Class Title: "How To Develop a Nonfiction Book Proposal" [mini-course] Instructor: Sarah White Class Term: enroll in this class Class Description In this 3-part class, we will discuss each of the components of a nonfiction book proposal, exploring what makes a successful overview, market analysis, platform, and sample chapter. We'll take a virtual field trip to find where your book belongs on retailers' shelves, and what competitive and complementary books are already there. Using what you learn, you'll work on transforming your book idea into a compelling book proposal. Even if you don't intend to offer your book to a publisher right away, or intend to self-publish, you'll gain crucial insights from researching and writing a plan for your book using the industry standard proposal format. This work will sharpen your thinking, focus your attention on the competition, and give you a better sense of the publishing possibilities. Outline Unit 1: Articulating Your Book Idea. Synopsis, Sample Chapter Unit 2: Marketing Matters: The Bookstore Visit, Market Analysis, Author's Platform Unit 3: Moving Forward: Proposal Critique, Building Your "Hit List" Student Skills, Equipment required Students should be able to complete assignments using word processing software, including formatting documents as instructed. Students should have access to the Internet and be familiar with web browser controls. During the first class session students will be instructed how to use the Google Site to submit their assignments, receive their handouts, and review each other's work. Tuition/Fees for this course SCN members: $0. Non-SCN members: $. Instructor Bio Sarah White provides writing services for individuals, families, businesses, and communities. Typical projects include books, articles, online content, and life histories. Besides working on her own writing, she helps others fulfill their writing ambitions. She has worked with acquisition editors to locate authors, and worked with authors to find publishers, then helped them turn book ideas into books in stores. For more about Sarah, explore her website.