On the episode of the Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “What do I put in my author bio?” You need three versions of your bio for your book proposal. Two or three lines in the query letter, a short paragraph in the proposal’s overview, and a one- or two-page author bio with photo at the beginning of the promotion section. Whether or not your book is related to your day job or career, your author bio is all about leaning into your experience and expertise as it relates to the book you are writing. Start with the most relevant information - related to the topic, back it up with how people have been impacted by your knowledge/methodology/story. Also include any writing experience and basic info on your platform: website, social and traditional media, and appearances as a speaker. Conclude with some personal tidbits to make you more relatable. Add your personality and have fun with it! The more human you can make your bio, the more you put your best, most educated and enthusiastic foot forward on your subject, the better it will be for your book! For more on Book Proposals, read Debra’s articles on WritersDigest.com. *** Debra Eckerling is a book proposal specialist, goal strategist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheBookProposalExpert.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of the Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “How do I format my book proposal?” One of the keys to writing a saleable book proposal is you need to make it as easy to read as possible. That means using an actual word processing program - like Word or Pages - rather than the cloud, and creating a Table of Contents, so whoever is reading it can easily navigate through the different sections. Debra also talks about formatting the text, preferred fonts and size, and adding hyperlinks, as well as the rule about photos and other graphics. For more on the Do’s and Don’ts of Book Proposal Formatting, read Debra’s article on WritersDigest.com. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “How do I know if I am ready to write my book proposal?” You can actually get started on your proposal at any time. However when you are really ready to dive in, these are the three things you must have: a unique marketable idea, expertise in the subject, and a desire to write the book. Addressing the last thing first, Debra reminds listeners that they need to be the one who wants to write this book. If you're writing a book because people say, “You're such an expert, you need to write a book,” that alone will not get it done. You will likely find yourself procrastinating, stressed, and possibly less productive on other things. You may come to a point when you're ready to write it, but if it's not yet, just keep a notebook with notes on your book idea for when that time comes. The other two things - a unique marketable idea and expertise - are the essence of the overview. Once you really “own” your expertise and are invested in your take on the topic, you are ready to really get to work on your book proposal. More on the overview in episode 4 and what ducks to put in a row in episode 13. *** Debra Eckerling is a book proposal specialist, goal strategist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “What’s the most important part of the book proposal?” Although every element of your book proposal is essential, there are three sections that will help you hone in on your book concept and positioning. The Overview, Audience, and Book Comps. In the Overview, you express what the book is, what makes it unique, and what you are the best and only person who can write it. The Audience section is research-based. It’s where you share information about your demographics - individuals and groups - along with stats that prove there’s a large enough audience interest in your book. Your Book Comps - five traditionally published titles with high rankings and good reviews - is more proof of concept. These books sold, and yours is similar but different, so it will too. Before you get too deep into the weeds of your book proposal, make sure you have a solid foundation (the Overview), Audience data, and a compelling case for the saleability of your book (Comps). More on the overview in episode 4. More on audience and comps in future episodes. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “How does the book submission process work?” As you might expect, Debra says it all starts with writing a compelling book proposal. In tandem with that, research and create a list of agents and publishers you want to submit to. You can do this by reviewing similar titles - checking publishers, as well as agents mentioned in the acknowledgement section, and attending writer events. (More on finding publishers in episode 7.) Study their submission guidelines and follow them to the letter. Note: Debra advocates for going the agent route, as they have access to all publishers; most of the large ones will not take un-solicited manuscripts. Once your proposal is polished, write and submit a query letter, along with your proposal. Debra shares how nonfiction and fiction submissions differ, and why memoir authors should always have their full manuscript ready even though they’re submitting a proposal. After you hit send, the waiting begins. It typically takes two months or longer for a response. If there’s interest the agent or publisher will contact you with next steps. Traditional publishing takes time, strategy, and persistence, but for authors seeking a credible platform with a larger reach, it’s absolutely worth it. Listen to the ep for more detail, insights, and examples from Deb’s experience.  *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at TheBookProposalExpert.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “What is an author platform?” Your author platform is everywhere you show up on and offline. This includes your website, newsletter, online communities, social media, and traditional media. It's videos, webinars, speaking engagements, in-person activities, and involvement in organizations, as well as your notable contacts and connections.  In each of the platform sections in your book proposal, you want to explain what it is, the kind of content you share, numbers - if they are impressive, and, if appropriate, the link, so whoever is reading your proposal can click it to learn more.  