Next week, I'm heading out of town to enjoy a Midwest spring break. I'll be lolling in the sunshine by Lake Michigan, enjoying the...

Every author needs an elevator pitch. A brief but irresistible description that condenses the spirit of your book into a few sentences. ...

If you are planning to write a nonfiction book, and you’re planning to seek a publishing deal, the first thing you need is a book...

Hybrid publishing: AKA author-assisted publishing, indie publishing, partnership publishing, and co-publishing. It’s an umbrella term for...

Dreaming of a book deal with Penguin Random House, Macmillan, or HarperCollins? You’re not alone. SO not alone. Before you join that long...

Podcasts have become the latest hunting ground for agents and editors to find new voices. Just as long-form journalism has been a place...

A writer’s persona communicates to their audience who they are. It’s not only a chance to give writing a little personality, it is also...

My last couple of posts (here and here) have been about choosing between traditional publishing and self-publishing. But what if you...

Every author needs to weigh up whether they seriously want a traditional publisher. It may seem like the holy grail, providing...

Earlier this week, I started work with a new client. She asked me to review and edit her book proposal, which is for a coffee-table book...

Getting the balance between humility and hubris in your nonfiction book proposal is hard. Many authors are naturally self-effacing...

It’s easy to think of a book proposal as entirely separate from your book manuscript. Truth is, your book proposal must include a solid...

In your book proposal, the chapter outline is where you reveal your book’s shape: how it unfolds for the reader, chapter by chapter. It...

Although non-fiction books don't contain the classic narrative arc of novels, they still need to take the reader on a journey of...

You’ve got a matter of seconds to engage an agent or editor with your “big story” before they flip on to the next book proposal in the...

Unless you’re a “household-name” author (Steven King, JK Rowling, Malcolm Gladwell, I’m looking at you), most literary agents and editors...

For first-time authors, there is one topic that can feel overwhelming at first but is absolutely necessary when it comes to connecting...

Most weeks I get a call or email from at least one author wanting me to work with them on their nonfiction book proposal. Sadly, I’d say...

I’ve heard it said that every book has already been written at least once, and it’s somewhat true. Don’t let that discourage you. It...

In the past year, I’ve collaborated on three nonfiction book proposals. All three have been picked up by leading literary agents within a...