how to build a book proposal

a free workshop for the nonfiction writers in the room

It took 6 months and 10 drafts to get my book proposal ready for The Hero and the Whore. I’m working on my next nonfiction book proposal and, so far, it’s been two months and I’m still working on the first draft. These things take time. My agent walked me through my first book proposal and showed me edits that needed to be made and things to keep my eye on. It was a gift!

by Jessi Ujazi

I can write alone, but why? I like being around folks when I can so I can run ideas by them. I think book proposals are places for community writing. I received the gift of writing my book in community, why shouldn’t you?

This is why I’m teaming up with my friend Rohadi for a free book proposal writing workshop for folks interested in traditional publishing. This workshop is specifically for writers who are from communities targeted by institutional violence: queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, First Nation, Asian, Pasifika, Arab, Persian, Latinx, and non-white multiracial. We’ll go over a whole book proposal, share critical questions, then share some tips and tricks we use for our own book proposals.

Paid subscribers will receive two sample book proposals they can use to guide their own writing.

The workshop is on Friday, January 31st on zoom, see the timezones below:

• PST: 10 am to 11:30 pm

• MST: 11 am to 12:30 pm

• EST: 1 pm to 2:30 pm

• GMT (London): 6 pm to 7:30 pm