YOUR BOOK PROPOSAL
Develop and polish a 60-80+ page book proposal to pitch to literary agents and publishers.
90 day package includes:
8-PART WORKBOOK
12 x SUBMISSION DEADLINES
12 x EDITORIAL FEEDBACK
12 x COACHING CALLS
EMAIL SUPPORT
* Note: This service works best for those who have completed my previous program, Your Story Spine.
- Is it time to write a proposal to showcase your ideas and expertise, and make a profound declaration of your voice?
- Are you ready to build an argument about why your book should be published, why now, and why you're the right person for the task?
- Join me on a 'heroine's journey' of your own, to construct a 60-80+ page document that makes a compelling and convincing business case for your book.
Have you been trying to write your book proposal?
Have you found the process difficult, dispiriting or confusing?
Do you feel you don't really know what you're doing... at the very moment it matters most, because the future of your book hangs in the balance?
While Your Story Spine is a tool for outlining your book for your internal reference, Your Book Proposal is designed for external purposes - as a sales tool.
A book proposal can be difficult to put together if you don't understand how the industry works, or what exactly is being sought. This is a sales document rather than a creative exercise, and it might require a writing mindset that's different to the one you're used to.
If you're struggling with your proposal - or even the idea of one - this program will keep you on track. You will prepare every section necessary for a polished and professional book proposal that you feel proud to pitch, with guidance at every step along the way.
Why you need a book proposal
A book proposal is the 60-80+ page package of information you send to a literary agent or publisher that presents the vision for your book, makes an argument for why it should exist, and outlines how it might take effect - much like a business plan.
You need a proposal if you want to take your book through a traditional publishing route. It's a necessary part of non-fiction publishing. Generally, you aren't required to have written a whole non-fiction manuscript before pitching to publishers or agents: you prepare an in-depth proposal instead.
Why? Because a proposal is faster to read than a full manuscript, while giving an impression of the whole book; and agents or publishers often want to help shape the contents and structure of your book before it's fully written.
The quality of your proposal determines whether your non-fiction book is signed up. If your proposal fails to meet industry requirements, it will be quickly discarded.
Your proposal can be harder to write than the book itself
Writing a book proposal is a big undertaking. It's rigorous and challenging.
It is essentially a business plan for your book.
You must demonstrate that you are professional enough in your attitude to do the legwork required to write a good proposal, and that you're capable of delivering a high-quality manuscript via sample chapters.
The proposal shows that you're knowledgeable about your topic by providing the whole shape of the book, your plan for its execution, and its place in the world.
It does not make vague promises. It's not a sketch. You need to be able to summarise your book in a way that's beautifully written and convincing, with a detailed summary of each chapter and a polished sample of the writing style and quality.
Your proposal has to communicate your book's value
In the proposal you have to deeply understand - and demonstrate - what you're putting into the marketplace. That is, the cultural context you're speaking to. Why your viewpoint matters. How your book differs from those already on the shelves, especially if well-known authors are writing on the same subject. How you will put energy into the marketing of your project.
By communicating your book's value in the proposal, you will instill faith in agents and publishers that they should invest time and resources into it (and you). Publishing is, after all, a business, and any financial risk needs to be mitigated.
Your proposal might end up getting more attention from an agent or publisher than your finished manuscript does - it's that important!
How this program will guide you
Your proposal must follow a set of industry standards
Although requirements vary between publishers and agents, there are components that are universally sought.
If you aren't accustomed to them, these industry requirements can feel overly corporate, 'salesy' or marketing oriented. You might feel you're being asked to compromise your voice or intellectual/artistic integrity.
These feelings can be alleviated if you learn to see this as a vital way of sharing the information that's close to your heart. Focusing on 'marketing as education' can re-frame your doubts.
This program ensures that you put the 8 most essential and relevant parts of your proposal in place. You're then beautifully prepared for any agent or publisher scenario that follows, having prepared all the sections you need as well we dispelled any fears or hesitation along the way.
Proposal sections we'll work on:
Writing a proposal is intensive and demanding
Having one-to-one support tailored to your needs will pull you through the sections that are difficult to do.
Momentum and enthusiasm are hard to keep up on your own, particularly if you get stuck.
Many writers falter when the idea for a book comes face to face with the realities of the marketplace. Did you know that 97% of people who start writing a book don't finish...?
By the end of this program:
This program does not promise that:
YOUR BOOK WILL WORK ON YOU AS YOU WORK ON IT!
