Book Proposals
After Your Submission, Learn Patience
After you submit your proposal to an editor or a literary agent, many writers begin to fixate on their…
February 25, 2026-
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Book Proposals
No Nos for Your Submission
When I write about book proposal creation, I’m giving insights about how to make your proposal stand out to…
December 28, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Why Do Editors Take So Long with my Submission?
Many new authors wonder why it takes so long for the editor (or literary agent) to process my submission?…
November 26, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Editors Do More Than Read Submissions
Editors and agents do a great deal more than read unsolicited manuscripts. As an acquisitions editor, I don’t passively…
November 4, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Snag an Agent with Your Proposal
When you begin to look for publishing houses to send your manuscript, you will note that many of these…
June 26, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Read Your Proposal Looking for Any Hype
As an acquisitions editor and a literary agent, I’ve read thousands of submissions and book proposals. If you have…
May 26, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Build and Maintain Editor Relationships
Many times, through attending conferences, I’ve met a new editor, hit it off personally, and then collected a book…
April 26, 2025 -
Book Proposals
The Hardest Element to Find on Your Proposal
The most difficult element to find in your book proposal is something that is missing or not there. I…
September 26, 2024 -
Book Proposals
How to Get High Profile Endorsements
Do you know a well-known person who will agree to write an endorsement or foreword for your book? Resist…
July 25, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Why I Simultaneously Submit My Proposals
In the early days of my writing, I wondered if I should submit my material one at a time…
May 26, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Create a Compelling Title
One of the biggest errors I see with book proposals is the author has put little or no effort…
April 25, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Write a Spellbinding Sample Chapter
One of the most important parts of every book proposal is the sample chapter. The sample of your writing…
March 26, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Make an Irresistible Proposal
Every author has a challenge with their submission to an agent or editor. How can your proposal become irresistible?…
February 25, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Create a Fascinating Marketing Plan
Many would-be authors are surprised to see this element in the component of an excellent book proposal. They think…
January 25, 2024 -
The Intentional WriterDo you need a book proposal “cheat sheet”?
If you hope to pitch a book to a publisher, especially a non-fiction book, you will need to write…
November 24, 2023 -
Book Proposals
Why Are You The Author?
As an acquisitions editor and a former literary agent, I’ve reviewed thousands of book proposals. For any writer who…
October 25, 2023 -
Book Proposals
A Practical Story: Why A Proposal Is Important
At a small coffee shop, I met Joe Leininger who had traded for ten years in the Eurodollar Pit…
August 25, 2023 -
Book Proposals
The Difference Between a Fiction or Nonfiction proposal
Possibly you are an author who writes nonfiction and fiction. Because I’ve worked in both areas of the market—fiction…
July 25, 2023 -
Book Proposals
Begin at the Beginning
You have a burning desire to write a book. Join the crowd. You might be surprised to learn how…
June 25, 2023 -
Book Proposals
Brainstorm An Excellent “Working” Book Title
“The publisher will never use my title.” Or “It doesn’t matter what I call my book because the…
May 26, 2023 -
Book Proposals
The Missing Author Document
Most authors are focused on writing the best possible manuscript—an important task. While your writing is important, there is…
April 26, 2023 -
Book Proposals
Authors Who Succeed in The Book Business
Throughout my decades in publishing, I’ve written many different types of nonfiction books: biographies, how-to, diet, self-help, co-authored books,…
March 29, 2023 -
Book Proposals
Will An Editor Fix All My Mistakes?
Among writers in the publishing community, there is a false belief that my submission does not have to be…
February 25, 2023 -
Book Proposals
Make Your Proposal Stand Out
Recently I met one of my long-term friends, a publisher of a well-known book company. Speaking about how I…
January 26, 2023 -
Book Proposals
When Your Book doesn’t Sell
I used to cringe when I saw the mail or email from one of my publishers. It probably contained…
December 26, 2022
