Writing book proposals (III): good practice for authors

Anthony Haynes writes: In this episode, we provide constructive advice for prospective authors.

Dr Engy Moussa and I focus on good practice to boost the chances of eliciting a publishing contract.

Topics include: 

1. defining your market(s)
2. incorporating the potential for 
   1. export sales
   2. rights sales
   3. year-on-year sales
3. identifying ways of reaching your market(s)
4. positioning your book in relation to other products
5. selling points: the need for your book and the benefits that your book will provide to readers

Related episodes

This is the third and final episode in a three-part series on book proposals. The previous two episodes both identify pitfalls that often prevent authors from producing effective proposals.

The episodes are here:

1. Writing book proposals (I): 4 things not to do
2. Writing book proposals (II): 5 common pitfalls

Credits

• Sound production: Bart Hallmark
• Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra