I have never been a good book proposal writer. I have written six books and the long, maddening, courage-testing, confidence-shaking process of writing a book is far more appealing to me than the process of having to propose one. Book proposals are pitching on anabolic steroids, far more extensive, demanding, and exacting than trying to convince an editor to commission you to write, say, 1000 or even 5000 words. Those you can, and really should pitch in a page; longer is not always the better.
As someone currently stuck in pitching limbo with a fleshed-out proposal already in the can, this was an encouraging read. The nagging impulse to just 'write the damn thing' is a strong one, indeed.
Thanks for this, Michael. I love all of your columns, and find them so useful, but as someone also in the excruciating process of writing a book proposal, I found this one particularly apt. Bon courage to us both!
Thanks so much
As someone currently stuck in pitching limbo with a fleshed-out proposal already in the can, this was an encouraging read. The nagging impulse to just 'write the damn thing' is a strong one, indeed.
Thanks for this, Michael. I love all of your columns, and find them so useful, but as someone also in the excruciating process of writing a book proposal, I found this one particularly apt. Bon courage to us both!
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Homer analogy LOL 😊
Just wanted to thank you for this--I have spent SO MUCH TIME on proposals. They are maddening!