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Nonfiction Book Proposal

Complete a polished proposal that will make it out of the slush pile

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Nonfiction Book Proposal

DURATION/TIME
8 weeks
May 8 - June 26
Online chats: Tuesdays, 9-10 pm EST

LEVEL
Intermediate

ONLINE CLASS INFO
See our eClasses info page.

PRICE
$499 ($475 for )
more info

Course Details

Nowadays, big publishers simply don't read unsolicited material. They depend on agents to muck through the slush pile in search of the gems. If you want to get a book published, knowing and using the correct format for a book proposal is paramount. Equally important is coming up with a great idea that you are passionate about and that will hook your intended audience. Put both of these components together and you have a great chance of winning over that agent, selling your idea, and securing a book contract.

Nonfiction books -- a market easier to break into than fiction -- are the backbone of publishing. Whether self-help, travel, health, memoir, business, current affairs, or any other number of categories, there will never be a shortage of readers for nonfiction that teaches, transforms, and captivates readers interested in a particular subject. In this class, you'll learn how to convey your idea in a winning book proposal and why taking the time to do so will make or break your chances of getting it noticed—and sold. You'll also learn what is appropriate for writers who already have an idea for a book, but would like to know the complete and correct execution of this vital marketing product.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

  • If your idea is a good one
  • The essential ingredients of a book proposal
  • What the format and overall look of the actual proposal should be
  • How to write your proposal letter
  • The nuts and bolts of the nonfiction publishing industry

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
A marketable nonfiction book proposal package ready to send out to agents, including a query letter and a sample chapter ready

Admission Requirements:
Please submit a one to two page description of your book idea as well as a brief work history.

The online classroom has several interactive components:

  • Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
  • Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
  • Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
  • Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

Instructor Bio

Jill Rothenberg's Courses

Nonfiction Book Proposal – (Class starts November 23)

Jill Rothenberg
For thirteen years editor Jill Rothenberg has helped a wide range of journalists and writers develop their nonfiction book proposals and transform them into award-winning and commercially successful titles. At Westview Press/Perseus Book Group, these included Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Path of the World's Most Deadly Stones, which was made into the film of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio. At Seal Press/Avalon Publishing Group, she edited Confessions of a Naughty Mommy: How I Found My Lost Libido, which was featured on the Today Show. She also acquired Only As Good as Your Word: Lessons from My Favorite Literary Gurus by writer and frequent mediabistro instructor Susan Shapiro. Her work has also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Urban Moto Magazine, Woman's Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in Their Lives (Seal Press), and the forthcoming P.S. : What I Didn't Say (Seal Press). She lives in Boulder, CO.

Testimonials


After taking Jill's class, I scored an agent who told me the book proposal was one of the best ones she has seen. -- Rob Koebel

"My query letter, written with help from the class and Jill, resulted in a well-regarded agent requesting my proposal. I'm thrilled!" -- Marge Thorell

"Jill was a wonderful instructor -- friendly, encouraging, and always ready and willing to answer questions." -- Shann Fountain-Culo

"Jill was an outstanding instructor. She gave honest, constructive feedback that made my proposal 10 times better." -- Marla Majewski

"Jill's experience, knowledge, and insight of the publishing industry, plus the structure and format of the class, made it an incredible experience and really taught me how to fine-tune my pitch and craft a stellar proposal." -- Kristi Daniels

"Jill guides her students with clear lectures, detailed critiques, and lively chats. By the end of Jill's course I had a solid book proposal and a clear idea of the content of my entire book." -- Jill Johnson

"Jill's a great motivator, cheerleader, and fountain of knowledge about the business aspect of publishing. She is a spot-on editor and the most thorough class instructor I have encountered." -- Lovelace Cook

"Jill will be at the top of my book's acknowledgement page. I would totally take another class from her!" -- Anna Cox

"Jill's expert information, her kind, supportive advice and feedback, and her belief in all of the writers to create excellent nonfiction book proposals made getting a book published a reality." -- Patricia Wilkinson

"I couldn't have gotten my book proposal written without the class and instructor. Jill was fabulous ." -- Ellen Rosenthal

"Jill is a talented teacher and a savvy editor. She is supportive and her wisdom is insightful for those of us trying to make the leap to becoming nonfiction book authors." -- Meg Robbins

"Jill offered great feedback and insight into class submissions. She was very helpful and responsive to our questions." -- Stacy Jensen

"Jill is a compassionate and knowledgeable instructor who knows publishing from all sides. I would recommend her to anyone tackling a nonfiction project." -- Susan McDonald

"Jill is very experienced and insightful. She helped all of us bring the quality of our proposals up several notches, think of more ways to promote ourselves, and to get the word out about our books." -- Malorye Branca

"Jill Rothenberg is a revelation. As an editor and a writer, she is very knowledgeable, insightful, and generous with her students." -- Haig Chahinian

AvantGuild* Discounts on mediabistro.com courses are just one of the wonderful benefits of being in AvantGuild, our premium membership program. For just $55 a year, you'll receive instant access to our How to Pitch articles and other premium articles, transcripts from selected seminars and panels, and discounts on virtually everything we do (including eClasses and the Freelance Marketplace)! Click here to join now.