In addition to website, social media, and any podcast or live stream shows, include recent media - articles, podcasts, TV, and radio, the link to your sizzle reel, and speaking engagements - on and off-line. The last part of the platform section is where you put your contacts: notable names and companies, community involvement, organizations - professional and social. These are people and communities, excited to spread the word about your book. More on each of these segments in future episodes! *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “How do I decide what book to write?” Some professionals, whether they're a writer - and/or entrepreneur, executive, consultant - know they have a book in them, but they do not know what that book is. If you are uncertain how to find the focus of their book, try Directed Journaling.  This is how it works: schedule 3, 4, or 5 15-minute appointments with yourself and during that time, brainstorm the answer to a question or series of questions, related to the same topic. In this case, your ideas would be related to the book itself, your topic options, sprint on the topic, or even why you want to write a book. Don't read any of your entries until after you've completed the exercise. Then, read everything straight through once and then read it again with a highlighter or a notepad next to you, so you can highlight or write down the things that you talked about the most. By the end of these journaling sessions, you should have a good starting point for your book. If you don't, do some more starter sessions.  Once you have your ideas better formulated, do a quick comprehensive title search and see what other books are out there. That way, you confirm that your spin is indeed unique, yet books on similar subject matter still sell. You can also use director journaling to dive a little deeper into your topic or concept and even use it to flesh out sections of your book proposal, such as the overview, book summary, and detailed outline.  Remember, the idea is just the beginning. When you apply the structure of a book proposal to your concept, your idea evolves into a well-defined, saleable book. Add it to the other elements of your proposal - platform, marketing, audience, comps - and you are raring to go. Debra will cover those topics on future episodes.  *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “How do I fit writing my book into my already busy life?” At the early stages, even before writing your book - or your book proposal - you can start developing your book’s content, in 5- or 10-minute increments. You can set short appointments with yourself or, whenever you have a few minutes of downtime, start writing down points you want to make, anecdotes, and concepts for your book. Remember to keep all of your ideas in the same notebook or computer document, so everything is together for when you're ready to fully start working on it.  While finding time beyond those 10-minute spurts is a challenge, it is totally doable. See if it's feasible to get up one hour earlier in the morning or go to sleep an hour later at night and work on your book then. Otherwise, look at your life, see where you're spending your time, and then consider what adjustments you can make to your schedule. Find places to swap downtime for book-writing time, Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. That’s why a book proposal is so important. As long as you have a roadmap for your content, whenever you find or make the time, you know what you need to do. You can simply focus on the writing.  *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “Why publish traditionally?”  If you are using your book to establish yourself as the authority you are, if you want to get it in front of as many people as possible, try to get a traditional book deal. Start with sending your book proposal to agents and publishers. You can always do self or hybrid-publishing as your backup plan.  When you publish traditionally, you may make less money. However, you also don't need to outsource things like cover art, editing, and formatting; you do not need to deal with production and distribution. Plus, you may get at least some PR and marketing support. Remember, no matter how you publish, there's a certain amount of promotion you need to do yourself.  The biggest difference between traditional and self and hybrid publishing is traditional publishers pay you. They absorb the costs and have the resources to create a professional product. When you do it yourself or with support from a hybrid, you pay for all of the things; you also need to do research and quality control. Ultimately, traditional publishing offers credibility, reach, and resources that can give your book the best chance for success. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “How do I choose which publisher to send my proposal to?”  There are different ways to go about finding the right publisher for your book proposal. The larger publishing houses, namely the big five, and their imprints, will only allow submissions through an agent. However, there are plenty of smaller publishers that accept proposals and queries directly from writers. So the first decision you need to make is whether to seek out an agent or go directly to a publisher.  If you are going the direct to publisher route, you have a few options, but they all boil down to research. Start with a simple online search for publishers that accept unsolicited or un-agented manuscripts - or reverse engineer it and look at who publishes books you feel are akin to yours. Then check their catalog, accepted genres, and submission guidelines. You can also find potential publishers through networking, writers communities, and events.  Whether you are sending your proposal out to an agent or directly to a publisher, remember: your cover letter/query needs to be as professional as your book proposal and your manuscript: spelling counts, formatting counts, alignment with the publisher counts.  *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “What’s the difference between a pitch and a book proposal?” A pitch is a brief summary of your book - and it is also incorporated into your book proposal - but it is just one element that you need to sell your book. You typically share your book pitch in a query email or submission, within a conversation, or through a pitch event. You are pitching what your idea is, what makes it unique and why this book needs to be out in the world.  