Hi all,

I am writing a non-fiction manuscript- an arts based careers thing aimed at students- and am ready to start sending out a book proposal to try and snag myself an agent.

I understand that I have to indicate to prospective agents/publishers how long it will take me to complete the work if I were to be offered a deal- but I have no idea how long is acceptable?!? Can anyone give me any pointers?

The book involves a lot of research and obviously the longer I have the more research I can do- however I don't want to put a time frame on the proposal which makes everyone guffaw (spelling?) with laughter at my inexperience.....

First time at this and a heck of a lot to learn! Many thanks in advance for any responses.

V

Hi, I don't have an immediate answer for you, but I've emailed someone I know who has had a lot of non-fiction published and am waiting for them to get back to me.
All I know is it took me 12-15months to write my dissertation, so I wouldn't want anything shorter than that for a non-fiction book (and some of those biographes of famous historical figures in the bookshops have taken years, if not decades). I'm guessing he'll say 15 months +/- 6months, but it is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions and partly dependent on how much of the background research you've already done while preparing the proposal.


- NaomiM



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sometimes with these things, the sticking point is getting permission to use copyrighted material to illustrate the work - some of which you will have to pay for.

Hmm, I've done a couple of non-fiction proposals and have never put how long I think it will take - and it's never occurred to me to. Unless there are special circumstances meaning you have to wait five years for something to happen, or whatever, I'd just leave it - they'll assume you can write it in a reasonable time frame which will be agreed between you should you get a publisher.

Well the person has got back to me and says:

"I write pretty well full time, I don't have to allow as long as someone who has a day job. As a rule of thumb, I tend to put around a month per 10,000 words"

He's mostly writing magazine articles, but for non-fiction books he says he can complete one in 9 months, and does put that down in his book proposal (depending on the subject matter, of course), but says it really depends on the publisher and when they want it by.
Don't take the completion date as set in stone, you may get longer, but you might also find the publisher suddenly decides to bring forward the completion date, so don't waste time in the early months thinking you can catch up later.


- NaomiM

Just to add, that most non-fiction book proposals are sent direct to publishers, rather than via agents.

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PS. Permission to use Copyright - factor in 3-4 months for them to come through.

Just to add, that most non-fiction book proposals are sent direct to publishers, rather than via agents.

Oh, depends, I wouldn't say most. Most smaller or specialist ones then yes, maybe, but for the big publishers? General non-fiction will still very often go through an agent.

Ah, yes, I was thinking 'specialist' ones. Vic mentions students, so presumably it would be aimed at one of the educational publishers.

Thanks for your advice guys. Unfortunately I can't write fulltime and so I was worried that I might not be able to meet any deadline set by a publisher. Of course I have to find a publisher before I start worrying about that really....
Vic