Conference
Book Proposals, Demystified
15:00 - 17:00 EDT • Apr. 7th, 2026
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📚 Overview
If you’re hoping to traditionally publish a nonfiction book, you’ll need to submit a book proposal. But how do you sell a book you haven’t written yet? In this workshop, author Noah Charney will break down what goes into a winning book proposal — and what editors are looking for.
Over four sessions across two days, Noah will guide you through each building block of a proposal, from your author bio to your outline and marketing plan, drawing on examples from his own work and years of industry experience.
The event takes place over two days, on April 7th and April 9th.
🎓 What you’ll learn
Schedule
April 7th, 2026 15:00 - 15:45 EDT
Ideation: How to Pick the Right Idea for Your Book
To write a book proposal, you first need a great concept that suits a book-length project. In this first of four sessions, we’ll look at how long books need to be, which ideas work for a book (and which would be better off as an article or chapter), and different nonfiction categories. We’ll also cover why book proposals matters — and what publishers are really looking for at this early stage.
April 7th, 2026 16:00 - 16:45 EDT
Book Proposal Basics: the Building Blocks of a Proposal (+ Leveling Up!)
In this session, we’ll break down what makes a proposal successful, using easy-to-follow templates that address all questions publishers will want answers to. We’ll look at formulaic proposals used for academic books, as well as more creative approaches for trade and narrative nonfiction. Noah will show you the "tricks of the trade" — including the secrets behind a proposal that sold for a $1 million advance — that you can apply to your own work. No matter what kind of nonfiction book you’re writing, this session will give you a strong foundation to build from.
April 9th, 2026 15:00 - 15:45 EDT
Book Proposals Live Edit + Q&A
We'll kick off day two by putting the principles you've learned into practice. In this live editing session, you’ll watch Noah transform a basic academic-style book proposal into a fully developed trade proposal designed to catch an editor's eye — and possibly sell for a large advance. There will also be plenty of time for you to ask questions.
April 9th, 2026 16:00 - 16:45 EDT
Pitching Your Book Proposal
Once you have a strong proposal and sample, it’s time to start submitting it to literary agents and publishers. This final session will look at how to draft your cover letter, where to submit your proposal, and how to determine which acquisitions editors and publishers are most likely to say yes. We’ll also talk about whether or not you need an agent, and how to approach one with confidence.
Speakers
Noah Charney
Reedsy Professor of Writing
Dr Noah Charney is the best-selling author of more than 30 of his own books, including a Pulitzer finalist. His latest book is The 12-Hour Author: Everything You Need to Know to Get Published and Become a Successful Writer (Bloomsbury). A professor of art history, he teaches online for the Smithsonian, the National Gallery (UK), and Yale. Noah has ghostwritten and edited books for Reedsy clients, and is Professor of Writing at Reedsy Learning.
