How to write a non-fiction book proposal for UK agents
How to write a non-fiction book proposal that UK literary agents will read, with the seven sections every proposal needs and common mistakes to avoid.
Non-fiction is usually sold on a proposal, not a finished manuscript. An agent reads the proposal, decides whether they can sell the book, and pitches it to publishers. A publisher may then offer a contract before most of the book is written.
That makes the proposal the most important document you will write. Here is what goes in it.
The seven sections
1. Overview. One or two pages that sell the book. What is it about, why does it matter now, and what will readers get from it? Open with your strongest idea, not your biography.
2. The author. Why you are the right person to write this book. Credentials matter, but so does your platform: the audience you can already reach through work, speaking, media or social channels.
3. The market. Who will buy this book, and how many of them are there? Be specific. “Everyone interested in health” is not a market. “Women in their forties managing perimenopause while working full time” is.
4. Comparable titles. Three to five recent books that sit near yours on the shelf, ideally published in the last five years. Explain how yours is different and why readers of those books will want yours too.
5. Chapter outline. A paragraph or two for each chapter, showing the shape and argument of the book.
6. Sample chapters. Usually one to three chapters, often including the introduction. This is where you prove you can write.
7. Practical details. Expected word count, delivery timeline, and any illustrations, photographs or permissions you will need.
How long should a proposal be?
Typically 20 to 50 pages including sample chapters. Agents read hundreds of proposals. Every page should earn its place.
What agents look for
- A clear hook that can be explained in one sentence
- Authority: a reason to trust you on this subject
- Platform: an audience that will help the book sell
- Timeliness: why this book, and why now
- Writing quality in the sample chapters
Common mistakes
- Leading with your life story rather than the book’s idea
- Claiming no competition. Every book has comparable titles. Saying “there is nothing like it” suggests there may be no market
- Vague markets and inflated numbers
- Unfinished sample chapters or chapters that read like a first draft
- Ignoring submission guidelines. Each agency publishes its own; follow them exactly
Fiction is different
Novels are almost always sold on a finished manuscript. For fiction, you will need a synopsis and a query letter instead of a proposal.
Getting help
Many successful non-fiction proposals are written with professional help, particularly when the author is an expert in their field rather than a writer. A ghostwriter can shape your idea, research the market and comparable titles, and write the sample chapters in your voice, so you approach agents with a polished package.
