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Advanced Nonfiction Book Proposal

Revise and polish your proposal to have it agent-ready

Advanced Nonfiction Book Proposal
Click to Apply

WHEN 4 weeks, January 27 - February 24
Chats Tuesdays, 9-10 pm ET

WHERE Online. Click here for more information.

LEVEL Advanced

PRICE
$350 ($325 for )
more info

Course Details

That book idea you've been batting around and talking about has now become a living, breathing book proposal, ready now for a polish and final edit that will make agents and editors take notice.

This four-week intensive class is focused on getting your proposal in fighting shape, from transforming your query letter into a zinger of a pitch to sharpening your platform and knowledge of your book's market and competition, to brainstorming the most effective publicity ideas. This class is for the savvy writer who has a complete proposal in hand, but needs to sharpen this all-important sales tool to maximize the chance that their book will be picked out by agents and editors as one that can sell.

In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Transform your proposal from good to great
  • Maximize print and online opportunities to build your platform
  • Dazzle agents with a sharper and more effective query letter
  • Hone your sample chapter so that it puts your best writing forward

Students applying to this class should have a draft of their proposal already completed.

By the end of this class, you will have:
A polished proposal

Admission Requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 1,000 words).

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.com staff.

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Instructor Bio

Jill Rothenberg's Courses

Advanced Nonfiction Book Proposal – (Class starts January 27)
Nonfiction Book Proposal – (Class starts February 18)

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. Most recently, 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 the forthcoming book by writer and frequent mediabistro instructor Susan Shapiro, Only As Good as Your Word: Lessons from My Favorite Literary Gurus. Her work has also appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Urban Moto Magazine, and Woman's Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in Their Lives (Seal Press). She lives in Boulder, CO.

Testimonials


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, and she is a spot-on editor. Jill is 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
Click to Apply

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