Proposal Polish: One-Pass Non-Fiction Book Proposal Review

Proposal Polish: One-Pass Nonfiction Book Proposal Review

Personalized Editorial Review | 15-Minute Consultation + One Comprehensive Proposal Review of a Nonfiction Book Proposal up to 15,000 words

Before you submit your book proposal, find out whether it makes a clear and compelling case for your book.

A nonfiction book proposal has a big job to do.

It needs to explain what your book is about, who will read it, where it fits in the market, why you're the right person to write it, how the book will be structured, and what readers can expect from the finished work.

And it has to do all of that before an agent or publisher has read the book itself.

When you've spent months developing a project, it can be difficult to evaluate your own proposal from the perspective of someone encountering the idea for the first time.

Proposal Polish gives you that outside professional perspective.

This one-pass review is designed for writers who have already developed a complete nonfiction book proposal and want strategic, editorial feedback before approaching agents or publishers.

Whether you're proposing a food or travel memoir, cookbook, travel narrative, lifestyle guide, or other nonfiction project, I'll evaluate both the individual sections and how effectively they work together to present your book.

My goal isn't to rewrite your proposal.

It's to help you identify what's working, what's unclear, what's missing, and what could be strengthened so you can make informed revisions before submitting it.

What's Included

✔ 15-Minute Private Kickoff Consultation

We'll begin with a brief Zoom conversation about your book, your goals, where you are in the process, and any specific concerns you have about the proposal.

That gives me context for evaluating the project before I begin the review.

✔ One Comprehensive Proposal Review

I'll read your complete proposal and evaluate how effectively it presents your book concept, audience, market position, author qualifications, structure, and writing.

Rather than simply correcting sentences, I'll review the proposal as a whole and consider whether its sections work together to make a coherent case for the project.

✔ Section-by-Section Feedback

You'll receive comments and recommendations on the major components of your proposal, including:

• Overview and book concept
• Target audience
• Market positioning
• Comparable titles
• Author bio and qualifications
• Chapter outline
• Sample material

✔ Strategic Editorial Feedback

I'll identify areas where the proposal could benefit from clearer specificity, better organization, sharper focus, or further development.

I'll also point out questions or gaps you may need to address before you begin submitting.

✔ Actionable Recommendations

You'll receive specific suggestions you can use to revise the proposal yourself.

I'll explain not only what I believe could be strengthened but, where useful, why it matters to the proposal as a whole.

What I'll Evaluate

✔ The Book Concept

Can someone encountering your idea for the first time quickly understand what the book is about?

I'll look at whether the book's central concept and promise are clearly communicated.

✔ The Audience

Who is this book for—and does the proposal make that audience specific and credible?

We'll look at whether your target reader is clearly defined, not described too broadly.

✔ Market Positioning & Comparable Titles

Comparable books aren't simply a list of titles similar to yours.

I'll evaluate whether your comps help demonstrate where your book belongs in the marketplace and how your project is similar to—and different from—books already available.

✔ Your Author Bio & Qualifications

Why are you the person to write this book?

I'll look at how effectively your experience, expertise, platform, professional background, or personal connection to the subject supports the project.

✔ The Chapter Outline

The chapter outline needs to show more than a table of contents.

I'll evaluate whether it clearly shows how the book develops, what each chapter contributes, and whether the proposed structure supports the overall concept.

✔ Your Sample Material

I'll review the included sample material for voice, clarity, organization, tone, and how well it represents the book you're proposing.

Perfect For You If…

• You have a complete nonfiction book proposal
• You're preparing to approach agents or publishers
• You want an experienced editor to evaluate the proposal before you submit it
• You're unsure whether your book concept is coming through clearly
• You need another perspective on your audience, positioning, or comparable titles
• You want feedback on the overall structure of your proposal
• You're comfortable revising independently once you know what needs attention
• You want strategic feedback without committing to a multi-round mentoring process

How It Works

1. Purchase your Proposal Polish review. This service includes one comprehensive review of one nonfiction book proposal (up to 15,000 words, including sample chapters).
2. Schedule your 15-minute consultation. After checkout, you'll receive instructions for booking your kickoff call.
3. Tell me about your book. We'll briefly discuss the project, your goals, and any particular concerns you'd like me to keep in mind.
4. Submit your proposal. You'll send your completed proposal and included sample material for review.
5. I review your proposal. I'll evaluate each section and how effectively the proposal works as a whole. Please allow up to three weeks from the date I receive your complete proposal for your review to be completed.
6. Receive your feedback. You'll receive your reviewed proposal with comments, observations, and actionable recommendations.
7. Revise your proposal. Use the feedback to strengthen your proposal before you begin—or continue—submitting it.

What You'll Receive

• 15-minute private Zoom consultation
• One comprehensive review of one nonfiction book proposal up to 15,000 words, including sample chapters
• Overall strategic assessment
• Section-by-section editorial feedback
• Evaluation of your book concept and overview
• Target audience feedback
• Market positioning and comparable-title feedback
• Author bio and qualifications review
• Chapter outline evaluation
• Feedback on included sample material
• Comments on clarity, structure, tone, and voice
• Specific recommendations to guide your revisions
• Completed editorial review within three weeks of receiving your complete proposal
• Price: $1,200

This service includes one round of editorial review.

If you'd prefer a more collaborative process in which you revise your proposal and receive additional feedback, the Three-Pass Nonfiction Book Proposal Review provides three rounds of review and refinement.

You've developed the book. Now make sure the proposal makes the case.

Bring me your completed nonfiction book proposal, and I'll help you see it from a fresh editorial perspective—so you know what's working, what needs attention, and where to focus your revisions before you submit.