Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in.
Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why and over 300,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
56 used & new from $6.17

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, 2nd Edition
 
 
Start reading Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.
 
  

Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

by Jeff Herman (Author), Deborah Levine Herman (Author) "A good idea is the foundation for any nonfiction book proposal..." (more)
Key Phrases: loyalty wheel, good sample chapter, exceptional heart patients, African American, Black Roots, Trust Your Guts (more...)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

List Price: $15.95
Price: $10.85 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.10 (32%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Upgrade this book for $3.19 more, and you can read, search, and annotate every page online. See details
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 4 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, July 21? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
30 new from $6.24 25 used from $6.17 1 collectible from $40.00
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
Kindle Edition (Kindle Book) $9.99

Special Offers and Product Promotions


Frequently Bought Together

Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, 2nd Edition + How to Write a Book Proposal + Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody can Write (Revised and Updated)
Price For All Three: $32.57

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody can Write (Revised and Updated)

Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody can Write (Revised and Updated)

by Elizabeth Lyon
4.8 out of 5 stars (30)  $10.85
Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009: Who They Are! What They Want! How To Win Them Over!m19th Edition (Jeff Herman's ... Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents)

Jeff Herman's Guide To Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009: Who They Are! What They Want! How To Win Them Over!m19th Edition (Jeff Herman's ... Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents)

by Jeff Herman
4.2 out of 5 stars (17)  $19.77
Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents 2008: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over! (Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents)

Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents 2008: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over! (Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents)

by Jeff Herman
4.6 out of 5 stars (14)  $19.77
How to Get a Literary Agent

How to Get a Literary Agent

by Michael Larsen
4.4 out of 5 stars (14)  $11.53
Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS

Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS

by W. Terry Whalin
4.9 out of 5 stars (94)  $12.60
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Want to publish your book?

Learn how—it’s easier than you think!

Charismatic authors and literary agents Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman have successfully sold hundreds of titles and learned—through trial and error—how to write a flawless book proposal that publishers can’t resist. Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:

• How to shape your idea and create a title

• Ways to get to know the market and competition

• Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter

• The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals

• How ten actual proposals (included here) were successfully sold to publishers—and why

"A submission from Jeff Herman always gets moved to the top . . . his new book will show you how to move to the top."—Frederic W. Hills Vice President, Simon & Schuster

"This book will take writers to the highest level of proposal writing and success."—Roger Cooper Quality Paperback Book Club

"If you want your proposal to ignite a busy editor’s interest, read this book."—Adrienne Hickey Senior Acquisitions Editor, AMACOM Books

From the Back Cover
Want to publish your book?

Learn how—it’s easier than you think!

Charismatic authors and literary agents Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman have successfully sold hundreds of titles and learned—through trial and error—how to write a flawless book proposal that publishers can’t resist. Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:

• How to shape your idea and create a title

• Ways to get to know the market and competition

• Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter

• The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals

• How ten actual proposals (included here) were successfully sold to publishers—and why

"A submission from Jeff Herman always gets moved to the top . . . his new book will show you how to move to the top."—Frederic W. Hills Vice President, Simon & Schuster

"This book will take writers to the highest level of proposal writing and success."—Roger Cooper Quality Paperback Book Club

"If you want your proposal to ignite a busy editor’s interest, read this book."—Adrienne Hickey Senior Acquisitions Editor, AMACOM Books

See all Editorial Reviews


Product Details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (May 4, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471353124
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471353126
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #14 in  Books > Reference > Almanacs & Yearbooks > Yearbooks & Annuals
    #84 in  Books > Reference > Publishing & Books > Authorship

Inside This Book (learn more)



Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
 


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below.

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (16)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
356 of 362 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars a great resource for a VERY LIMITED type of book, March 28, 2003
I used this book, along with Larsen's "How to Write a Book Proposal" for my first book proposal, and felt they made an excellent combination:

- Larsen was great on explanation and details describing what each section required and why, but was light on examples.

- This book offered incredible examples, with great commentary, but was extremely thin on guiding you through the process of creating your own proposal. Each chapter--corresponding to each section of your proposal--runs a mere 1-3 pages. Examples are great, but direction is necessary as well. This half the book is grossly inadequate.

