Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in.

Quantity:

More Buying Choices

33 used & new from $8.75

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Tell the Publisher! I�d like to read this book on Kindle Don�t have a Kindle? Get yours here.

Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS (Paperback)

by W. Terry Whalin (Author), Donna Clark Goodrich (Author), Steven R. Laube (Author) "YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE to write a nonfiction book..." (more)
Key Phrases: Publisher's Weekly, Jenkins Group, New York City (more...)

4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (94 customer reviews)

List Price:	$14.00
Price:	$12.60 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save:	$1.40 (10%)

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Tuesday, July 14? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

21 new from $8.75 12 used from $9.21

Amazon Short - Read W. Terry Whalin for just 49�
Amazon Shorts are exclusive short stories and essays by favorite authors, delivered digitally.

Straight Talk from the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission for only $0.49

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Explore more great deals on 1000's of titles in our Bargain Book store.
Want to make your book available for sale on Amazon.com and other channels? Self-publish and sell your book on-demand through BookSurge, a member of the Amazon group of companies.

Frequently Bought Together

Price For All Three: $34.32

Show availability and shipping details

This item: Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS by W. Terry Whalin
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody can Write (Revised and Updated) by Elizabeth Lyon
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Fast Track Course on How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal

by Stephen Blake Mettee

4.9 out of 5 stars (13) $10.36

Straight Talk from the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission

4.6 out of 5 stars (27) $0.49

Bulletproof Book Proposals

by Pam Brodowsky

4.5 out of 5 stars (6) $11.24

How to Write a Book Proposal

by Michael Larsen

4.4 out of 5 stars (54) $10.87

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

by Jeff Herman

4.1 out of 5 stars (26) $10.85

› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book reveals insider information to help you avoid the pitfalls of rejection in writing a book.

Product Details

Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Write Now Publications (April 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1932124640
ISBN-13: 978-1932124644
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (94 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,577 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in this category: (What's this?)
#53 in Books > Reference > Publishing & Books > Authorship

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
YOU HAVE A BURNING DESIRE to write a nonfiction book. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Publisher's Weekly, Jenkins Group, New York City, Bob Costas, Jerrold Jenkins, Making the List

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 23 books:

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren on page 42, and page 54
Financial Peace: Restoring Financial Hope to You and Your Family by Dave Ramsey in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman on page 118, and Back Matter
Let the Walls Fall Down by Phillip Porter in Front Matter, and Back Matter
Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days (Left Behind No. 1) by Tim LaHaye on page 46

See all 23 books this book cites

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	66% buy the item featured on this page: Book Proposals That Sell: 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS 4.9 out of 5 stars (94) $12.60
	14% buy Straight Talk from the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission 4.6 out of 5 stars (27) $0.49
	7% buy Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody can Write (Revised and Updated) 4.8 out of 5 stars (30) $10.85
	7% buy How to Write a Great Query Letter 5.0 out of 5 stars (13) $0.00

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

writing(17)

book proposals(13)

book publishing(11)

writing book(11)

nonfiction(9)

publishing(9)

whalin(8)

writer(6)

writers reference(6)

book(1)

book proposal(1)

See all 23 tags...

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

Brandy S. Brow suggested this product show on searches for "writing book". What do you suggest?

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

94 Reviews

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.9 out of 5 stars (94 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A ROAD MAP FOR TURNING YOUR DREAMS INTO PRINT, July 21, 2005

By	Heather Ivester (Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You've got an idea that you're bursting to put into words. You think you may even have a book in you. You talk about it with your friends and family, and they tell you it sounds amazing. Now what?

Weeks pass. Months go by. Maybe even years. That idea just won't go away! So, finally you sit down at your computer and begin typing it out. You become engrossed in your topic -- swamped in research, personal anecdotes, and fresh twists on age-old issues. You're convinced every publisher will be clamoring for your book.

Unfortunately, if you send your masterpiece out without a bodyguard (an agent), it may end up in a tottering pile of manuscripts in the corner of an editor's office. Or worse -- it may not even make it to his desk because a first reader deemed it inappropriate for the publishing house.

Never fear. That's where Terry Whalin's book will save you the months and years of heartache as you turn your passion into print. He explains, "Many writers focus only on the creative aspects of writing a book and getting it published, but the executives inside a publishing house are business people who want to sell books and turn a profit at the end of the day. It's a delicate balance between creating the best possible product and assuring that each product has the best opportunity to sell into the market and reach the target audience."

BOOK PROPOSALS THAT SELL is your road map for bypassing the long, winding route that gets you nowhere and shows you the shortcuts for learning what publishers are really looking for. The author explains that more than 80% of nonfiction books are first sold as proposals. How can you capture an editor's interest? Where should you start?

The 21 secrets in this book will teach you what really goes on behind the closed doors of an editorial meeting. And they obviously work -- since Terry Whalin has published over 60 nonfiction books and also works as an acquisitions editor. His personal web of stories spun from a career in the publishing world make the book a dynamic read. And it's fun to learn about all the goofy stuff people do to try to get their foot in the door. (Yes, you get all the nitty-gritty details...Like the one about the writer who wanted to know if she could have a response over the weekend!)

