In traditional publishing, novelists write a whole book before selling it to a publisher. Nonfiction writers often write a book proposal. If you're writing memoir or narrative nonfiction, this can be a huge gift - all you need is a plan, carefully spelled out, in something like 20 - 70 pages (length can vary a lot!) to get a book deal.
In this class, authors Hannah Howard and Hannah Selinger will walk you through the steps of formatting, researching, and writing a book proposal. Your book proposal builds the case for why your book is unique, resonant, new, and urgent.
Why do you need a marketing plan, and what should you say (you're a writer, not a marketer!). What should go in the author bio? How do you find comp titles? We'll walk you through everything you need to know to get started with your solid, stellar book proposal. We've sold three books on proposal between the two of us, and we'll share what we wish we knew before we got started.
Recordings will be sent afterwards to all ticket holders.
Hannah Howard is the author of the Amazon bestselling memoirs Feast: True Love in and out of the Kitchen and Plenty: A Memoir of Food and Family, and the Editor-in-Chief at Parent.com. Her writing has been featured in New York Magazine, Bon Appetit, Saveur, VICE, SELF, Wine Enthusiast, Thrillist, Time Out New York, Salon, and the Chicago Review of Books. She teaches writing classes and lives in Frenchtown, NJ with her family and loves stinky cheese.
Hannah Selinger is a James Beard Award-nominated lifestyle writer and mother of two based in Boxford, MA. Her print and digital work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Eater, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and elsewhere. Her 2021 Bon Appétit essay, "In My Childhood Kitchen, I Learned Both Fear and Love," is anthologized in the 2022 Best American Food Writing collection, published by HarperCollins. Hannah's memoir, Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly, will be published by Little, Brown in 2025. She is represented by Rick Richter at Aevitas.
Testimonials
"The two Hannahs bring years of experience and savvy to their classes, with well-organized materials, industry insights, and honest feedback. Their complementary styles are a lesson in collaborative teaching, and I left both sessions I took with buoyed spirits and determination. I'm making it a practice to channel them both the next time I hit SEND for a pitch."
-Ivy Lerner-Frank
"Hannah Howard and Hannah Selinger’s workshops have been invaluable to my writing career. I’ve seen my pitch success rate grow, my editor network expand, and my confidence improve since taking their courses.”
-Kinsey Gidick