Your book proposal is much more than the pitch. You are creating a sales and marketing document that makes the case for your book. In addition to the elements of the overview, which is the essence of your pitch, you need to include how and why your book will sell, who will buy it, what your platform is, and your marketing plan, along with your detailed outline and sample chapters. A pitch may get you in the door, it drums up interest. However if you do not have a book proposal to back up your idea, it’s not going anywhere. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “Do I need to write the whole book to get a deal?” If you are looking to publish traditionally, in most cases, the answer is no. For a business, self-help, cookbook, how-to, motivational, or other topic-specific nonfiction book, you do not need a complete manuscript; you only need a book proposal with 2 or 3 sample chapters. You are selling your concept, angle, and expertise, while giving the agent and publisher an idea of your style and ability as a writer. Note: The rules are different for memoir and fiction; for those you need a complete manuscript ready to send when the publisher shows interest.  If you are a thought leader, entrepreneur, business owner, consultant, subject-matter expert, who keeps putting off writing your book, there is an easier way. Develop the concept and context through the proposal. As you do that, the content will also come together. Check out this episode to learn more. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “What do I work on first?” The first section in the book proposal, after your title page and your splash, is About the Book. And the first part of that section is the Overview. Your Overview is a clear and engaging snapshot of your book concept, what makes it unique, and why you are the best person to write it. And you express this in one page, no more than two.  The other content sections in your book proposal are an expansion of the ideas set forth in the overview, which is why getting this section right is so important. Listen to the episode to learn more. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and author of “Your Goal Guide” and “52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting.”  Have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “Where do I start?” Debra says to start by getting organized. Create a folder for your book proposal on your computer or in the cloud; then create a brainstorm document for each of the sections. This includes: sizzle ideas, overview, what’s in the book, book specs, author bio, author reviews/testimonials, author platform, marketing plan, series, audience, comp titles, table of contents, and detailed outline. Now, whenever you get an idea for any of these sections, you have a place to jot it down. Since you are gathering all your notes ahead of time, when you're ready to start writing your proposal, you have everything you need all in one place.  *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and award-winning author and podcaster. Her books include Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. She hosts GoalChat, Taste Buds with Deb, and the Book Proposal Podcast. Do you have a question about book proposals? Email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “What’s in a book proposal?”  A book proposal has a lot of elements, broken down into three areas: concept, promotion, and content. Debra goes through the sections, from title page and sizzle to overview, what’s in the book, and book specs; from author bio, reviews/testimonials, platform, marketing, and series to audience and comps; and from table of contents to detailed outline, and writing sample. However, she notes, the whole proposal is a writing sample. It shows your tone, style, and passion for your topic, along with your plan.  *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and award-winning author and podcaster. Her books include Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. She hosts GoalChat, Taste Buds with Deb, and the Book Proposal Podcast. Do you have a question about book proposals? Email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the episode of The Book Proposal Podcast, Debra Eckerling answers the question, “Why should I write a book proposal?” Debra explains how most nonfiction books are sold via a book proposal. It's a business plan, a roadmap designed to sell your idea, and you as the author, and if you are planning to go the traditional publishing route, you definitely need a proposal. Even if your aim is to go hybrid or self-publish, a book proposal is a wonderful tool to help you find clarity and develop strategy, so you get the results you want, which is a saleable, marketable book. *** Debra Eckerling is a goal strategist, book proposal specialist, and award-winning author and podcaster. Her books include Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. She hosts GoalChat, Taste Buds with Deb, and the Book Proposal Podcast. Do you have a question about book proposals? Email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Connect with Deb on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips. Learn more at BookProposalPodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your nonfiction book proposal is the roadmap you need to get your book idea out of your head, onto the page, and into the right hands. More than that, it helps you find clarity, develop strategy, and get the results you want: a saleable, marketable book. In the Book Proposal Podcast, host and book proposal consultant Debra Eckerling simplifies the process with short, practical episodes focused entirely on proposals. From pinpointing the right idea and building your platform to planning your promo and choosing comps, Debra answers real questions to help you create a proposal that sells your book—and you. Whether you’re aiming for traditional, hybrid, or indie publishing, you’ll get actionable advice to turn your concept into a plan. *** Do you have a question about book proposals, email Deb@TheDEBMethod.com. Also, connect with Debra Eckerling on LinkedIn and follow @TheDEBMethod for more resources and tips to get you excited about planning and achieving your book publishing goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices