Courses

Nonfiction books, unlike novels, can frequently be sold on the basis of a 50-page proposal. This workshop will give you the ins and outs of writing a book proposal. Questions we will cover include: How do you know if your idea can be expanded into a book? What is a book proposal and how do you write one? How do you gain the attention of New York agents and editors? We will look at how to develop an idea into a strong proposal that stands out in a highly competitive marketplace and study examples of proposals that led to book deals. We will look at the types of books you can sell before writing them, including memoirs, narrative journalism, histories, and biographies. We will also have an opportunity to share ideas with one another, refining and sharpening our concepts for our proposals. This course is designed for students who want to flesh out an idea and for writers who have already begun their projects but need insight on structure, the inside scoop on the publishing industry, and tips on finding an agent and the best way to pitch their book to a publisher.