Assessing Your Proposal Materials

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. Introduction 1
5. 1 Know the Process: Your Readers and the Importance of Fit 6
6. 2 Write for Publication: What Presses Value in Your Scholarly Book Project 27
7. 3 Find Your Place: Competing and Comparable Works 37
8. 4 Identify Your Audiences and Market: Who Is Your Book Really For? 44
9. 5 Showcase Your Core Thesis: Strong Arguments Make Strong Books 54
10. 6 Give an Overview: A Template for Project Descriptions 62
11. 7 Expose the Structure: Effective Chapter Summaries 68
12. 8 Invite Readers In: Book and Chapter Titles 77
13. 9 Put Yourself on the Page: Style and Voice 82
14. 10 Really Put Yourself On the Page: Your Author Biography and CV 89
15. 11 Don’t Forget the Details: Specs, Status, and Other Elements of a Complete Proposal Package 95
16. 12 Make the Connection: When and How to Reach Out to Publishers 105
17. 13 Keep Your Cool: Navigating Reader Reports, Contracts, and Other Decision Points 122
18. 14 See It Through: Permissions, Proofs, and Promotion 135
19. Conclusion: Maintaining Perspective 148
20. Steps to Complete 151
21. Assessing Your Proposal Materials 153
22. Sample Documents 157
23. Suggestions for Further Reading 177
24. Bibliography 181
25. Time-Tested Tips and Frequently Asked Questions by Chapter 183
26. Index 191