Brainstorm about how to describe your proposed book clearly and concisely in the overview. Interweave suggests that the one-page overview should contain information about the concept for your book, what makes it different from other books, and what makes it special.
Create a cover page using your word-processing program. In the top right-hand corner, put your contact information and the approximate word count for the book. Make sure you include your address, phone number and email address. In the center of the page, center the title, subtitle, and your name. The title should be in all capital letters, and the subtitles should be in title case, with the main words set with an initial cap.
Start your overview. This will be Page 1 of your proposal. Create a header in your word-processing program that reads "Proposal: Book Title." Double-space your text. You will be writing in third person for the entire proposal (i.e., "The author intends...."). Keep this in mind as you write.
Create a paragraph giving an overview of your book. For example, if you will be writing about beading, what aspects of beading will you be writing about? If you are creating a book of baby knits, what's the spin on this book that makes it stand out? Be specific but concise. Hook the editor.
Answer the question "What makes it special?" in your next paragraph. This is not the place to say, "This book is great because my friend Judy likes my work." Instead, explain why the publisher should care about your particular craft book. If you are writing a beading book, what's so special about this particular book (e.g., it is all done with gemstone beads)?
Answer the question, "How is this book different from competitive books on the market?" For this step, you need to make sure you can answer the question. Go to the library. Go to the bookstore. Look at other books on the topic you are writing on. Show you know the market and you know how your book will fit into it.
Begin a new page. This page will answer the question, "Who is the audience, and what is the readers' skill level?" Title this page "Marketing Analysis."
Describe your intended audience in the first paragraph. For example, are you marketing toward men who knit? Describe the anticipated reader of your book in this section.
Outline the skill level required for mastery of the projects in your book. For example, is the book aimed for those crafting for years? Be specific here. It might be useful to outline each chapter on a separate page.
Begin a new page. Title this page "Author Information." Include only information that pertains to the book.
Include any experience relevant to the topic of the book. If it is a knitting book targeting men, did you teach a class on knitting to men? If yes, this would go in your book proposal. You may also want to include any organizational affiliations you have.
Write a paragraph explaining how you will help sell and market your book. Have you published books before? Do you have media connections? What makes you uniquely able to write this book?
Title the next page "Chapter Outline." This section will include a list of techniques and projects that you intend to cover in your book.
List the chapter numbers and chapter names like you would on a table of contents.
Under each chapter, list key techniques and projects you will discuss. Be specific here. You may find it helpful to write out a description of what will be covered in each chapter and include bullet points for the specific techniques and projects included.
Continue to be brief and clear in this section. You're not writing the book, just outlining it so that Interweave can see that you have a clear plan about what your book will include.
On a new page, insert or write your sample project or chapter. Interweave will want to see your writing style and how this style will adhere in the book.
Ensure that you follow grammar and spelling rules---especially in this section. Use industry-standard language. (Don't make up knitting abbreviations or component part names.) Be sure to write clearly and direct your instructions to your intended audience.
Use the most compelling chapter of your book as your writing sample. You don't have to use the first chapter.
To round out your book proposal, include 7 to 10 images of your projects and a cover letter. Use a digital camera to take high-quality images of the projects you hope to include in your book. Be sure to photograph the most appealing projects.
Save your photos as JPEG -formatted images. If you submit your proposal through email, attach them to the body of the email. If you submit through the mail, print these images out.
Address your cover letter to the appropriate editor. Double-check the Interweave website to ensure you have the name correct when you send your proposal. Little is worse than sending a book proposal to an editor with the wrong or a misspelled name.
In your cover letter, explain that you have enclosed the required documents and images. Be sure to thank the editor for her time and invite her to come to you with any questions.
If submitting via email, send the proposal as an attachment, along with the JPEG attachments, to the appropriate editor at Interweave.com. If submitting via mail, print all documents required, fasten them together with paperclips (never staple submissions), place them into your manila envelope and address the proposal to the editorial director of books at the following address:
Interweave Press
201 East Fourth Street
Loveland, CO 80537-5655