Book Review of “Book Proposals That Sell” by W. Terry Whalin

I just read “Book Proposals That Sell” by W. Terry Whalin.

And here’s the one-sentence review:

If you are a writer – especially if you are a writer aspiring to be a traditionally published author one day – this book is extremely helpful and informative.

And here’s the longer book review of Book Proposals That Sell …

This new revised edition of “Book Proposals That Sell” by W. Terry Whalin has been edited and updated for this current era of publishing. Because things change so quickly in the realm of book publishing, I appreciate the effort that the author has put into this book to ensure that the information is current.

Chapters two and three provide a helpful glimpse into the myriad of tasks an acquisitions editor at a publishing house deals with on a daily basis.

Not only was this fascinating, but it also gave me a deeper understanding of just how complex the process of acquisitions can be. I never realized everything that goes into not only accepting a manuscript but also seeing that manuscript through to publication.

If you choose to go the way of traditional publishing, “Book Proposals That $ell” offers a step-by-step guide directing you in how to go about it.

(I will definitely recommend it to clients with whom I work. Even though I’ve been in the “wordsmith” business for over a decade, this book provided a lot of details regarding the behind-the-scenes work that goes on in publishing houses – things I never knew.)

Some of the “secrets” outlined in this book are not exactly secrets but rather, important strategies and or tips to keep in mind while going through the process of submitting a book proposal.

While some facts and tips are things I’ve come across before, either at writer’s conferences or while reading other books on writing and publishing, to have it all outlined and defined clearly in step-by-step format makes it easy to understand the overall process and accomplish one thing at a time until you’ve written a proper book proposal.

In fact, that’s one of the most helpful aspects of this book.

In addition to the great insider information that’s provided, the organization of this book and the way it’s laid out makes it very clear the steps that a writer needs to go through one at a time in order to prepare a winning proposal.

This book will also serve as a terrific resource for me in my work as a freelance editor.

I help many writers and aspiring authors with developmental editing and line editing of their full-length manuscripts – both fiction and nonfiction. Many of them are not sure what the next step is as far as publishing their work.

“Book Proposals That $ell” provides great insights that will help writers determine whether traditional publishing or self-publishing is right for them.

On a personal note, this book inspired me.

I worked on several book proposals several years ago in hopes of getting my own manuscripts out there, but it’s been a while since I did anything with them. After reading these secrets and practical tips on how to go about getting a book proposal accepted, I’m ready to pull out my proposals and keep polishing them until they’re ready to send out.

I highly recommend “Book Proposals That Sell” to aspiring authors.

Even if you’re not sure whether traditional publishing is the direction you want to go, this book is jam-packed with statistics, information, and tips. A terrific guide for every writer.

Available as of October 5, 2021, in all the usual places where books are sold.

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Disclaimer: I have received a digital ARC of this book from the author with no expectation in return. The comments above are my own.