
8. Sample Chapter (15-25 pages) — one full chapter demonstrating your writing
Total proposal: 30-50 pages
Overview Framework
## Overview Structure
**Paragraph 1:** The hook — why this book needs to exist right now
**Paragraph 2:** The problem — what the reader is struggling with
**Paragraph 3:** The solution — what this book delivers
**Paragraph 4:** The approach — how the book is structured and what makes it unique
**Paragraph 5:** The author — why you are the person to write it (brief, expanded later)
**Paragraph 6:** The market — who will buy it and how many of them exist
GATE: Present the proposal structure and overview outline for approval.
Phase 3: Write
Overview
Write 2-3 pages that make an agent unable to put the proposal down:
- Open with a compelling stat, story, or bold claim
- Clearly state the book's thesis in one sentence
- Explain what the reader will gain (specific transformation)
- Establish urgency — why NOW
- Preview the structure (narrative, framework, workbook, etc.)
About the Author
## Author Bio for Proposal
**Paragraph 1:** Professional credentials and relevance to the topic
**Paragraph 2:** Platform and reach — email list size, social following, speaking frequency, media appearances
**Paragraph 3:** Writing experience — previous publications, guest articles, newsletter subscribers
**Paragraph 4:** Promotional assets — what you will do to sell this book (specific and committed)
Market Analysis
## Target Audience
**Primary reader:** [Demographics, psychographics, buying behavior]
**Market size:** [Number of potential readers, industry size, relevant statistics]
**Buying triggers:** [What makes someone pick up this book — career change, problem, aspiration]
**Where they buy:** [Amazon, airport bookstores, conferences, bulk orders]
Competitive Analysis
For each of 3-5 competitive titles:
## [Book Title] by [Author] ([Publisher], [Year])
**Amazon rank:** [Current rank in relevant category]
**Relevance:** [Why this book is comparable to yours]
**Differentiation:** [How your book differs — angle, audience, depth, approach, recency]
Close with: "My book fills the gap between [Book A] and [Book B] by [specific differentiation]."
Chapter Outline
For each chapter:
## Chapter [N]: [Title]
**Summary (150-250 words):** What this chapter covers, the key argument, and what the reader learns.
**Key takeaways:**
- [Takeaway 1]
- [Takeaway 2]
- [Takeaway 3]
Sample Chapter
- Choose the strongest chapter (not necessarily Chapter 1)
- 15-25 pages, fully written and polished
- Demonstrates your voice, depth, and the book's approach
- Includes stories, frameworks, and actionable content
Phase 4: Polish
1. Proposal Checklist
- [ ] Overview hooks the reader in the first paragraph
- [ ] Book's thesis is stated in one clear sentence
- [ ] Target reader is specific (not "everyone who wants to succeed")
- [ ] Market size is supported with data
- [ ] 3-5 competitive titles analyzed with clear differentiation
- [ ] Author platform is quantified (numbers, not vague claims)
- [ ] Marketing plan is specific and committed (not "I will use social media")
- [ ] Every chapter outline has a summary and takeaways
- [ ] Sample chapter is polished and demonstrates the book's full quality
- [ ] Proposal is 30-50 pages total
- [ ] Formatted per agent or publisher guidelines
2. Common Agent Questions (Prepare Answers)
- "What is the book's one-sentence pitch?"
- "Who is this book for, specifically?"
- "How is this different from [obvious competitor]?"
- "What is your platform and how will you promote the book?"
- "When can you deliver the manuscript?"
- "Are you open to editorial direction on the concept?"
3. Submission Strategy
## Agent/Publisher Outreach Plan
1. Research 10-15 agents who represent similar books
2. Personalize each query letter (reference books they have sold)
3. Send in batches of 5 (adjust pitch based on feedback)
4. Follow up after 6-8 weeks if no response
5. Track all submissions in a spreadsheet
Example 1: Business Strategy Book Proposal
Title: "Systems Over Hustle: The Solopreneur's Guide to Working Less and Earning More"
Reader: Solopreneurs earning $3K-$10K/month who are burned out
Differentiator: Practical systems framework (not mindset advice), author runs a 7-figure solo business
Competitive titles: "Company of One" (different angle — scaling), "The E-Myth Revisited" (different audience — small business, not solo)
Platform: 15,000 email subscribers, 25,000 LinkedIn followers, 30 speaking events/year
Example 2: Industry Expertise Book Proposal
Title: "The Content Multiplier: How to Build a Media Business from One Weekly Post"
Reader: Content creators and solopreneurs who publish weekly
Differentiator: Step-by-step repurposing system backed by data from 500+ content creators
Competitive titles: "Content Inc." (broader scope), "They Ask, You Answer" (different channel focus)
Platform: 8,000 newsletter subscribers, podcast with 50K downloads/month
Anti-Patterns
- Selling the book, not the market — publishers want to know the market size and your access to it, not just that the book is good.
- No platform — a brilliant proposal from an author with no audience usually gets rejected. Build the platform first or address the gap honestly.
- Vague competitive analysis — "My book is different because it's better" is not analysis. Be specific about the gap your book fills.
- Sample chapter is unpolished — this is the writing sample agents judge you by. It must be your best work.
- "Everyone" as the target reader — "This book is for anyone who wants success" means it is for no one. Narrow the audience.
- Marketing plan says "social media" — agents want specifics. "I will email my 15,000 subscribers, secure 20 podcast guest spots, and speak at 10 events" is a plan.
Recovery
- User has no platform: Be honest in the proposal and show a platform-building plan. Alternatively, self-publish first to build credibility and an audience.
- Cannot identify competitive titles: The book idea may be too niche or too broad. Refine until you can find 3-5 books that exist in the same space.
- Sample chapter is not strong enough: Hire an editor for the sample chapter specifically. It is worth the investment — this is the chapter that sells the book deal.
- Agent rejections pile up: Revise the overview and pitch based on feedback. If no feedback, the problem is usually the market size argument or the platform section.
