Tips for Improving Your Nonfiction Book Proposal | Margot Starbuck

Imagine if you were taking a trip across the country, from New York to L.A. You probably wouldn’t just hop in the car and start driving. Instead, you’d plot out your journey via Google Maps, Apple Maps, if you’re a bit old-fashioned, maybe even a good old paper map.

Yet failing to plan out the journey is exactly what many authors do when it comes to their books. That’s why putting together a book proposal is so important.

We usually think of book proposals as a document that is only used when authors are pitching an agent or a traditional publisher. However, every time I write a book for myself or a client, I always put together a detailed document that contains elements of a book proposal.

Regardless of your publishing pathway, a proposal is a powerful tool to help you determine whether you’re truly ready to write and publish. My guest today is here to share some valuable tips on improving your next nonfiction book proposal.

Margot Starbuck is a graduate of Westmont College and Princeton Seminary, is a New York Times bestselling writer, and has written over forty­ books. She has touched over 200 major publishing projects as an author, writer, coach, or editor.

As a collaborator serving publishers and communicators, Margot treasures the privilege of writing alongside athletes, entertainers, and overcomers. She counts it a privilege to journey with individuals as they share their most compelling and intimate stories with readers.

As a speaker at writing conferences around the country, Margot equips writers who want to be published. She reviews book proposals and manuscripts, showing writers what’s working well and what can be improved, as well as offering practical strategies to execute those changes. She’s particularly passionate about working to elevate the voices of communicators of color within Christian publishing.

Margot lives in a neighborhood in Durham, North Carolina, that’s built around friends with disabilities. You can find all of Margot’s books, resources, and grab her free Nonfiction Book Readiness Quiz at https://margotstarbuck.com