If Herman wanted a really great, 5-star book, he would beef up section one dramatically. However, I felt that the two together made a perfect combination, and were well worth the price of two books.

Now here's the rub:

I read two proposals a friend had sold to Random House for six figures each, both guided by a top agent at ICM, and they were nothing like the Herman/Larsen model. Not even close. Then I began working with a new agent--switching from a peddler of mostly crass-commericial work to an agent and recent editor known more for literary bestsellers. She guided me to an approach very much like my friend's ICM agent--what I'll call Model II. Finally, a friend working with an agent at Writer's House also was advised toward a Model II approach.

What I have since learned is this:

The Herman/Larsen model (Model I) is great for cookbooks, business books, coffee table books, self-help books, etc.

The model CAN also be applied to more literary work (memoirs, "serious nonfiction," bestsellers like "Longitude," "The Professor and the Madman" or even "The Perfect Storm." Let's say books with literary aspirations, whether or not you find them literary.)

I say it CAN BE applied to them, because I'm sure many serious books have been sold that way, but it's not a good fit. If you're pitching your book to a more literary niche--including "serious" bestsellers--and especially a narrative nonfiction book, I think you'd be highly advised to use Model II.

For that, see Betsy Lerner's "The Forest for the Trees" and especially Susan Rabiner's "Thinking Like Your Editor;: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get it Published." (Be advised that Rabiner has a very narrow definition of "serious nonfiction," but the book is still extremely useful for somewhat less serious, shall we say "middlebrow" work.)

This did not have to be a big problem with Herman's book (or Larsen's). The problem is, they did not bother to TELL you this in their books. Granted, most of the examples in this book (Herman's) are purely commercial products, but he's got two in there--"Heart and Soul" and "I'm Too Young to Have a Heart Attack" which are narrative memoirish works with literary aspirations. I'm sure he sold those two with this approach, but from what I have learned, most authors would have much better odds selling that type of book for more money with model II (unless of course, Jeff Herman is actually your agent--if he's most comfortable with his model and his clients expect it, go with it. Of course WHATEVER your agent advises, go with it, because he/she has to sell it. But most people using this book probably don't have an agent yet, or are going to be confused when they've studied this and their agent is expecting something very different.)

The big problem with this book is that he's not copping to its limitations, and hence leading a lot of naive writers like me to shoehorn their proposal into an inappropriate format, which does not play to its strengths. This book is by far the biggest seller on book proposals, and I'm afraid vast numbers of writers are getting a narrow view of how they're supposed to be selling their work.

A brief disclaimer explaining which books this is right for and who should look elsewhere for a better model would have been a fantastic service and rated this book 5 stars. As is, it's probably hindering nearly as many writers as it helps.

Comment Comments (3) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Three Indispensable Sources, January 31, 2003
By Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
To those seeking guidance with writing a book proposal to obtain a literary agent's services or to obtain a contract from a publisher, I strongly recommend both this book and Michael Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal as well as Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. True, there is some duplication of advice in the Larsen and Herman books which convinced me that the advice is sound. Given the importance and -- yes -- the difficulty of writing a book proposal, and given the competition to obtain a literary agent and then a publisher, the investment in all three books is indeed a small price to pay.

The Hermans organize their excellent material within two Sections: "All Aspects of the Proposal -- And Some Advice Thrown In," and, "10 Proposals That Sold -- And Why." The 12 chapters which comprise Section One do indeed provide just about everything an author needs to know about preparing a book proposal. The Hermans then shift their reader's attention to ten successful proposals and include a wealth of comments and suggestions in the margins of each. For example:

"This is a great first paragraph in that it clearly states what the book is about and establishes the author's expertise." (page 85)

"This is a good example of integrating biographical material with persuasive information." (page 99)

"This is an excellent Table of Contents. It is clear, organized, and clever without being hokey." (page 116)

"Although she wasn't mentioned on the title page, [Kathryn] Lance is the collaborator. Her bio sketch is strong in its simplicity. Her writing credits are voluminous, but she doesn't use up space here with a comprehensive listing. Instead she showcases only credits relevant to+ the success of this particular project. Comprehensive author resumes were also attached to the proposal package as an addenda." (page 174)

"This is a blending of `markets' and `promotions.' This is fine, but it's better to separate them. Although promotions are part of an overall marketing strategy, `markets' occupies a unique place in the proposal, while `promotions' can describe the details of a marketing plan."