What makes this book truly worth the money is that it's only a springboard into the topic of book publishing. It's filled with up-to-date websites that will further your education. Want to see a sample proposal that sold for six figures? It's in there. Want to see a list of agents, hear which conferences are the best, or learn about book marketing? Having this book will save you hours of surfing the web because you'll receive the author's list of the very best sites.

If you're planning a trip to a new place, you wouldn't dream of going without a map. And writing a book is a journey with the destination of getting your ideas into the minds of your readers. Whalin says, "With good writing skills and using the secrets in this book, you can beat the odds and get a contract." I'm sure the sequel will contain success stories from those who followed the author's advice!

--Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester

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

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Secrets from an Insider, December 12, 2005

By	Jeanne Zornes (Wenatchee, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Before you even think about writing a book, you need to read Terry's book. Finally, in helpful detail, we have an insider explaining what goes on in those mysterious caverns called publishing offices. Terry teaches you how to write a book that will pass the scrutiny of those guarding the publishing house gates and eventually reach the golden status of "published." He introduces his book with some insight into non-fiction trends in publishing, then launches into the twenty-one "secrets" that comprise a winning book proposal. From sharpening a book's topic and identifying an audience, to defining marketing plans and putting together a winning proposal package, he gives helpful, inspiring advice. His thorough treatment offers a comprehensive education in the business side of book writing that you'd never get from a conference or course. It's a paperback mentor you can't pass by.

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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Informative Book, October 29, 2005

By	Mary E. DeMuth "The Writing Spa" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Author Terry Whalin has written an amazingly helpful book for those wanting to publish a non-fiction manuscript. Book Proposals that Sell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success offers practical, succinct advice to help authors create attention-grabbing proposals.

He gives authors a much-appreciated insider view of why editors and agents reject the many projects coming across their desks, while offering sound tips for rejection-proofing a non-fiction proposal. He also provides proposal samples for those who learn by seeing an example.

From teaching the importance of creating a stellar marketing plan (complete with special markets consideration) to encouraging writers to juggle multiple projects, Whalin's experience both behind and beyond the editor's desk helps authors navigate the publishing industry's often fickle seas. Whalin, rightly, stresses the importance of relationships within the industry.

My favorite secret was his last: Always Take the Attitude of a Learner. None of us are ever "too big" to keep learning the craft of writing. His words encouraged me to continue to be a lifelong learner.

Complete with personal stories and the authority of someone who's been there, Whalin's book is a must-have for anyone wanting to publish non-fiction.

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

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 94 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to be the best- Learn from the best!
I have always been taught that if you want to be the best, then you learn from the best. If you want to get into the world of publishing (especially the Christian Publishing... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Laurie Jeron

1.0 out of 5 stars Pedantice and Useless
A "Big Secret" is not to just your spell checker? Come on, now. We want meat. This book is a pitch for other products. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Reece Manley

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-have book for writers!
Terry gives us a wealth of information in this easy to read book that highlights the secret of a killer book proposal! Read more

Published 2 months ago by Krista

5.0 out of 5 stars honest and informative
i liked this book. i felt like it gave a really honest and practical perspective to writing a book and the process of getting that work sold. Read more

Published 3 months ago by oregongirl

5.0 out of 5 stars All I can say is "Thank You, Terry Whalin"
Okay, maybe I can say a little more. I write and edit book proposals for a living. It's rare to find a book this good on the subject. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Lisa C. Tener

5.0 out of 5 stars I wrote a book proposal and sold it!
I used this book to write a book proposal that a publisher picked up. I am pleased to say that I read this book cover to cover and applied the lessons learned. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Jeffrey W. Bennett

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book!
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to write a book proposal. Whalin, who has written more than 60 nonfiction books, has also worked as an acquisitions... Read more

Published 7 months ago by Melody Moser

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource
Although I was unaware of the Christian-themed advice perhaps because I was not familiar with the author, I found this book extremely helpful. Read more

Published 7 months ago by Penelopel

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Proposals That Sell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success
This little book could've saved me 15 years of educating myself through workshops, classes, conferences, and writers groups. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Stephanie Johnson

5.0 out of 5 stars Help for fledgling writers
This book gives an insider's view of the book publication process. It is written from several angles of publishing, which gives much needed info to newbie writers and helps them... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Lynn Mosher

› See all 94 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; }

Customer Discussions

Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)

	Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
	No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

[Cancel]

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
writing About To Mail In Book Proposal...What Are My Chances?	0	1 day ago
writing Copyrighting Your Work....How long does it take?	6	4 days ago
writing Blow Pop Challenge	0	5 days ago
writing Attention ALL Authors: If your book was a Movie?	0	5 days ago
writing Free Book Promotion	33	5 days ago
writing Young writer looking for direction.	11	7 days ago
writing Any authors here?	64	7 days ago