In a nonfiction book proposal, your goal is to tell the editor or agent what your book is, why it’s important, who will read it and why, and why you’re the right author to write it. I find it helps me think it through if I divide it into sections. Here’s what I usually use, with links to more in-depth information on each element!
Elements of a Book Proposal
Do you need a template? Here’s one!
How Long Should A Book Proposal Be?
“It depends” probably isn’t the answer your looking for, but…it depends. Editors are busy, so you want to get to the point and keep it concise. But you don’t want to leave anything out, either. There’s some flexibility here, so take the space that you need to argue for your book, but don’t go too overboard. And do check an editor or agent’s submission guidelines to see if they specify a maximum page count.
Tiffany Hill, Editor 