Book Proposal Critique
Wondering how to improve, sharpen, or optimize your book proposal?
As literary agents, we review, evaluate, and enhance book proposals day in and day out. This is your opportunity to get expert, constructive, tailored feedback on your book proposal and book idea through a Book Proposal Critique.
What does it look like?
We will spend 2 hours reviewing up to 30 pages of your book proposal, asking questions like:
- Is this book idea compelling?
- Does the book proposal have a clear premise, promise, and hook?
- Does the author clearly communicate her passion and authority to speak on this topic?
- Has the author correctly identified the target market for this book?
- What is the felt need of the reader?
- Does the book proposal communicate how the author will address the reader’s felt need?
- Does the author communicate how and why this book will be commercially successful?
- Is the proposal well written? Does the writing dazzle?
- Does the book proposal contain all the essential elements expected by agents and publishers?
- Are those elements done correctly?
- If we were representing this person as their literary agent, do we think we could get them a book contract with a publisher? Why or why not?
- How can the author improve his book proposal?
Why?
Your book proposal and sample chapters are extremely important to getting your book published. You have only one chance to impress agents and editors, and so you want to make sure your proposal is putting your very best foot forward. You want it to be persuasive, attention-grabbing, compelling, and concise, and you especially want it to stand out from the rest of the competition.
In addition, there is a right way and a wrong way to do a book proposal. There are essential components your book proposal needs to include, details and specifics relating to your book, which editors and agents expect to see and evaluate in a book proposal. You want to make sure you execute those components correctly and with excellence. The book proposal critique is your opportunity to receive direct feedback from an experienced agent on your proposal and how well you’ve done in communicating your book idea to an objective, critical set of eyes.
Agents are busy. So are publishers. You’ve got one chance to impress them, to get your book idea in front of them. The competition is fierce. 81% of people want to write a book, but it actually happens for fewer than 1%, because most cannot get their foot in the door.
Who is the opportunity for?
The Book Proposal Critique is for people who have written and completed a non-fiction book proposal and want to query agents or publishers for a traditional publishing contract. It is for authors who want feedback, evaluation, and constructive criticism on their book proposal because they know they can’t squander their one shot with an agent or editor. It might also be for a writer who has sent out a book proposal but has received little acknowledgment or feedback. We will analyze and assess your book proposal, and offer ideas and suggestions for making it better.
Then, after we have reviewed your book proposal, we will hop on a 45-minute Zoom call where we share with you our feedback and recommendations.
“First impressions make a huge difference, and when it comes to book proposals, a first impression can make all the difference. When it comes to my book proposals, I’ve had the unfair advantage of a team of people that know how to make the best first impressions. My book proposals rock because Yates & Yates have it down to a science. If you want to give your book the best shot at publication, send it into the world with the best proposal. That’s what Yates & Yates can help you create.”
Jon Acuff
New York Times Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker
Remember
Your Book Proposal Critique will be done by expert literary agents from Yates & Yates Author Coaching. With over 40 New York Times Bestsellers and more than $130,000,000 in publishing deals in the last 17 years, we develop, enhance, sharpen, and shape book proposals for submission to publishers as a regular part of our business. Our proposals almost always garner 6 or 7 figure deals. There are many authors and former editors who provide this service. They may be able to evaluate your writing chops, but do they know what publishers are looking for right now? Do they have relationships with all the publishers across the industry? Are they making suggestions as a critical reader, like a literary agent would, or are they making suggestions as a fellow writer, someone who has potentially written one or two book proposals in their lifetime?
“Your book proposal is everything—especially as a first time writer. You have one shot to make a great first impression and I truly believe that a good literary agent can make all the difference. The team at Yates and Yates collaborated with me to craft a book proposal that truly stood out and captured the attention of several publishers. Their vast experience, honest feedback, and coaching throughout the process resulted in multiple strong offers and ultimately, a book deal with a team that I adore.”
Natalie Franke
Author Built to Belong, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Leader of the Rising Tide Society
Do you want an honest evaluation of your book proposal?
Want to hear what the experts have to say about your book idea?
Sign up for a Book Proposal Critique, and we will give you the trustworthy feedback and help you need.
Proposal critiques are typically returned within 10 to 14 business days.
7-Day Money-Back Guarantee
We believe you’ll see the value of The Essential Book Proposal course immediately. But if you get access and feel like the material is not right for you, just email our team within the first 7 days to get a full refund. It’s as simple as that. You’ll get 100% of your money back, no questions asked!
