Tuesday Tips: Nonfiction Proposals–Query or Not?

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Tuesday Tips: Nonfiction Proposals–Query or Not?

Where DID I put that query letter?

Today I continue my series on nonfiction book proposals. Over the next several Tuesday Tips I'll continue to cover some of the meat-and-potatoes of choosing topics, researching ideas, and putting together a winning nonfiction book proposal. While I write primarily about pets, the same ingredients for your nonfiction book stew are the same–it's just the seasoning and presentation that may vary.

The first week discussed the IDEA TREE followed by topic choice including where to find ideas and decide if they're viable. The third covered passionate picks and bio building–and then the holidays happened, so I took a week off. Today's installment is relatively short, but explores how to approach the agent and/or editor with your proposal. Yes, we're doing this a bit back-asswards but I think you'll be relieved at the answers.

WHAT IS A QUERY?

Most of those reading this blog know that a query is the "open sesame" to the editor or agent's good graces.

With fiction queries I've often heard agents say they really don't care about your expertise as a collector of ball point pens or that you've taught squirrel monkeys to juggle espresso bottles. The query in these cases acts as a tease to prompt the agent/editor to say, "send me more." The fiction manuscript, not your experience as a child therapist, sells the book. Of course, if your protagonist is a child therapist that can lend some cred–but the way fiction works, the story and how it's put together matters more than author expertise.

So how's pitching nonfiction different? Well–you don't need a query with nonfiction.

I'll wait until y'all stop hyperventilating. Grab that paper bag and breeeeeth deeply. Better? Okay, now let me repeat–

A nonfiction book does not NEED a query letter.

You can query if you wish–and you must-must-must (did I say MUST?!) CHECK WITH THE AGENT/EDITOR first to see if they prefer a query. For nonfiction, most don't want or need a query and it's a waste of time and stamps (or bandwidth). Instead, you submit nonfiction proposals with a COVER LETTER.

WHY USE COVER LETTERS?

Certainly you can query. Simply put, a nonfiction query is a sales pitch not just for the book, but also for YOU. Fiction authors get to make stuff up. Nonfiction authors better by dawgie know what they're talking about, and be an expert or know where to find them.

By sending a cover letter with the proposal package, you've saved them time (because they'll WANT to see your samples, right?). And even if your cover letter sucks, the proposal is right there and most will at least take a look at the first page or two.

A cover letter is similar to a query in that it's a sales tool but instead of focusing on the fiction story, you emphasize your expertise, platform, and need for the book. Boil it down to the most important WOW-factor tip of the iceberg. The meat-and-potatoes will be in the proposal ready and waiting for the agent/editor to sample after you've whetted their appetite. Here's the ingredients:

1 page single spaced
The proposed length and title (both may change. Get over it.) What's it about–the title better point to this but you can expand here
Why is this topic timely and saleable?
Why YOU should write this book–(your expertise, experience, access to sources, previously pub'd books or articles on the subject, you host a TV show, whatever).

Now, if you really want to do a query instead, you'll have all that above, plus a brief market comparison–how is it different, better, more up to date, fill in the X than what other (top! well known!) book on the subject. A cover letter won't need this because it will be inside the proposal.

Next week we'll FINALLY get into some of the nitty gritty of what goes into the nonfiction book proposal.

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