The Proposal, part one

Not like this, exactly. :)

We've talked a lot about proposals on here, but I think we should spend some time talking about the tiny details that make a proposal. I've been reading everyone's comments about feeling insecure about their writing, feeling overwhelmed when it comes to conferences, etc. If you are holding a well-crafted proposal in your hands, that can do a LOT to help your self-esteem come Meeting The Editors time.

(And, by the way, only two of the editors I've ever met were scary.)

(Only one made me cry.)

(I'm just kidding. I never cried. I may have sniffled once or twice though because I was in South Carolina and the greenery does not mesh well with my allergies.)

Okay. First and foremost, you need a Killer Title.

Actually, scratch that. First and foremost, you need to put your name and contact info in the top right corner of the first page. I have heard editors harp on this for ten minutes. They talk about how they were holding the next John Grisham, the next Karen Kingsbury, the next Huge Bestseller Featuring Some Other-Worldly Creatures and the author did not put their name on it and ALL WAS LOST.

After you've written your name, address, phone number and email address, skip down a few paragraphs and write in your Killer Title. But don't get attached to your amazing title, because there is always a good chance that it will be changed.

 Curious how to come up with a title?

With Miss Match, my original title was Matchmaking 101. I usually come up with a title by telling every single person I know the two-sentence hook for the book and then asking what they think the title of my book should be.

(Actually, I only did that for Miss Match. My brother came up with the original title, my dad came up with the title the publisher chose.)

(Thanks Bryant! Thanks Dad!)

I named Cool Beans after the coffee shop in the book. My current WIP, Paige Rewritten, was a play on my main character's name (the first will be titled Paige Torn, same concept).

I'll be back next week to talk about the next two segments in the proposal. In the meantime, if you guys have questions, please leave them in the comments and I'll try my best to answer them or pawn them off on one of my fellow Scribble Chicks. ;)

Have a good Monday!