Describe your intended audience and be as specific as possible. For example, if you’ve written a nonfiction children’s book, specify the age range of your readers (toddlers, 4- to 8-year-olds, 8- to 12-year-olds or preteens and teenagers). List any secondary audiences as well. For example, if your book tells the stories of cancer survivors, a secondary market might be medical professionals or therapists.
Explain what your book offers each of your intended audiences. A basic cookbook might help novice chefs learn to measure ingredients, bake bread, prepare simple meat dishes and make salads. A U.S. history primer might help high school or college students brush up on facts and dates and supplement their classroom reading.
List related and competing books. Include titles published in the past five years that are similar to your book and might compete with them. Include the authors, publishers and publication dates. List any recent out-of-print titles that might compete with your book as well. Briefly describe how your book differs from these titles and any new information or approach your book provides that these titles do not. Your list doesn’t need to be exhaustive. Five to 10 titles is plenty.
If appropriate, describe opportunities for potential textbook adoption. List specific academic courses for which your book could become a primary or supplemental text. Include the academic level (elementary or middle school, high school or college), course titles or subjects, average enrollment in these courses, the approximate number of schools that offer these courses and any competing textbooks currently in use.