This is a question for agents who deal with nonfiction book proposals.
I would like to know how you feel about receiving a proposal that's beautifully formatted, like a magazine or brochure. Tasteful layout, liberal use of photos and illustrations of the people, places, and things mentioned in the book. Sure, a little larger than normal vertical spacing between lines of text, but, in the end, a crisp 21st-century design that helps you absorb the author's vision in a professional presentation. A nice layout doesn't mean neglect the content: the proposal needs an overview, market analysis, competition analysis, author bio, chapter summary, and sample chapters.
Contrast that with what apparently many agents still insist for proposals: plain text, and only text, in a double-spaced, Courier font, as if you just hauled out your trusty Smith Corona 1944 typewriter, and typed the whole thing in, never making a mistake.
To me, the latter is quaint and outdated. And hurts the book's chances. To me, the former, when done wisely, not in a flashy manner, but really professionally done, can only help. The goal is not to obscure weakness in the writing or subject-matter. The writing has to be outstanding, I get it. But to me the goal of the proposal is to help SELL THE BOOK. Not only to you, but to publishers. You don't see publishers pumping out Courier-font, text-only Fall and Spring catalogs of their latest books for sale. No, they go all-out with glorious 4-color presentations. Because they are SELLING.
So. Agents. What do YOU look for in a proposal? Are you 20th century, or are you 21st?
Question for Agents: Double-spaced courier? Really? In 2015?
I would like to know how you feel about receiving a proposal that's beautifully formatted, like a magazine or brochure. Tasteful layout, liberal use of photos and illustrations of the people, places, and things mentioned in the book. Sure, a little larger than normal vertical spacing between lines of text, but, in the end, a crisp 21st-century design that helps you absorb the author's vision in a professional presentation. A nice layout doesn't mean neglect the content: the proposal needs an overview, market analysis, competition analysis, author bio, chapter summary, and sample chapters.
Contrast that with what apparently many agents still insist for proposals: plain text, and only text, in a double-spaced, Courier font, as if you just hauled out your trusty Smith Corona 1944 typewriter, and typed the whole thing in, never making a mistake.
To me, the latter is quaint and outdated. And hurts the book's chances. To me, the former, when done wisely, not in a flashy manner, but really professionally done, can only help. The goal is not to obscure weakness in the writing or subject-matter. The writing has to be outstanding, I get it. But to me the goal of the proposal is to help SELL THE BOOK. Not only to you, but to publishers. You don't see publishers pumping out Courier-font, text-only Fall and Spring catalogs of their latest books for sale. No, they go all-out with glorious 4-color presentations. Because they are SELLING.
So. Agents. What do YOU look for in a proposal? Are you 20th century, or are you 21st?
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