Writing a nonfiction book pitch letter

If youre writing nonfiction, suddenly the bio paragraph becomes the most important part of the letter. Agent query letters that actually worked for nonfiction galleycat. I have a ba in humanities and philosophy and an ma in womens studies. Save yourself the headache and come up with a one sentence, one paragraph, and two paragraph pitch before you even start to query. For more on pitching your book, check out these articles. You are, instead, choosing a dramatic topic with a natural story arc and finding the right facts to support it. If you have an idea for a nonfiction book, its better to write a couple of chapters and then pitch a book proposal. Pick agents who are clearly interested in the kind of book youre writing and who appear to be eager to find new writers. Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, dialogue pulls readers in. If youve had experience submitting novels to literary agents and publishersquery letter, synopsis, sample pagesyou may think you know all you need to know about submitting your selfhelp book or other nonfiction project. If interested, they ask for the full book and consider it mostly on how well its written. Most nonfiction proposals follow a specific format that includes the following elements. Sample query letter the best way to locate these is to examine books in your genre.

The idea is that you might find yourself in the elevator with someone important who cant, for those twenty or thirty seconds, escape or deflect your attentions so you can use that time to deliver a sales pitch so utterly compelling that that person of. Novelists and most memoirists should have a finished and polished manuscript before they begin querying. For the latter, it starts with a query letter, also known as a pitch. How one of the worlds bestselling authors fixed my book and changed my life feb. Write a great elevator pitch for your book or novel jericho. The content is topnotch, but its all packed into short sentences and easily understandable vocabulary. Though query letters may sound straightforward, learning the ins and outs of writing a successful query letter is important for anyone hoping to break in as a writer.

Now lets move on to the tips so you can write your book synopsis for book agents tip 1 how to write a book synopsis for literary agents length. Start by explaining the main problem that your book addresses. Most aspects of writing are covered in this book like, what to write, researching your topic, the books title and subtitle, the covers, both front and back, getting your writing organized into a system, and find a publisher and agent. The letter you send to an agent to get him to request your book proposal is a query letter. Oct 25, 2016 a book proposal is a document most commonly associated with pitching a nonfiction book. You might also tie the topic of your book into a statistic that proves the market for your book.

How to write a killer query letter for selfhelp and how. If youre writing a memoir, do you pitch it like a fiction book complete the whole manuscript or like a nonfiction book a complete book proposal with a few sample chapters. Theres a very specific standard for query letters that you should not deviate from, when possible. That was a two book deal, admittedly, so you can divide the numbers by two to get a per book amount. Your proposal page should include the expected length of your completed book and. Once youve decided on the perfect pitch for your book, its time to present that pitch in a professionallooking proposal.

Pitching your nonfiction book to an agent or editor takes less than thirty seconds. The process will help you refine your book idea so you can write a compelling query letter. How to write a killer query letter for selfhelp and howto. Agent query letters that actually worked for nonfiction. Once you find an agent you would like to represent your book, the pitch letter is the next step in the traditional. Explain the purpose of the book nonfiction or plot details fiction. Magazine freelancers use query letters to pitch ideas to editors, and the importance of an attentiongetting query cannot be. Learn how to write successful queries for any genre of writing by breaking down the query letter and supplying links to example queries that worked. A query letter for a nonfiction book isnt all that different from a fiction query. But if youre writing nonfiction, this is query letter 101. Freelance writers face many hurdles, from earning a fair wage to finding the right places to submit their work. Nov 03, 2016 its your book and you can do anything you want. The overview or query letter is a brief 2 to 3 page introduction.

How to write a nonfiction book proposal with examples. The book proposal is a 1550 or so page manuscript that a writer uses to pitch a nonfiction book to publishers. You will be happy to hear that cover letters arent actually too complicated to write. Generally speaking, literary agents specializing in fiction and memoir typically require a query letter, synopsis, and writing sample, whereas agents and publishers specializing in nonfiction require a full book proposal. But the fact remainsyoung readers of all ages are hungry for information. If you know what your book is about and you know why someone should want to read your book what benefits it will provide and why it is uniqueyou should be able to write something pithy in 50 words or less that describes your book perfectly. Sample query letter nonfiction authors association. When you write your query letter, tailor it to the individual even though this means youll have to rethink your pitch letter for each agent you address it to. Without being selfserving, you must capture the essence of your book, why it will appeal to book buyers, and whats most impressive about your platform, promotion plan, and credentials. She is the publisher of the hot sheet, the essential newsletter on the publishing industry for authors, and was named publishing commentator of the year by digital book world in 2019 in addition to being a columnist for publishers weekly. The following is an excerpt from write a book without lifting a finger by mahesh grossman, available at. Dec 10, 2018 if you have an idea for a nonfiction book, its better to write a couple of chapters and then pitch a book proposal. If youre a nonfiction author who does not yet have an agent, you can save time and energy by sending a query letter to potential agents. My research, writing and editing skill are flawless.

