Help me write a persuasive nonfiction book proposal for [BOOK CONCEPT] aimed at [TARGET READER]. The proposal will be submitted to [SUBMISSION CONTEXT]. Use only the facts, examples, credentials, research, and platform details in [AUTHOR MATERIAL AND NOTES]; do not invent endorsements, sales figures, audience size, expertise, comparable titles, or manuscript status. Produce a 2,000-2,500 word proposal with these sections: 1. Working title and subtitle: give three commercially clear options, then recommend one. 2. One-sentence hook and a 150-word overview that states the reader problem, the book's fresh promise, and why it matters now.
3. Target reader: define their situation, buying motivation, and what changes after reading.
4. Market positioning: name 3-5 comparable books from [COMPARABLE TITLES], explaining how this book differs in audience, approach, scope, or format. Do not claim facts about them that I did not provide.
5. Author section: connect my relevant experience and platform to why I can write and help reach readers.
6. Chapter-by-chapter outline: 10-14 chapters, each with a specific title, central question, key ideas, examples, and reader takeaway.
7. Proposed format, estimated word count, completion status, and promotional ideas grounded in my actual reach.
Keep the voice confident and specific, not inflated. Before answering, check that every market or platform claim is supported by my material and flag unsupported claims in a short "Verify before sending" list. Also check that each chapter advances the promise rather than repeating an earlier chapter. Ask up to three clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [BOOK CONCEPT] | State the book's central idea, argument, method, or story in a few sentences. | A practical book for first-time managers on running calm, decisive weekly operating rhythms instead of reacting to every Slack message. |
| [TARGET READER] | Describe the intended reader, including their role, experience level, and problem. | New managers at 50-500 person technology companies who were promoted for individual performance and have never managed people. |
| [SUBMISSION CONTEXT] | Say whether the proposal is for a literary agent, an acquiring editor, or another audience. | A literary agent who represents business and workplace books. |
| [AUTHOR MATERIAL AND NOTES] | Paste your biography, credentials, existing audience, research, examples, manuscript status, and launch ideas. | I led engineering teams for 12 years, now run a manager training practice, teach 400 students a year, and have a 3,200-person email list. Draft is 30% complete. |
| [COMPARABLE TITLES] | List relevant published books and any details you know about how your book differs. | The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo; The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins; Radical Candor by Kim Scott. |
How to use
- Paste your book concept, reader definition, author notes, and a real list of comparable books into the prompt.
- Keep only promotion ideas you can personally carry out; replace assumptions about followers, partnerships, or sales with evidence.
- Check the comparable-title section for meaningful distinctions, not claims that your book is simply better.
- Follow up with: "Turn the recommended chapter outline into a one-page sample chapter plan for chapter 1, using only the examples I provided."
Variations
Agent query package
Use this when you need the proposal distilled into an agent query letter.
Using [BOOK PROPOSAL] and [AUTHOR BIO], write a 350-word query letter to [AGENT NAME OR TYPE] for my nonfiction book. Open with the book's reader problem and distinct promise, not my life story. Include the title, target reader, comparable-title positioning, relevant credentials, platform facts, and manuscript status. End with a professional request to send the proposal. Do not invent personalization, endorsements, sales data, or publishing credentials. Check that every claim appears in my inputs before answering.
Sample chapter
Use this when an editor requests a polished opening chapter.
Draft a 1,200-word opening chapter for [BOOK TITLE] from this chapter plan: [CHAPTER PLAN]. Write for [TARGET READER] in the voice described by [VOICE NOTES]. Start with a concrete work situation, establish the chapter's problem, teach the framework through an example, and end with a practical next action. Use only supplied facts and examples; mark places needing a real anecdote as [AUTHOR EXAMPLE NEEDED]. Check that the chapter does not promise advice it fails to deliver.
Proposal critique
Use this when you already have a draft and need developmental feedback.
Act as a nonfiction publishing editor and assess this draft proposal: [PROPOSAL DRAFT]. The intended reader is [TARGET READER] and the category is [CATEGORY]. Give a memo with: strongest commercial premise, unclear reader need, weak or missing market evidence, chapter-outline gaps, author-platform concerns, and the five highest-impact revisions. Separate factual verification issues from editorial judgment. Do not rewrite the proposal or invent market data. Check that each recommendation cites the exact section it addresses.
Tips
- A proposal sells the reader promise and market case, not just the manuscript; state the change the reader gets in concrete terms.
- Comparable titles should show a shelf position: identify overlap, then distinguish your audience, method, use case, or point of view.
- A chapter outline is stronger when each chapter answers a different question and gives the reader a visible result.
- Treat platform claims as due-diligence items: use current list size, event access, partnerships, and credentials you can document.
FAQ
Can AI write a book proposal from a rough idea?
It can shape a rough idea into a useful first proposal, but market positioning, credentials, and platform claims need your real evidence.
How long should a nonfiction book proposal be?
Many proposals run roughly 2,000 to 5,000 words before sample chapters, depending on category and submission requirements. Check an agent's guidelines before sending.
Should I include comparable titles?
Yes. Use recent, relevant books to explain where yours belongs and what it adds; avoid dismissing the other books.