If you want a traditional publisher for your Christian nonfiction book, you usually don’t start by writing the whole thing. You start with a proposal.
A book proposal is a business document. It tells an agent or editor what your book is, who will buy it, why you’re the one to write it, and how you’ll help sell it. A great idea with a weak proposal often gets passed over. A clear, professional proposal gets read.
Below is the template I use. Copy it, fill it in, and make it yours.
Before you start
A few things to know:
- Nonfiction is usually sold on proposal. Fiction usually needs a finished manuscript.
- Most Christian publishers accept submissions through agents. Some also take proposals through manuscript services or writers’ conferences.
- Platform matters a lot. Publishers want to know you can reach readers.
For more on how proposals work in general, Jane Friedman’s guide to writing a book proposal is one of the best free resources out there. Writer’s Digest also has helpful articles on agents and submissions.
The Christian Book Proposal Template
1. Title Page
- Working title and subtitle
- Your name
- Contact information (email, phone, website)
- Agent information, if you have one
2. Overview (1 to 2 pages)
- Hook: One or two sentences that capture the book’s big promise.
- Summary: What the book is about and what it will do for the reader.
- Why now: Why this book matters today.
- Word count and expected completion date.
3. The Reader (Target Audience)
- Who is your primary reader? Be specific. “Christians” isn’t specific enough.
- What do they struggle with?
- Where are they spiritually?
- What will they have when they finish your book?
4. Comparable Titles (3 to 5 books)
For each:
– Title, author, publisher, and year
– One or two sentences on how your book is similar
– One or two sentences on how your book is different or better
Pick books published in the last few years that sold well, but not mega-bestsellers. Browse your category on Christianbook.com and Amazon to find them.
5. About the Author
- Short bio, written in the third person
- Why you’re qualified to write this book
- Ministry, education, or life experience that matters
- Previous books, if any
6. Platform and Marketing
- Email list size
- Social media followers and engagement
- Podcast, blog, or Substack
- Church or ministry reach
- Speaking engagements per year
- Media appearances
- Endorsements you can realistically get
- Specific things you’ll do to help launch the book
Be honest. Publishers can check.
7. Chapter Outline
- Chapter titles
- One paragraph for each chapter that explains what it covers and how it moves the reader forward
8. Sample Chapters
- Usually the introduction plus one or two chapters
- Your best writing, polished and edited
9. Optional Extras
- Endorsements already secured
- Discussion guide or curriculum ideas
- Series potential
Tips for each section
Make the overview about the reader. Editors want to know who will buy the book and why. Lead with the reader’s need, not your life story.
Think hero’s journey. In a transformational Christian book, the reader is the hero and you’re the guide. Your outline should show their path from struggle to change. If you want to see how that looks in practice, read Your Sermons Are Already a Book and How to Write Your Testimony as a Book.
Choose comps carefully. Comparable titles show a publisher there’s a market. Avoid comparing yourself to a once-in-a-generation bestseller.
Don’t hide weak platform. If your platform is small, show how you’re growing it and what reach you do have, like a congregation or ministry network.
Edit ruthlessly. Typos in a proposal suggest typos in the book.
What if you don’t want to go traditional?
Plenty of excellent Christian books never go through a traditional publisher. If you’d rather publish independently, you don’t need a proposal at all, though filling out this template still helps you clarify your book. See How to Publish a Christian Book Without a Traditional Publisher.
Common proposal mistakes
I see these again and again:
- Saying “everyone” needs this book. No book is for everyone. Narrow it.
- Leaving out the competition. Saying there’s nothing like your book tells an editor there’s no market, or that you didn’t look.
- A bio that’s all résumé. Tell them why your life equips you to help this reader.
- A chapter outline that’s just titles. Editors want to see the reader’s progress.
- Sample chapters that warm up too long. Start with something that grabs.
Want help?
Some writers like working through a proposal on their own. If that’s you, my Substack for Christian writers, Heart to Page, has practical help, and paid subscribers can bring their proposals to my weekly Tuesday Zoom writing workshop.
If you’d rather have a professional write it with you, I can help. I’ve written 135 Christian books and know what a strong proposal needs. Book a free consult and we’ll talk about your book.
Jeff
