5 Secrets to a Winning Book Proposal

If you're seeking a publishing offer, your book proposal matters. Don't assume you can simply send in your manuscript, as most publishers won't read a full manuscript. You want your proposal to stand out, right?

Our CEO, Conni Francini, has reviewed thousands of submissions. Like resumes, few stand out from the masses. To help your book submission stand out from the crowd, here are five secrets you should know.

Identify your audience

Be specific about who your readers are and why they'll be interested in your book. You can support this with data about the audience's size and engagement with the topic.

• A book for "attorneys" is too general.

• A book for "advisory attorneys who don't enjoy business development but need to do it in order to grow their practice" is more specific.

Research the market

Begin by researching what's already in the market for your audience and your topic. Find a few competing titles and try to identify "what's missing" from these. Also look at the digital media landscape, and

• Look at books that cover your topic.

• Look at the formats (picture book, hardcover, audio book, etc.).

Explain your book's value

In your book overview, explain why your book is worth considering. You can include a strong elevator pitch that captures the book's essence in a concise statement. You can also highlight what makes your book different from similar titles.

• Identify (from your audience's perspective) the problem, challenge, or misconception about your topic.

• Briefly explain the big idea or lesson learned you want readers to take away from your book.

Create a marketing plan

Publishers want to know that you're committed to making your book a success. You can include information about your platform, such as your education, writing experience, and plans for online marketing.

• Include information about your mailing list. Here, a small, highly engaged list of subscribers is much better than thousands of people who don't have much interest in your topic.

• Add details about any speaking (such as keynotes or at industry conferences) and media appearances (such as guest columns or podcast appearances).

• Include information about any active social media accounts.

To submit your book proposal to Soro, click here.