Draft a one-paragraph synopsis of what your book is about. This is the most critical element of your proposal and the one you should spend the most time developing, writing and rewriting before you do anything else. If it's a work of fiction, your summary will identify who the main characters are, what the core conflict is, and how the conflict is resolved. If it's a nonfiction text (i.e., a how-to book), your summary will address what the topic is and the approach you have used to explain it (i.e., interviews with experts, step-by-step instructions, workbook exercises). A nonfiction proposal may also reference some of your chapter titles in narrative format or as bullet points.
Identify who the target market is for your project (i.e., teenagers, entrepreneurs, aspiring writers, caregivers) in a separate paragraph. Briefly explain how your project matches the needs and interests of this demographic. In this same paragraph, mention books that are similar in scope to yours and that demonstrate there is a high consumer interest level in this topic (i.e., romance novels account for over 80 percent of trade paperback fiction). Address how your content is unique.
Create a new paragraph that discusses your qualifications to write this book. For instance, if your project is a nonfiction title related to the education of children with special needs, it would be important to point out to an editor that you're a special ed instructor, tutor and/or parent of a developmentally challenged child. If your book is a romantic suspense set in contemporary India, the familiarity with customs, laws, foods and locales that you derived from actually living there for the past 20 years will speak to the manuscript's authenticity.
Construct a short introductory statement that introduces yourself, respectfully queries the editor's attention regarding your new project, and identifies the project's title, genre and word count. (Since this is the easiest part of the whole proposal to write, this step has been left toward the end.)
Assemble your letter with the introductory statement first (Step 4), the synopsis paragraph (Step 1) second, and then Steps 2 and 3.
Conclude your letter with a statement that either offers to send additional material upon request or directs the reader to any attachments you have included, i.e., a chapter breakdown, the first 10 pages, your bio, and so on (see Warning).
Print your proposal on 20# bond in white, cream, or light gray. Set your margins at one inch on each side and use an easy-to-read font in Times New Roman, Courier or Bookman. The font size should be no small than 11 pt. and the content of your letter should fit neatly on one page.
Include your full contact information below your signature.