Sign the contract...then write the book. The good news is that almost every nonfiction book published is sold by a proposal. In this comprehensive yet accessible guide, you will learn exactly what a proposal is, what it must contain, and how to pull yours together into an informative, persuasive selling package. Already a favorite for thousands of aspiring writers, this book has been revised and updated by Elizabeth Lyon to feature nearly two dozen actual proposals, plus- Choosing a topic based on current trends and competing titles Drafting the perfect concept statement-daring agents and editors to reject you Defining and targeting your readership-then connecting with them Preparing a table of contents and chapter summaries Submitting exciting and well-written sample chapters Writing query letters Devising a marketing plan that will excite agents and publishers