a. The names of the Author(s) or Editor(s):
b. The Working Title and Subtitle:
c. Explain the subject area and specific topic of this book.
d. Provide a synopsis of your book, as though you were explaining it to the intended reader. (100 words or less)
e. Provide a thesis sentence for the book.
f. Provide a key phrase explaining what is unique about this book.
g. Explain why you believe there is a market or demand for your work.
h. List any new or previously unpublished data that is included in the book. Also provide your unique professional viewpoint and approach to the subject matter and any important conclusions or
recommendations you've arrived at.
i. List any outstanding, distinctive, or innovative features of the book. This includes figures, illustrations, tables, and graphics.
2. Providing Samples of Work-in-Progress
a. Submit a detailed table of contents in outline form. Include headings and subheadings. Also, provide an annotation of each chapter.
b.
Provide examples, or an explanation for any special examples (e.g., side bars), glossaries, appendices, chapter summaries, forms, checklists, illustrations, bibliographies, index, and so on, that you plan
for the book.
c. List the approximate number of figures, tables, illustrations, and other graphic pieces that will be in the book.
d. If you have a draft, choose three representative chapters
for publisher review. The chapters need not be sequential. If this is not available, provide samples of your writing style, such as a previous book, article, or paper.
e. Estimate the total number of
pages of your double-spaced manuscript. The final number of book pages will be different, of course.
2. Time Table for the Work-in-Progress
a. Estimate the approximate date
you will complete the manuscript. Be generous with the amount of time it will take. It always takes longer than you think.
b. List the percentage of the book you've already written.
c. If you've just begun writing, when will you provide sample chapters for editorial review?
d. When will you have all the permissions for copyrighted material of substantial quotes or artwork
appearing in your book? It's the author's responsibility to identify these and send out permission forms to the appropriate people or organizations to be signed, returned and copies made available to the
publisher.
3. Audience/Reader/Market
a. Identify the major categories of readers, e.g., professors, professionals, children, lay reader, and cite any
specialized organizations or associations that directly represent each category, e.g., AMA, NASA, American Management Association, Environmental Protection Agency.
b. Is there a secondary market for your book? This would include academic, trade, and library markets.
4. Your Competition
a. List the title, author,
publisher, date, price, and length of each book that might potentially compete with your proposed work or that your intended readers are likely to be familiar with. An excellent start is to search Amazon.com
by topic.
b. Provide a synopsis of the competitor's book, briefly discussing its strengths and weaknesses and contrasting this approach to the way you're presenting your material. Make sure you
describe the specific aspects of your book that distinguish it from these competitors.
5. Author Biography
a. Write a brief biographical sketch. Include your current
and previous affiliations, professional interests, and education. Also include a resume, or if you have one, a curriculum vitae.
b. List books and previously published articles and include year of publication, title, and publisher(s).
c. List memberships to any important organizations or associations, including any major offices held.
d. Indicate any information you believe should be included in promotional materials.
Likewise, clearly indicate information you do not want to include in promotional materials.
e. List your personal address, telephone number, and/or e-mail and personal web site.
f. List your professional address, telephone number, fax, and/or e-mail and business web site.
g. Provide the name, address, and telephone numbers of your assistant, or other persons who can
forward messages in your absence.
6. Developmental Work
a. Are you willing to work with an acquisition editor to help shape your manuscript to fit the demands of the subject
matter, market, and needs of the publisher? Your work with an acquisition editor usually occurs while you are still writing your manuscript and include discussions as well as editor review of chapters with
notes, suggestions, and some editing.
b. To your best estimate, what draft is the present manuscript in? List any peers or other interested parties that have read it.
c. If the
publisher accepts the manuscript, are you willing to work collaboratively with a content editor to develop the manuscript further? Depending on the condition of the manuscript, this process can take an
average of four to twelve weeks and usually entails substantive writing, editing, and changes to the manuscript.