You're likely to get a business uplevel because the point of your proposal is to make a business case for your book. We will define and refine your signature journey, which is a valuable business asset. You'll find that your educational platform naturally gets polished, and your marketing and communications grow stronger, because all of these pieces are interconnected.
"Catriona’s book coaching is forthright, yet gentle; astute, yet friendly; delivered remotely, yet intimate. She helped shepherd a transformation within me to let go of a book project I’d been working on and to embark on a more raw and personal project.
I believe that Catriona was the only coach who could elicit this dramatic pivot and is the one I trust to make it the book of my dreams.
She is flexible, kind, clever, generous and the most incredible listener and close reader."
The practicalities
SCHEDULE:
When you sign up, we'll schedule your weekly submission deadlines and 60-minute coaching calls.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES:
I'll provide detailed feedback on your submissions via in-line notes and rigorous editorial letters. I use Microsoft Word's Track Changes, so you can always reject or accept my changes to your document. You must have a working knowledge of this software (and a subscription.)
If you have questions between submissions, I offer basic assistance by email (Mon-Fri).
COACHING:
Our coaching calls will address your progress and goals, answer any questions you have my about my feedback notes or other issues, offer brainstorming where needed, and guide you in planning your next steps.
The coaching calls are 60-minutes long and are dedicated to your most pressing issues.
INVESTMENT
$2997 USD
90 day package
This includes:
PAYMENT:
I'll invoice you for an online payment before we start working together. While my prices are set in USD, payment is possible in €, AUD or GBP on request.
TIME:
This work requires a minimum commitment of 7 hours/week for 12 weeks. If you need more time, we can continue on a monthly retainer, at $1000 USD/month, with the same deliverables.
BONUS CALL:
BECOME A CREATIVE FORCE
1:1 INTENSIVE
90 minutes
This is a 1:1 coaching intensive call with me, where we will explore and work through any challenges that stand between you and your success.
We'll place a special focus on your voice and visibility here - after all, you will need to become a public spokesperson for your book - but you can bring any issues to the table that may be affecting your confidence in your message or your feminine leadership.
This call is dedicated to mindset and belief work. The focus is on you here, rather than on your book.
How This Program Works:
Apply to work with me:
If you would like to work with me on YOUR BOOK PROPOSAL, I'll be delighted to hear from you. Please click the button below and fill out the contact form provided.
FAQ
For edits and written feedback, we'll use Microsoft Word's 'Track Changes' function. It's important you are familiar with this.
For coaching calls, we will use Google Meet, which requires no subscription or download at your end. Video recordings and/or written transcripts can be made available if desired.
Yes. When we agree to work together, I will provide you with my terms of service and a book coaching agreement, so that you can review these and ask any further questions before signing.
I'll also provide an invoice for your tax records.
No. I cannot guarantee any results for you such as securing a publisher or agent, writing a bestseller, earnings or sales numbers. Nor can I predict the success or failure of any editorial decisions.
These things cannot be predicted or guaranteed (and I'd be wary of anyone making promises). They depend on many factors, such as world events, industry trends, books about to be released that are similar to yours, and so on.
What I can guarantee is that I will offer guidance to the best of my professional abilities, to enhance the viability and reader's experience of your book.
You can upgrade from silver to gold, but not the other way round, until the time commitment for your initial package is fulfilled. Thereafter you are welcome to change tracks in either direction, and our agreement goes month-to-month.
All communication and materials are treated as confidential, unless your permission to share with others is explicitly granted. This is stated in my terms of service.
My services are non-refundable, because book coaching involves deep commitment from both sides. I plan my schedule around our deadlines in advance, turning away new clients accordingly.
If you aren't sure whether this is the right step for you to take - financially or otherwise - I request that you spend some time reading this website, and particularly this page.
Once you are more familiar with me and my approach, it should become clear whether or not you wish to make the investment.
It's also really important that you're sure you have the time to give to our work together.
You must re-schedule at least 24 hours in advance. I will be holding this time-slot for you and am counting on your reliability and commitment. Last minute cancellations won't be rescheduled or refunded unless there are extenuating circumstances.
If I need to cancel our call with less than 24 hours notice, I will notify you as soon as possible, and will add an extra 30 mins onto our rescheduled call at no charge.
When you finish the work on Your Book Proposal, you can move directly into my next service, Your Pitching Plan, if you'd like to take that next step with me.
If you would like to work on your manuscript with my guidance, with ongoing feedback and accountability, you might wish to sign up for my Write Your Manuscript monthly retainer.