I was recently contacted by this book publisher, asking if I’d be interested in reviewing one of their new children’s book series. While I browsed around their site, I found some great information for writers.

If you’ve ever considered writing a nonfiction book, you’ve probably heard by now that you don’t write the book first. You write a book proposal, which you submit to an agent or publisher. There are several different books that teach you how to do this, but this publisher’s site includes a very concise list of what’s required:

“In order to consider your nonfiction book for potential publication, we will need to see a proposal that includes the following items:

* A brief synopsis in 1-2 paragraphs
* Author bio or resume specifying credentials and publication credits, if any
* A complete table of contents, plus estimated length of manuscript in words and pages
* Two to three sample chapters (not the first)
* A description of the target audience
* One page/paragraph on your book’s unique advantages
* A list of competing or comparable titles and how your book differs”

You can read the rest of the guidelines here.

It is SO incredibly hard getting a good agent or publisher to notice your work. Your submission will most likely be piled high in a stack of other people’s manuscripts. How will you get anyone to notice you?

For one thing, make sure you submit EXACTLY what the publisher requests. If they don’t take unagented work, then don’t submit without an agent. If you have any opportunity to meet an editor or agent personally through a writer’s conference, then do it.

I keep reading over and over again that a book proposal must be sent to the right editor at the right publishing house at the right time. It’s a game; yes. You have to know when and how to make your move. BUT! Your odds of success are greatly improved when you know the rules of the game.

Just thinking about all this makes me want to eat a big piece of dark chocolate. *sigh.*