Book Review: Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write

As you sit there and stare outside your window at the birds pecking the crap out of one another, it reminds you that this is a dog-eat-dog kind of world, or rather bird-eat-bird. And the publishing industry is a perfect example of this, with the decline of books being published, everything seems to be going straight to electronic readers; publishing houses have to be sure the books they do select to publish will become financial successes. As cruel as it may seem to writers and their craft, it's a reality based on the current economic situation and it's one that every writer must face. But when you're armed with a strong book proposal, your chances of getting published will increase and with Elizabeth Lyon's book, Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write, you're chances of obtaining a contract and advance before writing your book have just gotten a little bit better.

Everyone has a story, but not everyone will have their story published, unless it's compelling, brings something to the market that no other book in that category has brought or it fills a complete void in the market--those are just some of the gold nuggets you learn from Lyon as you read her step-by-step guide on writing nonfiction book proposals. Her book is a breakdown of what an effective proposal is and how it's used by the various departments in a publishing house to determine if your book should be published. You thought only the editor made the final decision, yeah, think again. From passages detailing what should go in the various components of your book proposal to advice on evaluating and refining your book's main objective, Lyon writes with ease and the expertise to get you through the hardships of proposal-writing. She breaks a proposal's components down and makes them easily digestible and comprehendible to execute.

Chapter six alone, The Concept Statement: Tell Me Why I Should Buy Your Book leaves you empowered and motivated to hook those publishers to the point of salivation--yeah, she's that good! Lyon's insider tips have gotten a first-time proposal writer like me geared up for the battle of a lifetime. But she doesn't just stop at the level of proposals, she continues with her expertise by including sample author/agent agreements (so you know what to look for in a contract when a literary agent comes knocking at your door-or in my case, my Twitter stream).

With every page filled with industry knowledge and easily understandable terms, like how to promote your book (Chapter 12) and how to dazzle and persuade (Chapter 8) you're not only revved up to tackle the task of proposal writing, but you're left with the know-how of how the publishing industry works. I, myself, have completed my proposal and within two days got a call from my agent informing me that a publishing house was inquiring about my work. If you're looking for an excellent book on nonfiction proposals, Elizabeth Lyon has you covered. I, soon, hope to be writing Elizabeth Lyon a thank you note, once I get my writing contract signed, but only after I do something about those pesky birds outside my window.