Product Description

Want to publish your book?

Learn how--it's easier than you think!

Charismatic authors and literary agents Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman have successfully sold hundreds of titles and learned--through trial and error--how to write a flawless book proposal that publishers can't resist. Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:

* How to shape your idea and create a title

* Ways to get to know the market and competition

* Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter

* The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals

* How ten actual proposals (included here) were successfully sold to publishers--and why

"A submission from Jeff Herman always gets moved to the top . . . his new book will show you how to move to the top."--Frederic W. Hills Vice President, Simon & Schuster

"This book will take writers to the highest level of proposal writing and success."--Roger Cooper Quality Paperback Book Club

"If you want your proposal to ignite a busy editor's interest, read this book."--Adrienne Hickey Senior Acquisitions Editor, AMACOM Books

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12497 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From the Back Cover
Want to publish your book?

Learn how—it’s easier than you think!

Charismatic authors and literary agents Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman have successfully sold hundreds of titles and learned—through trial and error—how to write a flawless book proposal that publishers can’t resist. Now you can benefit from their hard work and publishing savvy. In this new edition, they offer guidance and advice that will inspire, educate, and, most importantly, give you the necessary edge to get your book published. They explain:

• How to shape your idea and create a title

• Ways to get to know the market and competition

• Tips on writing an effective outline, query letter, and sample chapter

• The art and science of fiction and nonfiction book proposals

• How ten actual proposals (included here) were successfully sold to publishers—and why

"A submission from Jeff Herman always gets moved to the top . . . his new book will show you how to move to the top."—Frederic W. Hills Vice President, Simon & Schuster

"This book will take writers to the highest level of proposal writing and success."—Roger Cooper Quality Paperback Book Club

"If you want your proposal to ignite a busy editor’s interest, read this book."—Adrienne Hickey Senior Acquisitions Editor, AMACOM Books

About the Author
JEFF HERMAN is president of his own very successful literary agency and has been profiled in Success, Entrepreneur, and Publishers Weekly. His Web site is www.jeffherman.com.
DEBORAH LEVINE HERMAN is an attorney, a literary agent, a writer, and a proficient "proposal doctor."

Customer Reviews

Great for samples
I used this book along with Michael Larson's How to Write a Book Proposal and Elizabeth Lyon's book on Non-Fiction Book Proposals. Larson's and Lyon's books were better at explaining each section and how to create interest, but I liked this book for the actual examples. When I was ready to write a section, I'd read about it in the other books, and then read the samples in this book.

I was successful in getting an agent who asked what books I used in creating my proposal as she said it was very good. I have since sold the book to a publisher as well.

I Was Very Disappointed
Unless you are writing a book along the lines of "How To Succeed In The Business World," or a book on genealogy, or self help, I recommend that you do not buy this book. The agents who wrote the book appear to be mainly focused on books for the business world. The book that I've written is an explosive exposé on the CIA and bipartisan corruption in the government, but absolutely none of the ten "sample book proposals" in "Write the Perfect Book Proposal" were of any use. But to be fair, this book might be for you if you are writing about business, or self help, or genealogy. (One of the sample proposals deals with genealogy.)

outdated
outdated, pick something on the same subject by someone else that was published this year; this one has extremely stale info. The world of publishing has changed dramatically since it was written 8 years ago or more, with much new info about cybermarketing and other strong ways of reaching audiences and potential publishers. Also, make sure the book you read is about the kind of book you have written /are writing. There are different approaches needed to reach publishers, depending.