3 Reasons You're Not Ready for a Book Proposal

Photo by @joannakosinska at Unsplash

So, you dream of seeing your book on store shelves and how it’ll feel to have it finally complete, but there’s so much time in-between then and now.

It’s daunting to think of just sitting at your computer and writing an entire manuscript, let alone trying to sell it too.

Which is why some writers want to sell their book before they write it.

To sell your memoir or cookbook though, you need a book proposal — an elaborate 20-30+ page document filled with market research, detailed chapter outlines, sample writing and your pitch. If you thought it would be easier to do a book proposal than write your book, you’re wrong. 

It’s not only a business plan, but the map of how to write your book.

 And while some food writers and creators want to jump straight into the process, here are 3 reasons you’re not ready for a book proposal...yet.

1. You Don’t Have the Time to Write

Somewhere along the way, we’ve been fooled into thinking “if only we had more time” we could finish that novel or do all the things. However, time isn’t something we have; it’s something we make. 

Most of the time, it’s a mindset shift on not if you can write, but when you can.

If you don’t believe you have the time to write, you’re not ready for a book proposal. Maybe you’re not in a season where you can carve out large chunks of consistent time. That’s okay! But instead of chasing some dream of getting your book proposal done now, choose to wait until you have a better chance of success with your schedule.

2. You Think You’re Writing the Next Kitchen Confidential or Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

Oh, yes. I said it. 

It’s pretty common for clients to admire the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Samin Nosrat—and to believe their book could be on the shelves next to them. It’s important to know where your book stands in the market, but that’s different than trying to be exactly the authors you admire.

My memoir clients have a hard time understanding that  you can love a book and admire it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the book you should write. 

If you’re spending so much time trying to write a book just like your heroes, you’ll never win. Instead, you need to reassess the story that only you can tell.

Until then, you might want to take a beat.

3. You Don’t Have Your Story Figured Out Yet

Someone told me once that they were going to get their book about 40% of the way there, and then would start work on the proposal.

Interesting move when you can’t sell a book you don’t know the ending for.

Writers are impatient folks, and I say that as one, and as someone who coaches them. But when you think about it, if this is the thing you really want. If this is the project keeping you up at night, don’t you owe it to yourself to give your book the best chance possible to make it?

Some memoirs are bought through proposals and sample writing, but some publishers and agents require a full-manuscript. Even if you have your eye on an agent or editor who doesn’t require a full-manuscript, your chapter outline will have to detail the book you plan to write. Yes, some agents or publishers will help you shape the narrative, but they have to know what’s even there in the first place to work with.

Take Your Time

Unless you have a riveting, timely story that needs to be told yesterday, you’re probably okay to take your time with your proposal. 

Read books like How to Write a Book Proposal by Judy Rein with Michael Larsen, now in it’s 5th Edition. You’ll get a step-by-step approach to crafting your proposal as well as some choose your own adventure advice, as there is no one way to sell your book.

Jane Friedman also offers a 10-Step Action Plan for creating your book proposal, and while she’s a huge supporter of non-fiction authors doing a proposal first, she is still a champion of first-time memoirists writing their books first.

There is no way around the long, hard path of completing a book. Hopefully now, you have some better information to write forward with, saving you the pain and heartache of beginning to only go nowhere.

And if after all of this, you’re still ready to dig into your book proposal, grab your spot on my coaching waitlist, and let’s get to work.