Book proposals, made manageable
For nonfiction authors, the book proposal is often what gets you a deal, well before you’ve written the book. It’s how you convince an agent or editor that your idea is worth publishing, that you’re the right person to write it, and that they’ll know how to sell it. A book proposal template helps you get all of that down on the page.
Reedsy Studio’s Book Proposal template is the framework that takes you from a rough idea to a submission-ready pitch. Start with the working title and subtitle, then work through each section at your own pace.
Build a proposal agents can’t put down
Get access to 30+ guided prompts in Reedsy Studio that cover every section agents and editors expect to see. The prompts are based on advice from Dr. Noah Charney, bestselling author of more than 30 books. Sample them below:
Overview
- How would you describe the book in one sentence?
- What is the book’s central idea or argument?
- What narrative hook could open the proposal?
Target audience
- Who is the primary reader for this book?
- What does this reader want from the book?
- Are there important secondary audiences?
Comparative titles
- What are your 3–5 comp titles from the last 5–7 years?
- What do those books do well?
- Where is the gap your book fills?
Author bio
- Why are you the right person to write this book?
- What unusual access do you have to your subject?
Marketing & platform
- How big is your platform, in numbers?
- What will you personally do to promote the book?
Logistics & specifications
- How long will the finished book be?
- When can you realistically deliver the manuscript?
- Does the book need visuals, and who holds the rights?
Every prompt is fully customizable, so you can adapt the proposal to your genre, your publisher’s guidelines, or an agent’s submission requirements.
From proposal to manuscript, all in one place
If you write in Reedsy Studio, you can keep your proposal in the same project as your chapter outline, research notes, and sample chapter, so that your pitch and your pages stay in sync as the idea develops.
And when the contract is signed (and your editor inevitably asks you to restructure the whole thing), all your planning is right there to build on.
Your proposal, always with you
Reedsy Studio saves every change automatically. Your proposal is always current, always accessible, and always backed up.
Studio also works on any device, so you can tweak your comps on the train or rewrite your hook the minute inspiration strikes.
A book proposal template built on real publishing experience
Downloaded by over 300,000 authors since we first created it, our book proposal template has been a staple in the writing community for years. And now it’s more powerful than ever, as we’ve upgraded and integrated it into our book writing environment.
The Book Proposal template includes:
- Guided sections for your overview, audience, comps, bio, platform, and logistics
- 30+ pre-built prompts with examples and industry benchmarks
- A flexible structure you can adapt to trade, academic, or specialist nonfiction
Beyond the template, Studio provides:
- A full universe of planning templates for outlining, research, structure, and more
- Seamless integration between all templates and your manuscript
- A full-featured manuscript editor for drafting and revision
- Automatic saving and cross-device syncing
- Export options in multiple formats
- Collaboration tools for writing partners
- A distraction-free writing environment
