Today, I'm joined by Chad Allen, creator of Book Proposal Academy. He is a full-time writer, editor, speaker, and writing coach. Chad has been at the receiving end of book proposals and has created proposals for his own books. We dive into a good book proposal's elements and why Chad is passionate about the Book Proposal Academy.
"A book proposal is simply a document that authors prepare to pitch their book to agents and publishers." Chad says you can think about a book as a "micro-business" and to look at your book proposal as a "business plan for your book." Your proposal's job is to show that your book is a safe bet to publish for-profit and a good ROI for the publishing company.
You can create a book proposal even if you are intending to self-publish. "A book proposal, even when self-publishing, is a great way to get your hands around your project." Make sure to have the "three C's of publishing success" when writing your book proposal.
Chad talks about the three phases to launch your book on your platform: the pre-launch, the launch, and the post-launch. "What are you going to do at each of these phases to promote your book?" You can also add a competitive analysis of your book in your proposal and a section for possible future books if they match your current book's genre.
Find out tips from Chad on how to solve the problem of starting off without a platform, why you want to build an email list, how to grow your audience. Between writing your book and your pre-launch, figure out how you are going to grow your platform. Think of the different strategies you can use to build your audience and launch your book.
Listen in to find out lessons Chad learned from working in the publishing industry, the three C's of publishing success, and the elements that create a good book proposal. Learn why your title and subtitle are significant in a book proposal and ideas on how to build your audience to sell your book.
Show Notes
[01:40] What is a book proposal? [03:25] Benefits of self-publishing from a traditional and self-publishing standpoint. [04:25] What you can learn from writing a book proposal. [06:22] When looking at a proposal, Chad first looked at buy-in. [09:13] Casting a vision for your book through your proposal. [13:00] How to include a section for possible future books in your proposal. [16:12] Create a detailed marketing plan to propose to the publisher. [22:39] How to hire a designer for your book proposal. [23:24] Common mistakes authors make in their book proposals. [25:23] Going from book proposal to book deal. [32:08] Give enough time to your book proposal process to give you the best chance of success. [34:15] What can happen in the book proposal process with publishers. [35:38] Look for your buy back discount from a publisher. [37:10] How many free books can you get from a publisher? [38:32] Tips on choosing a good publisher. [43:15] Advice that Chad would have given himself when first starting out.Links and Resources
Visit Self Publishing School Online SPS Free Training Course Chad Allen Book Proposal Academy Chad Allen on the webSPS 104: How To Create A 1 Page Marketing Plan For Your Book with Allan Dib
SPS 103: Using Books & Thought Leadership To Grow My 200 Person Marketing Agency with Robert Glazer
SPS 102: How To Write A Memoir That Actually Sells Copies (Without Being Famous) with Justin & Alexis Black
SPS 101: Relationships, Radio, And 3 Ring Binder Books: Create A Life You Love & Sell Generate Millions In Revenue with Dan Miller
SPS 100: The "Duct Tape Marketing" Book Launch: Sell More Books & Get More Referrals with John Jantsch (And How To Negotiate Your Publishing Contract)
SPS 099: 8 Figures Ecommerce Empire: How I Sold 1 Million+ Journals & Planners (And How To Create GREAT Products) with Cathryn Lavery
SPS 098: How I Wrote & Launched 6 NYT Bestsellers...And What I'm Doing Differently With My Newest Book with Jon Acuff
SPS 097: Crush It With Challenges: Launch Bigger, Sell More Books, And Grow Your Business with Pedro Adao
SPS 096: Launching My First Traditionally Published Book Using What I Learned Self Publishing Books & Journals with John Lee Dumas (And How I Negotiated a $350k Advance)
SPS 095: The Five Love Languages: Behind The Scenes Of The Book, The Series, And Selling 15 Million Copies with Gary Chapman
SPS 094: YouTube Secrets: Using YouTube To Sell 2k Copies/Month & Get 1,000+ Reviews On Your Book with Sean Cannell
SPS 093: Permission To Prosper: A Faith-Based & Copywriting Approach To Sell More Books & Grow Your Business with Ray Edwards
SPS 092: Using Books To Start Multiple 7 Figure Companies (And How I Sold 700k Copies Of 1 Book) with Mike Michalowicz
SPS 091: Publishers Hate Him! Thinking Like An Agent & Getting Publishers To Compete To Give You A Massive Book Deal with Nathan Latka
SPS 090: How I Sold 25k Copies Of A $37 Ebook That Isn't Even On Amazon (And Using Copywriting To Sell Books) with Sean Vosler
SPS 089: How To Sell More Fiction Books & Build A Full-Time Fiction Career with Ramy Vance
SPS 088: Using Personalized Marketing & Hand-To-Hand Combat (Instead Of "Broad Marketing") To Sell More Books & Get 100's Of Reviews with Brad Lomenick
SPS 087: How To Sell 2X More Books After Launch Than During Launch Week & Get 100's Of Reviews with Ryan Moran
SPS 086: Building A Personal Brand That Sells More Books & Grows Your Business with Rory Vaden
SPS 085: How To Sell 50,000 Copies Of Your Book "Out Of The Trunk Of Your Car" with Carlos Whittaker
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