What publishers need to know about your creative idea before signing you up as an author.

1. How to create your
Killer book proposal
You have or plan to write a great book.
You know it is a great book. It is a block buster in the making!
Your publisher does not know you.
He needs a foretaste of your offering. He has limited time.
There are millions of wannabe authors knocking at the doors of
publishers. They don’t get heard. Ever.You feel rejected.
Do you want to get known, stand out and get picked?
Follow me ...
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2. Cover Page
Your company logo
Title (What it does)
Sub title (Why it works)
Target( For whom it is )
Your name
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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3. Author Page
Name
Credentials
Why you are the
authority on the
subject.
Your passion for the
the subject & why?
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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4. Content: Why this book?
Serves an unmet need
Prevents a crisis
Relieves a pain
Secures against risk
How it works
Evidence
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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5. Target: Who is this book for?
Describe the target
reader
Demography
Psycho-profile
Why this book should
concern them?
Segmentation
Positioning
How it may benefit
them?
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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6. Channel: How best to reach them?
Please rank these
E mail
Mobile
Voice
speaking forums
Mass media
TV
Social media
Web
Blog
You tube
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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7. Status: Manuscript status?
Content
Pages
Tables
Illustrations
Features
Tools kits
References
Exercises
Supporting material
Schedule & Launch date
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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8. Credentials: About yourself
Genesis: What got
you started
Professional stature
Will you promote
this book
Personally? How?
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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9. Outline: Chapter wise summary
Storyline
Chapter heading
100 word
summary
A thought
provoking
question
A call to action
Specially prepared for Productivity & Quality Publishing Private Limited © All rights reserved by R Shekar Thought CatalystⓇ ShekarsanTM 20 October 2012.
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10. Check: A block buster in the making? SCORE OUR BASIS FOR AWARDING THE SCORE.
CRITERIA SUBJECT FOR EVALUATION EVIDENCE OUR SUGGESTION FOR YOUR
Max Self PQP CONSIDERATION
• One key idea Answers the question
• Uniquely stated ‘Why buy this book?’.
1 Compelling concept? What is so different about your book. 10
• How it will benefit the customer Buy this book
Recommend this book
• Killer titles need to be pretested Arresting cover design?
• Author of an upcoming book - website promo Catches the roving eye.
2 Catchy title? 10
Title stands out when placed alongside
• Accept speaking and advance order for pre view others in a rack.
Community • Who will resonate with passion about this book. Community
3 • Are they willing to sing praises? ExtWhat will they do? Forum 10
endorsement
Network
4 Chapter hooks • TOC reads like the headlines of a magazine article. Captivating & Arresting
10
• TOC provokes the curiosity to know more Revealing investigative research.
• Games - interactivity What will make the reader Personalize
Connectedness: How • Love bug stories - Weight loss story the book to be possessive about it and
the book has changed make notes and marks on it ?
5 lives of people. Help them
• Quiz - spark their curiosity Highlight/Underline 10
’feel’ the subject and • Questionnaire - Get up close and personal Quote
empathize with the hero. • Cartoons -Invoke humor that makes them think. Dog ear, Book mark
Crack a myth: • Logical - Makes sense to know
Why buy this book? • Psychological - I am better with it than be without Viral message?
6 Is the Call to Action • Economical - Ideas that have the potential for payback Bragging rights? 10
Compelling enough? • Sociological - Access to a community I wish to belong to Affiliation to an exclusive club?
• Political- The doctrine fascinates and resonates within me
7 Celebrity endorsement
• Identify celebrities who identify with your ideologies Name them
10
• Write a foreword for them that they can endorse with pride.
8 Credibility & Identity • Industry forums that will adapt this book Name them
10
• Subject matter experts who will vindicate the findings.
• Name the company and the reason why they may offer to sponsor this book 10
9 Corporate sponsorship
• Will the literary agent find this a rewarding experience?
• Topicality Hot burning issue addressed
10 Commercial sensing • Timing You want to catch the high season 10
Coincides with an appropriate event.
• Hit the deadline before the season runs out.
•Your contacts: Website:
DATE OF ASSESSMENT
• E mail Phone:
100
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