These five annotations correctly suggest the specificity of guidance which the Hermans provide to their reader as she or he examines ten proposals which resulted in the publication of the books they describe. Perhaps while reading this immensely informative book, others will have the same reactions that I did: That it was written expressly for me, that the Hermans had anticipated all of the questions I needed answered (and then carefully answered them for me), and that -- meanwhile -- they were disabusing me of whatever misconceptions I may have had about the process by which to obtain the services of a literary agent and/or secure a publishing contract.

To repeat, given the importance of an effective book proposal and difficulty of what the preparation of one involves, I strongly recommend that this book be consulted in combination with both Michael Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal and Strunk & White's The Elements of Style.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Got me a contract with a publisher, February 27, 2003
By "catherinewishart" (Honolulu, Hawaii United States) - See all my reviews
This book is the definitive guide on how to write a strong proposal that will grab publishers attention and keep your book out of the slush pile.
Like most writers I own tons of books on writing and getting published. I followed the guidelines suggested by the authors and my book proposal for Teen Goddess was accepted by the first publishing company I tried!
I also highly recommend Deborah Levine's other book Spiritual Writing. If you write inspirational, new age or spiritual books it contains a wealth of information to steer you in the right direction.
Write the perfect book proposal is the one book I would not be without -
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
Ad
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time if your a fiction writer
The little gold label in the top right of the front cover (which is illegible!) says this is for NON-fiction. I could not read this until I received the book! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Stephen W. Reilly

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Vietnam Matters
Review for "Why Vietnam Matters" by Rufe Phillips
Harvey Neese is co-author/editor of "Prelude to Tragedy: Vietnam 1960 to 1965" published in 2000. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Harvey Neese

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't hesitate. Buy it. Read it. Use it.
If you want to get your book published then Write The Perfect Book Proposal is the book you must read before contacting any publisher. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. J. Swanepoel

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful
This book is great for those of us who need examples to learn. The 1st part of the book gives a brief explanation of what goes in a book proposal and the 2nd half is examples of... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Rebekah Bernardo

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for samples
I used this book along with Michael Larson's How to Write a Book Proposal and Elizabeth Lyon's book on Non-Fiction Book Proposals. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Leslie Truex

1.0 out of 5 stars I Was Very Disappointed
Unless you are writing a book along the lines of "How To Succeed In The Business World," or a book on genealogy, or self help, I recommend that you do not buy this book. Read more
Published on April 11, 2007 by Anthony Frank

1.0 out of 5 stars outdated
outdated, pick something on the same subject by someone else that was published this year; this one has extremely stale info. Read more
Published on March 19, 2007 by L. Helw

4.0 out of 5 stars Writing a book proposal
This is a very good primer on writing a book proposal. It addresses all the key areas that need be included. Read more
Published on January 15, 2007 by Charles D. Schewe

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book - buy it!
Folks,
This is a great book because it lays everything out for you in a simple and easy to understand manner. Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by Kenneth P. Konet

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource for All
My publisher recommended this book as I prepared to write my second non-fiction book. I was looking for guidelines for proposal writing, and was not disappointed. Read more
Published on August 19, 2006 by Sharon Shaw Elrod

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (1 discussion)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
Great book for sharing what actually worked 0 May 2006
See all discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)



Look for Similar Items by Category


Bath Wonders from LUSH

LUSH bath bombs
Find bath bombs, bath melts, shower jellies, and more great gifts for yourself (or a friend!) from LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.

Shop LUSH now

 

Best Books of 2008

Best of 2008
Find our top 100 editors' picks as well as customers' favorites in dozens of categories in our Best Books of 2008 Store.
 

Buy Three Books, Get a Fourth Free

4-for-3 Books
Order any four eligible books under $10 and get the lowest-price book free in our 4-for-3 Books Store. See more details.
 

Go Against the Grain

Shop for Woodworking Products
The art of woodworking requires unique tools and supplies. Find the equipment you need in the Woodworking Shop.

Shop now

 
Ad

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue shopping: Top Sellers
Free
Free by Chris Anderson
Paranoia
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
Glenn Beck's Common Sense

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates