Getting a book commercially published has never been easy, and it's harder now than ever. Publishers expect authors to come with a ready-made platform and an eager, expansive following. Short of that, your book concept must instantly slay your potential sponsoring editor. All of this means, if you don't have an absolutely killer book proposal, you can forget it. Your book concept will see only the publisher's shredder. "How to Write a Book Proposal that Sells" will teach you in eight short weeks how to craft that masterful document and determine to whom it should be submitted. Let Fielding graduate and bestselling author, John Hoover, help you shift the odds in your favor and position your proposal for the best possible chance for a successful submission.

In this online course, students discover the secrets to identifying and approaching the ideal publisher, sponsoring editor, and/or agent to champion their work. Participants come away with the ability to create a document that will make a compelling case for why a commercial publisher should offer them a publishing contract.

Learn more. . .

• What is the goal of the course?
• Why is this course unique?
• Why Fielding?
• What's in it for you?

What is the goal of the course? [back to top]
To learn and apply effective techniques for crafting a book proposal that will result in a publishing contract.

Why is this course unique? [back to top]
The course assists participants to become commercially published. It focuses on aligning the unique value of the student's book concept with the marketing strategy of a commercial publisher. The course is delivered entirely online; participants complete each exercise in the privacy of their home, office, or anywhere that they have Internet access. Instructor feedback and dialogue with other students help learners gain insight into the value of their ideas and the marketability of their proposal.

Why Fielding? [back to top]
Fielding is an established leader in networked education. We have been delivering online graduate education for over a decade and are experienced in working with adult learners who bring their own unique ideas and experience to the classroom.

What's in it for you? [back to top]
This program offers you the opportunity to work with a well published author to assess the topic you want to write about and its market potential in commercial publishing. It will assist you to research the genre in which you want to write and identify who the sponsoring editors are. Class assignments will help you organize your thoughts and ideas into a marketable proposal that leads to a publishing contract offer. You will draft a proposal, with coaching from a successful contract author, and learn how to negotiate the key points of a publishing contract.

"I have found Dr. John Hoover to be an exceptional writer, and even more unusually, an exceptional re-writer, a rare trait indeed. That's because he listens to advice, criticism, ideas, digests them, and then without ego or possessiveness, produces a new version better than either his first or the editor's suggestions. This is true both of his proposals and his manuscripts."
Phillip Revsin
Senior Business Editor
St. Martin's Press, New York