Trade publishing is the term used for companies that publish books
for sale and distribution to bookstores, libraries, book clubs and other
special markets.
Known and Unknown Names
You recognize the names of the big trade publishers,
like Random House, Simon and Schuster, etc. There are, however, an
almost innumerable number of trade publishing companies whose names you
won't recognize. They may market to a tight niche like young adults or
computer programmers; they may be new to publishing; they may be
non-profit, etc.
With the advent of POD (print on demand) it's easy to confuse some of
self-publishing with trade publishing. The key is to know that a true
trade publisher assumes all costs of production and marketing and pays
authors a royalty on sales. The key is the phrase "assuming all costs of
production and marketing." If you're paying any of the design,
printing or other production costs, or marketing, you're self-publishing
in one form or another.
Authors enter into a formal relationship with a trade publisher when
they accept a contract for a book.
The Book Proposal
Writers of non-fiction books often create a book proposal and attempt
to sell the proposal and the subsequent book to a trade publisher. The
advantage is it's possible to get a contract and even an advance before
the book is complete.
Eight Elements of a Successful Book
Proposal
By and large, the successful book proposal, the one
that sells, has eight elements:
1.The cover or query letter - usually written last and is a
personal letter briefly summing up the proposal
2.Title page
3.Contents of book - the list of chapters, often with a brief
summary of each
4.Synopsis (sometimes called Introduction) - a brief summary of the
book
5.Technical details - paper back, hard cover, any special
requirements
6.About the Author - why you're the only person in the world to
write this book
7.Market study
a.Potential Market - summary of your understanding of the size of
the market, listing trade groups, organizations, etc.
b.Competition - list of books that are aimed at roughly the same
reader as yours
8.
1-3 sample chapters
It's a Sales Document
The only purpose of a book proposal is to get a contract. It's a
sales document, pure and simple. Properly done, it tells the prospective
publisher exactly why they should buy the book.
Should You Write a Book Proposal?
Should you write or create a book proposal? Maybe. Books do get sold
from book proposals - I've done it myself. If you want a trade
publisher, it can make sense as long as you're sure you can complete the
book more or less the way it's outlined in the proposal.
If, on the other hand, you're not sure you can actually get the whole
book written, it may be better to work at completing the manuscript.
