If you’re a writer working on publishing your book, you may be discovering that writing the book is just the beginning.

Whether you’ve completed the manuscript or it’s just a work in progress, it’s never too early to start thinking about how you’ll pitch your book to publishers.

In this post, we’ll show you how to submit your book proposal so you can find the right home for your book.

How to Submit a Book Proposal

Below are 4 tips to keep in mind as you prepare to submit your book proposal that can increase your chances of securing a publishing deal.

1. Write your book proposal.

Before you submit your proposal, you’ll of course want to write a great proposal. You can use our book proposal template to make sure you include all the key elements, such as your market research and chapter-by-chapter overview.

Some publishers only accept book proposals, whereas others might require you to submit the full manuscript. Even if a publisher does not require a book proposal, it’s still a good idea to include one, as it’s effectively a sales pitch for your book.

Here are some benefits of submitting a book proposal:

• Most editors and agents won’t read through your entire manuscript unless they’re really hooked and interested in learning more.

• By including a synopsis, market overview, and a summary of any marketing plans you might have, you’ll make the editor’s job easier by giving them a clear and direct picture of your book’s potential that they can review at a glance.

2. Create a list of publishers.

Next, it’s time to create a list of publishers that could be a good fit for your book. Look for publishers that specialize in or have a demand for your genre.

We have a complete list of publishers for every genre to help you in your search:

• Academic publishers
• Children’s book publishers
• Christian book publishers
• Cookbook publishers
• Historical fiction publishers
• Horror publishers
• Literary fiction publishers
• Memoir and autobiography publishers
• Mystery/Thriller publishers
• Nonfiction publishers
• Play publishers
• Poetry publishers
• Romance publishers
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy publishers
• Self-help publishers
• Spanish publishers
• YA publishers

3. Refine your shortlist.

Now that you have a list of publishers that could be a good fit for your book, you should make a shortlist of ones that you can and should actually submit to.

There are several considerations that can help you filter your list.

For example:

• Do they accept unagented submissions? If you are not represented by a literary agent, you can immediately remove from your list any publishers that don’t accept unsolicited submissions (or work on getting a literary agent).

• Do they already have access to the market you’re trying to reach? Your ideal publisher will have a group of authors or books that you will fit into, with target audiences similar to yours.

• Can your book offer something new to their existing market? You should look for publishers of books similar to yours, but not ones that have books on your exact same topic by renowned experts.

4. Submit your book proposal.

And finally, it’s time to actually submit your book proposal. The most important part of this step is to follow whatever instructions the publisher or agent lays out for you, and follow them to a tee.

This includes uploading your documents in the requested format if one is specified, sending all requested information, and not sending anything that they specifically ask not to receive.

Failure to comply with any one of the guidelines could result in your submission being immediately discarded, and you wouldn’t want all your hard work to go to waste!

Do You Need a Literary Agent to Submit Your Proposal?

The question of whether or not you need an agent really comes down to the type of publisher you’re seeking.

Almost every large, traditional publisher will require you to submit your proposal or manuscript through a literary agent.

By contrast, many smaller and independent publishers will allow you to submit a proposal or manuscript directly on your own.

Still, there are benefits to working with an agent, including their negotiation experience that can help ensure you get a good deal, and their editorial skills, which can help ensure that your manuscript is in excellent shape before you send it off to publishers.

Learn more about how to get a literary agent to represent you.

How Much Does a Book Proposal Cost?

In addition to writing books, blog posts, and other content, many ghostwriters also write and sell book proposals.

Experienced ghostwriters will charge anywhere from $5,000–$10,000 for a book proposal complete with a table of contents, outline, author biography, sample chapters, and marketing analysis.

Of course, rates can vary greatly, as you might find a qualified freelancer on sites like Fiverr or Upwork for much less, or work with a highly experienced ghostwriter who’s worked in publishing for years, in which case you could expect to pay well above that range.

What To Do if Your Proposal Is Rejected

Even if you follow all of these tips and have a great book proposal, you could still find yourself facing one or more rejection letters. But that doesn’t mean you should give up!

Check out our editors’ explanations for why novels and nonfiction often get rejected so you can refine your proposal or manuscript and increase your chances of getting a book deal.

TCK Is Accepting Nonfiction Book Proposals

TCK Publishing is currently accepting nonfiction book proposals and complete manuscripts, as well as completed fiction manuscripts.

Learn more about our services on our FAQ page and check out our submission guidelines to send us your proposal or manuscript today!

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• How to Write a Book Proposal: Template, Samples, and Instructions
• Book Submission Template: What to Include in Your Manuscript Submission File
• Why Publishers Reject Manuscripts: Tips for Nonfiction
• Why Novels Get Rejected: Acquisitions Editors Share What They Look for in Manuscript Submissions