Hello all. I've been perusing these threads for hours and have gotten some very helpful information. For that I thank you. My inquiry is long, so please bear with me.
I am in the process of ghost writing a memoir for a young man who recently left Ciudad Juarez. Even though I have read several posts about finishing the memoir before sending a proposal to an agent, he would prefer to do things the other way (i.e. send the proposal first). Apparently he has been in contact with a few agents and think he can sell the book on proposal alone, with perhaps the first chapter.
My question to you all is about formatting and information to include. He would like to send a "mini-proposal" since the book is not yet complete. I have so far written about 3 pages, but I am unsure if I am doing things correctly. I have included the hook, a brief synopsis of the book, the primary benefit (USP), a quick description of the target audience, a list of competing books, and the book specifications (which is a difficult area since he's only got 10,000 words in Spanish right now). All this and yet only 3 pages. I have found where I can add more in the competing book section, but I am still wondering how to add more pages to the proposal. Any ideas? Also, how long should a mini-proposal be? 10 pages? 5?
Concerning formatting, I read previously it is preferred single spaced with spaces between paragraphs, 12 pt Calibri, 1 inch margins (though I will tailor for each agent to his or her specifications). Within the proposal itself should I set off each of the sections above? Currently I have them flowing into each other, but would it be more effective to write like an APA research paper and have sections entitled "Primary Benefit" and "Target Audience"?
If anyone is interested, I can post what I have written thus far. Thanks for your help.
I am in the process of ghost writing a memoir for a young man who recently left Ciudad Juarez. Even though I have read several posts about finishing the memoir before sending a proposal to an agent, he would prefer to do things the other way (i.e. send the proposal first). Apparently he has been in contact with a few agents and think he can sell the book on proposal alone, with perhaps the first chapter.
My question to you all is about formatting and information to include. He would like to send a "mini-proposal" since the book is not yet complete. I have so far written about 3 pages, but I am unsure if I am doing things correctly. I have included the hook, a brief synopsis of the book, the primary benefit (USP), a quick description of the target audience, a list of competing books, and the book specifications (which is a difficult area since he's only got 10,000 words in Spanish right now). All this and yet only 3 pages. I have found where I can add more in the competing book section, but I am still wondering how to add more pages to the proposal. Any ideas? Also, how long should a mini-proposal be? 10 pages? 5?
Concerning formatting, I read previously it is preferred single spaced with spaces between paragraphs, 12 pt Calibri, 1 inch margins (though I will tailor for each agent to his or her specifications). Within the proposal itself should I set off each of the sections above? Currently I have them flowing into each other, but would it be more effective to write like an APA research paper and have sections entitled "Primary Benefit" and "Target Audience"?
If anyone is interested, I can post what I have written thus far. Thanks for your help.