How to finally write your nonfiction book the new york times. How to write the perfect pitch letter to an agent curtis. When youre pitching fiction to an agent or publisher through a query letter, your ultimate goal is to get your manuscript read. Get an agent interested before you write the proposal october 7, 2017 by lynette padwa lots of firsttime nonfiction authors are thrilled to learn they dont have to write an entire manuscript to acquire an agent and hopefully a publisher they just have to write a book proposal. May 27, 20 before you read on, you need to realize that the bio section of a query letter is a completely different beast for fiction vs. This letter is your first point of contact between you and a publisher, therefore, it is crucial that aspiring authors know how to write a decent cover letter. So today im sharing the query i sent to literary agents with the hopes that it will help you create your own pitch letter. Nonfiction books jane friedman for years, ive offered a lengthy guide on how to write a query letter for a novel. How to write successful queries for any genre of writing. We break down the article pitch into eight easy steps. I also sold a book off the back of a nonfiction book proposal that had multiple publishers bidding for the rights, and ended up being sold to harpercollins for. Since most agents ask that the picture book manuscript be included in the submission, writing a really meaty query letter for picture book, especially for that short a manuscript seems a bit silly. A query letter is your first contact with a literary agent. If youre writing nonfiction and you havent completed the manuscript due to the volume of research required, mention that a complete pitch package is available upon request.

How to write an effective query letter a query letter is a note asking an agent if theyre interested in representing a book. One of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well. How to write the perfect article pitch freelancewriting. Its a request for representationa brief introduction to you and your nonfiction book that hopefully piques the agents interest and makes her or him want to learn more. How to write the perfect query letter query letter example. Learn more about how to deal with books that straddle the line between fiction and nonfiction. Query letters and book proposals ghostwriting, editing. Thank you for sharing this successful query letter.

The one sentence, one paragraph, and two paragraph pitch. You must explain your credits, bio and platform making a case that you are the best person to write this book and you have some means in place to sell it. Nonfiction query basics part 1 picture books sub it club. Search for a few strong words that capture the theme and conflict in your story or message and build from there. If youre writing fiction, this can still help, but it matters less so. When it comes to fiction, few agents or editors expect or require book proposals, but its an incredibly useful tool. Add a bio including a professional resume and platform, i.

Without being selfserving, you must capture the essence of your book, why it will appeal. This means, of course, that you arent making things up. It includes information on the content, the author, the market, and the salability of the project. On the road to traditional publication, your query letter plays a central role in getting literary agents and publishers to notice your book.

Agents may receive a dozen or more queries a day and might only sign four or five authors per year. Before you read on, you need to realize that the bio section of a query letter is a completely different beast for fiction vs. A treasure hunter searches for a lost necklace in the himalayas. One way to start writing your hook is to jot down some sentences about the main plot or topic of your book and the main characters fiction or people and ideas nonfiction. Prepare a query letter include a book overview, target audience, usp, writing cv, and motivation for writing. In this paragraph of your query letter, write a pitch for your book.

How to write a winning book pitch write nonfiction now. This is the downanddirty, grabyourattention info that leaves a reader wanting more. His new book about working with john grisham is writing with the master. The cover letter should be no longer than two a4 pages preferably one and made up of a few brief paragraphs, see below for the breakdown of what should be in the cover letter and can appear in any logical order you choose.

