A book proposal is your first formal contact with the publisher. From this the acquisitions editor (the person who acquires new books for a publishing firm), and the managing editor will judge your ability to complete the book you have proposed to them.Therefore, you want to take considerable care to write the proposal well.

1. 5 Basic Steps to a
Successful
Textbook Proposal
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)

2. 1) Describe the book.
 Provide a working title, identify the author or
authors, then describe the approach or theme taken by
the book. Identify the book's outstanding features, use
of cases, problems and illustrations. Include some
presentation of pedagogy as to how the book will
present and achieve its objectives. Also note which
supplements you intend to include with the book.
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)

3. 2) Identify the market.
 What courses will most likely use the book? Be sure to
note the level of intended use. Will it appeal as a
remedial book or is it intended for advanced students.
Do some research to get a good grasp of the present
market and how you believe your book can grab a
portion of that market.
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)

4. 3) Identify the competition.
 Who are the three or four major competitors to your
proposed book? Research what their relative sales have
been by at least asking the sales representatives.
Discuss the competing books' strenghts and weaknesses
to illustrate how your book can compete with them.
Include in this discussion presentation of material and
the competing books' use of pedagogy, cases, problems
and other special features.
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)

5. 4) Present an outline.
 Include a chapter by chapter outline of major topics
covered in the book. While the order might vary from
proposal to finished manuscript, it is essential for
editors and reviewers to see the logic and approach in
your organizational structure. Be sure to include the
organizational schema -- how the problems, cases and
illustrations achieve your objectives.
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)

6. 5) Provide a production schedule.
 This gives the publisher some idea of the time frame
needed to produce the manuscript. Include the
resources you will require to complete the project;
whether you will need typing assistance, photographic
research, etc. Be as clear as possible as to whether you
intend to produce the ancillary materials or whether
the publisher needs to contract it out.
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)

7. "Beware of putting anything in writing too early, since
some editors will take your preliminary ideas to be
definite proposals. When you do write the
proposal, assume it will be your last chance to
convince an editor to take an interest in the project.
Also keep in mind that no matter how convinced you
are that your book will be the best in the field, you
have to make that clear to the editor, and you also
have to explain to the editor how that is going to be
clear to potential adopters."
C. Leon Harris, author of Fugue and
Evolution, Genesis and Revelations
® 2013 Text and Academic Authors
Association (TAA)