Behind the Scenes: Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal

Update: 2025-09-09

Description

Episode 987: Show Notes

When you listen to your innermost thoughts, your best work will come out. In today’s episode, I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to write a book proposal and get your book purchased in the traditional publishing world. I want to share a preview of where I am in the process, what is required, and some “words of warning” for things that you may encounter along the way; things I didn’t anticipate and would have appreciated a heads up on! But before we dive in, I want to thank my loyal listeners for being part of this space where you can show up fully and share openly. I’d like the Strategy Hour to evolve, so if it’s helped you, please share it with someone else who can benefit from this community.

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Where I am In My Publishing Journey

I’m about 75% done with my book proposal, hoping to wrap it up within the next few weeks, and then finding someone who believes in this project as much as I do! These agents will then represent me and present it to editors, who will take it to a publishing board to decide if this book will be published. I have no doubt in my mind that this book will be written. I'm focused on creating my best work—a book that not only represents who I am today, but also who I'm evolving into. My goal is for this to be a timeless classic, relevant years from now.

I've gotten this far because I decided to hire a book coach. It was an investment I didn't plan on making at first, but I'm so thankful I did. Knowing that someone is expecting me to make progress and review my work makes me show up and figure things out. This "forced forward motion" has been really challenging but also good for me. I believe it's kept the process from dragging on much longer than it should.

What You Need to Know About Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal

Traditional publishing typically buys non-fiction book concepts based on a proposal, meaning you sell the idea before it's written. The publisher's decision is, therefore, heavily based on you and whether you already have a market for the book. A book proposal starts with a clear vision. You'll need a working title and a strong concept, followed by a powerful hook that answers why your book is relevant today and why it stands out from the rest. You'll also need to provide a little background on yourself and a marketing plan. I think having a solid, creative strategy here is where you can truly stand out.

The next piece of the puzzle includes your table of contents and an annotated outline that describes what you plan to cover in each chapter. Finally, I'm working on the sample writing material, aiming for between 6,000 and 8,000 words total. Since I cut my intro down for more of a "cliffhanger" effect, I'll likely be including not just the introduction, but probably Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 as well to meet that word count.

Writing on Demand and Finding Inspiration

None of the proposal components was a shock to me, but the actual writing process has been much harder than I anticipated. I love writing, but it is a very different process to write on demand compared to writing when inspired and feeling the thoughts flow naturally.

I've learned to look for inspiration by taking walks, listening to inspiring podcasts, or other authors to get ideas flowing.  I also use stream of consciousness writing or journaling; I'll start journaling, and then the next thing I know, it's coming out of me, though not necessarily in the way I anticipated. I’ve also come to understand that I cannot be put at a desk and told to write something. 80 to 90% of my best work is written on my phone and nowhere near a computer — on a walk, in a bathroom, or in bed.

It is also crucial for you to prioritize presence and authenticity.

Your best work comes from silencing your mind and being present, allowing your innermost thoughts to surface. When I felt stuck this morning, instead of forcing myself to work, I journaled and ended up writing about friendship and gratitude. This beautiful writing came from a place of feeling, not from pushing. My best piece of advice: true creativity must flow freely from you—it's something you feel, not something you force.

Letting Your Work ‘Live’, Grow, and Evolve

I went into this book proposal process with a strong idea, thinking it was strictly for entrepreneurs, but as I started writing the sample material, I realized the audience was different from what I expected. Right now, I'm confident this book is for anyone who has battled with society’s version of success, felt trapped, or been labeled as gifted or special. My hope is for this book to be a "mirror," helping people see themselves and understand their own thoughts, views, and values—not the ones culture told them to believe in. My advice to aspiring writers is to go in with a plan, but be willing to let it change. Allow the book to live a life of its own, to grow and evolve. That's how you'll produce your best work.

This is the kind of work that can keep growing with you, and that’s amazing! If this is a process you are interested in or want to learn more about, please send me a DM on Instagram! I would love to hear from you, and I am open to sharing anything so that I can be helpful to as many people as possible. I can’t wait to see more of your work out in the world!