This letter is short, sweet, and definitely to the point. If writing an article pitch makes you fret, bear in mind the benefits. If youre writing nonfiction, the bio section is typically long, and of the utmost importance. Once you find an agent you would like to represent your book, the pitch. It only took him fifteen more years to finally get a book published. This post focuses on query letters for novels, although the same advice applies to memoirists, because both novelists and memoirists are selling a story. Oct 07, 2017 it requires thinking, visualizing, research, organizing content, and a salesoriented style of writing thats different from nonfiction prose.

You dont have to count the title of your book in the word count, and you may find the subtitle actually may work well as a description. So you want to write a nonfiction book the washington post. To help inspire you, weve collected 116 examples of successful query letters from famous authors spanning various genres, from crime fiction, to fantasy, to young adult. Nov 06, 2014 writing a query letter for your selfhelp or howto book. Thank the person reading for their time and consideration, then mention that the full manuscript is available upon request. Tell the details first genre, title, word count if appropriate, if it is complete. This should be 25 words or less that describe the essence of your book. How to write a nonfiction book proposal with template. In effect, think of the overview as a sales letter. Every agent will have different pet peeves, different priorities, and different interests, but most likely every single agent who received this query was compelled to move on to at least read gia cribbss first chapters, which, by the way you can do right now in any book store or online to see why gia had so much immediate. Author michael schreiber and literary agent mitchell waters were kind enough to agree to share michaels query letter, which landed him.

How to write a query letter 12 key steps to success. Actually, its rude to go over one page in a query letter. Sample query letter actual letter that landed a book deal hi name of person, i would love to speak with you about my new book kick start your success and its ability to become a market phenomenon. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first and often, your only chance to get an agent interested in reading and, with hope, signing your work. If youre writing a memoirstyle book, youll want to consider the period and what was. Now that im selling books rather than paper towels, i was struck with something i read recently. Often in the form of an email, a pitch allows you to submit an idea to an editor, gain their interest, and secure the job. Find out who is publishing the majority of books in your. Let us guide you through the query letter writing process and find out what a query letter is, why it is important, basic formatting tips, and much more. To get started writing your books description, try these 4 easy steps for nonfiction book descriptions.

Give your book the best possible chance to succeedcommit to the process of crafting a sound pitch. Boil all of that down into an elevator pitch, and practice it. But its the result of a lot of research into how to write a good query, and several people who know what they. Get their attention, and pull them in within the first few sentences. If youre pitching an article to an inflight magazine, make sure to follow our query letter sample. You are selling the editor on the idea that there are a lot of people who have an urgent problem your book will solve, and that they will see your book as the solution to that problem. Here are three common questions, answered for writers looking to pave a successful path into the world of publishing with a cover letter.

Title content rationale competition format chapterbychapter outline credentials sample chapters. Jun 25, 2019 the following is an actual query letter that helped author romanus wolter sell his manuscript to wiley publishing. Writers use query letters to pitch article ideas to magazine editors or book ideas to agents and publishers. Book proposals are generally used for nonfiction books and can. Translate this 30second pitch to 150200 words or copythats your description. Mar 21, 2016 one of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well. Nina also is an award winning blogger and journalist, international speaker and founder of national nonfiction writing month, also known as the write nonfiction in november challenge, and the nonfiction writers university. It explains the difference in proposals between traditional nonfiction and narrative nonfiction, helps you write a strong proposal, and gives a very thorough overview of the book proposal.

Pitch it if you had 30 seconds to explain to readers why they would enjoy your nook book, what would you say. Writing a pitch shouldnt be too difficult after going through the steps ive outlined previously. Write a query letter to your literary agent with a quick pitch, hook, or your elevator pitch. How not to write a darn good query letter dont go beyond one page. How to write a nonfiction query letter eschler editing. Create two versions of your fiction book synopsis for publishing agents. Now you need a fabulous query letter to grab an agent or a publisher so they ask you to send your proposal. Todays guest post is written by literary agent michael larsen, author of how to write a book proposal. This post is by far the most complete one, giving you pretty much everything you need to know on the subject. Mar 29, 2019 pitching your nonfiction book to an editor is the first step to getting published. Write a onepage book pitch to land a literary agent. Query letters and book proposals ghostwriting, editing, and. A query letter is a onepage letter sent to literary agents in an effort to get them excited about your book.

