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"June Cotner's book proposals are the gold standard. She thoroughly researches her market and audience offering persuasive evidence of the marketability of her books. She writes with passion and professionalism--an unbeatable combination."

--Denise Marcil, President
Denise Marcil Literary Agency, Inc.

 
Book Proposal Services

Book Proposal Evaluation - $250.

I provide a thorough, 21-point evaluation of any nonfiction proposal. This evaluation analyzes 133 items covering areas such as the following:

  • Have you made the right pitch for the book?
  • Do you offer compelling reasons why your book should be published?
  • Is your competitive book analysis correctly done?
  • Have you documented the need for your book?
  • Have you shown how you are going to make your book successful?

For more information about Book Proposal services, please go to more info about BPS.

 

Workshops

I offer four types of workshops which are described on my Events page:

  • "How to Get Published"
  • "How to Receive a Top-Dollar Advance by Writing an Irresistible Book Proposal"
  • "Marketing Your Books"
  • "How to Write and Get a Children's Book Published"

If you know a bookstore or writer's group that would be interested in hosting one of my workshops, please contact me (or have them contact me) via email: june@junecotner.com.

 

A Tip From June

Keep writing and don't give up! I have found that one of the most common mistakes a writer makes is underestimating the length of time needed to write a book proposal, the basic marketing device in publishing. Writing a book proposal takes lots of time, lots of research, lots of rewrites . . . but, it can mean the difference between getting published or not. Plan on spending at least 100 hours on a book proposal (not counting chapter outlines and sample chapters), more if this is your first proposal. Suggestions for how to write a book proposal can be found in the March and April issues of my "Publishing Tip of the Month" (described above).

Hard work and persistence pays. It took me ten years to get my first book, The Home Design Handbook, published. I now have 20 books published (by four of the largest publishers) and five more on the way. Writing is a great career and I recommend it to you wholeheartedly--but publishers are not going to come looking for you. YOU have to sell your idea and there's lots of competition, so it's important that you sell it well.

If you're writing nonfiction, it's important that you create national visibility for yourself by offering workshops on your book's topic and by being interviewed by the media.

 

Recommended Books

I would like to recommend some excellent resources to you. These books provide much of the basic information you need in the preparation of your book proposal.

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Write the Perfect Book Proposal by Jeff Herman & Deborah M. Adams

Nonfiction Book Proposals by Elizabeth Lyon

The Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book by Susan Page

1001 Ways to Market Your Book by John Kremer

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published by Sheree Bykofsky & Jennifer Basye Sander

Please note that my books are also available through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, booksense.com, and bookstores nationwide.

Check out my
Nov/Dec '99
"Northwest Ink" article
WRITING A KNOCKOUT NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL