Nonfiction Book Proposal Workshop

Take that great book idea and learn how to sell it

Course is closed.
Nonfiction Book Proposal Workshop

WHEN Wednesday, August 20, 6:30-10:30 pm

WHERE New York (Midtown East)

PRICE
$125 ($100 for )
more info

Course Details

Selling a book in today's competitive marketplace takes more than just a good idea and writing know-how. To get the attention of busy agents and editors, you've got to show some savvy about your competition, your audience, and the climate in which you're writing.

That's where the book proposal comes in. It's the standard document used to sell nonfiction book ideas to publishing houses. There is a basic formula for them, and it isn't hard to learn. But often the basics just aren't enough. In order to get someone to stop and spend time considering your proposal, you have to know what people are expecting as well as how to impress them.

In this one-night workshop -- limited to 12 students -- you'll learn what publishers and agents are looking for and the finer points of writing a book proposal that sells. We'll spend most of the class workshopping your proposal-in-progress.

Application Requirements:
Please submit a brief letter of interest as well as a description of your book idea and/or your book proposal-in-progress.

Related Courses

Tell me when courses like this are scheduled.
Nonfiction Book Writing: Advanced – New York (Class starts September 22)

Instructor Bio

Christa Bourg's Courses

Christa Bourg
Christa Bourg is a professional book packager and agent. Her work involves developing books for major publishers (a book packager is to publishing what a producer is to the movies: if she believes in your book, she can make it happen). She has worked on numerous books in nearly every nonfiction category, including humor, business, lifestyle, memoir, food, art, parenting, home, reference, etc.

Some recent titles include Dress Your Best, French Cats Don't Get Fat, The Dysfunctional Family Christmas Songbook, The Great American Citizenship Quiz, Haiku U., Latin for All Occasions, The Booklover's Repair Kit, I've Got Your Back, At Home With Art, The Junior League cookbook series, and many more. Christa is also a freelance writer, editor, and proposal doctor. She is currently co-authoring a book entitled The Education of a Very Young Madam, which will be published by Scribner in 2007.

Testimonials


This class made the daunting process of crafting a book proposal so much more manageable. Weekly writing assignments kept me on track moving forward. And regular in-class feedback helped hone and shape my idea into a solid, marketable proposal. -- Jessica DuLong

"Thanks to Christa's teaching skills as well as the friendly group dynamic, I was inspired to write a complete, polished proposal for my book. By February I had signed on with the Zachary Shuster Harmsworth literary agency, and I'm well on my way to finding a publisher!" -- Joyce Hanson, author

"Christa was able to guide us through each section of our proposals and workshop them thoroughly with us. She encouraged a really helpful class atmosphere and the support and interest from the group was incredibly useful. I came out of the class feeling confident in my proposal and happy that Christa gave us tools to help us navigate the business." -- Elise MacAdam

"Christa's class brought my book project to a new level. She coached all of us into a better, more enlightened, place in our writing. Without Christa my manuscript would still be gathering dust in a forgotten file drawer." -- Lisa Peterson

"Being part of a group of people that are all making the same commitment makes writing a book much more enjoyable -- and less daunting. I had an opportunity to workshop a piece that will be published soon in a magazine, and the feedback and structure improved my work significantly!" -- Judy Kamilhor

"Christa was impressively informative and so very inspiring. I absolutely appreciated the experience of having someone so down to earth yet profound as my instructor!" -- Philana Marie Boles, author of Little Divas, In the Paint, and Blame It on Eve

"Christa was excellent! She has been in the industry for many years, so she was extremely informative and helpful. Christa has a great personality -- she's confident, patient, and thoughtful." -- Al Hazan

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