If youre a nonfiction author who does not yet have an agent, you can save yourself time and energy by doing what novelists do. Whether youre writing a fiction novel or nonfiction book, youre going to need to know how to write a query letter. So you can see how making a good first impression in your query is crucial. The truth is the nonfiction book proposal is an entirely different beast. An elevator pitch is the term given to any sales pitch that could, in theory, be delivered in the space of a short elevator ride. Nonfiction is often sold on the basis of a proposal. Writing a query letter for your selfhelp or howto book. Those of you who wanted 250 words just to pitch your book, take heed. Though its written in place of an actual book, it should build a complete argument for the book idea. Narrative nonfiction tells a story that is 100 percent factual.

Summaries enable you to submit a paragraph or two on your idea instead of wasting time writing an entire article that gets put on the backburner because it was not what the publication had in mind. Sue bradford edwards is a nonfiction author with over 600 sales to her credit including 24 nonfiction books for young readers. If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first and often, your only chance to get an agent interested in. Pitching a nonfiction novel is a lot like selling a business idea. What to write in the bio section of your query letter. Feb 03, 2020 a query letter is an introductory letter sent to a literary agent to see if theyd be interested in representing your book and helping get it published.

Unlike a pitch for a work of fiction, a nonfiction book does not have to be completely written. As a freelancer and writing instructor, ive written hundreds of magazine article queries and edited hundreds of others over the past seven years. You have one page and 300 words or less to woo a literary agent into falling in love with your story and then requesting your manuscript. Inflight magazine query letter sample freelancewriting. Write a great elevator pitch for your book or novel. Format with your address at the top of the page, right justified. Sub it club query master heather burnell recently used the framework. Oct 26, 2012 writing a pitch shouldnt be too difficult after going through the steps ive outlined previously. But if youve added in a love interest, an exploding car, or any other plot device that didnt actually happen, then youre not really writing a memoir anymore. How to pitch agents at a writers conference jane friedman. Follow this stepbystep template to craft a great blurb or summary and the ultimate persuasive pitch.

Are you struggling to write a nonfiction query letter to literary agents. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Because i have expertise at all levels of writing from journalism to feature writing, i have the skill to present even the most challenging information in an interesting way and in a readerfriendly style. How to write a one sentence pitch nathan bransford. I mean, how to write a pitch letter aka query letter for your novel or nonfiction book or article idea or essay that literally stops editors and agents dead in their tracks. This bears little to no relation to a nonfiction book proposal. May 28, 2017 but having the manuscript complete does not get you off the hook when it comes to writing the proposal. In a page or two youll tantalize the agent with your idea, credibility, platform, and the market for the book.

Book proposals are essentially a set of architectural plans melded with a movie pitch and a marketing strategy, plus one or two sample chapters thrown in to prove you can deliver the manuscript you. Below, well go over some tips for getting your pitch in orderso you can nail the proposal whether its your first or 15th book. When i see a picture book query done well and when i write my own picture book pitches, in fact its usually very simple. This is where you list out all your credentials as well as the greatest hits of your writer platform. Example of a good nonfiction query letter nathan bransford editing.

You may occasionally hear someone refer to novel proposals, which typically includes a query or cover letter, a synopsis, and a partial or complete manuscript. How to write a picture book query letter in 6 simple steps. Its really not something that is going to sink or float your book. There are many rules, both written and unwritten, for what makes a query letter or book proposal successful. A good pitch is not going to mean your book gets published and a bad pitch doesnt mean your book wont get published. If you know what your book is about and you know why someone should want to read your bookwhat benefits it will provide and why it is uniqueyou should be able to write something pithy in 50 words or less that describes your book perfectly. How to write an outreach email plus a bonus email template how to get a literary agent. Im writing a book about describe it in a few sentences. How to write a query letter that gets manuscript requests. How to write a darn good query letter ny book editors. Much like a query letter, its helpful to include the elevator pitch of your book in a proposal. To learn how to pitch a nonfiction book to an editor, you must include all of the components of a nonfiction book proposal in the package you submit such as an introduction letter, synopsis, marketing information and author biography.

I dont want to oversell the importance of a one sentence pitch. Follow this stepbystep template to craft a great blurb or summary and the ultimate persuasive pitch 1. A query letter for a nonfiction book isntall that different from a fiction query. Kick off your pitch on the right foot get your free guide, how to prepare a nonfiction query letter right here. What should you write in the bio paragraph of a query letter.