If you’re venturing into middle grade or young adult nonfiction, you’ll likely need to craft a compelling book proposal instead of submitting a full manuscript. In Episode 4 of the Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations podcast, I sat down with author and proposal expert Stephanie Gibeault to break down exactly what goes into a standout submission—and how to make yours shine. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Stephanie is the author of Making Sense of Dog Senses and Calculating Chimpanzees, Brainy Bees, and Other Animals with Mind-Blowing Mathematical Abilities, both sold on proposal. Here are her top tips for building a proposal that grabs an editor’s attention and gets results.
📚 Know When You Need a Proposal
General rule:
If you’re writing nonfiction for middle grade, YA, or adult readers, you need a book proposal. For nonfiction picture books, submit the full manuscript.
Even shorter nonfiction books (like Stephanie’s 48-page titles) still require proposals if they’re aimed at MG or YA readers. It’s not about the page count—it’s about the target age group.
Understand the Core Components
A solid nonfiction book proposal typically includes:
- Overview: A compelling 1–2 page summary of your concept, hook, and purpose.
- Target Audience: Who’s the book for? How will it connect with them? Include curriculum ties if applicable.
- Comparative Titles: Not just similar books—explain how yours is different and fills a market gap.
- Outline or Chapter Summaries: Bullet points or short paragraphs describing what each chapter will cover—including any sidebars or activities.
- Sample Chapters: Usually the introduction and first chapter, plus 1–2 others that best showcase your voice and content.
- Author Bio: Why YOU? Highlight relevant experience, knowledge, or passion for the topic.
- Selected Bibliography: A curated list that shows you’ve done your homework and can handle the research.
- Optional Sections:
- Format & Design Vision: Especially important for books with unique layouts or illustration/photo integration.
- Marketing & Research Plans: Only include if you’ve got something standout (e.g., a planned research trip or a large professional platform).
🔍 It’s Research-Heavy (Not Just Writing-Heavy)
You don’t need to write the whole book—but you do need to do the research to:
- Build a sustainable, well-structured outline
- Choose meaningful comp titles
- Confirm there’s enough depth and material to support your idea
“Think of the proposal as more of a research workload than a writing workload,” Stephanie says.
Line Up Experts Strategically
Do you need to interview experts? Stephanie’s rule of thumb:
- If your whole book hinges on a specific expert or study, confirm access in advance.
- Otherwise, you can outline who you plan to speak to post-sale.
This saves time, energy, and money until your proposal is under contract.
Choose Comp Titles Thoughtfully
Comp titles aren’t mentor texts. They’re not about inspiration or voice—they’re about market positioning.
Ask:
- Where would my book sit on the shelf?
- What subjects and approaches are already out there?
- What’s missing—and how does my book fill that gap?
When Stephanie couldn’t find comps that exactly matched her concept, she used a combo of books on animal cognition and books on math—and then explained the gap.
Hook, Voice, and Format Matter
Editors are looking for books that go beyond what’s Google-able. That means:
- A strong hook (ideally right in your title!)
- A compelling voice that engages middle grade readers
- A fresh, kid-appealing approach—not an encyclopedia in disguise
As Stephanie puts it: “You know you’ve got a hook if you could entertain mildly drunk friends at a bar with that piece of information.”
Your Proposal Is a Multipurpose Document
Stephanie reminds us: a nonfiction proposal is:
- A pitch (hooks the editor)
- A blueprint (outlines the book)
- A sales document (proves market potential)
- A job application (proves you’re the right author)
- A tool for acquisitions (helps editors sell the book to their team)
Keep all these audiences in mind as you write.
Learn From the Best
Stephanie recommends:
- Jane Friedman’s book proposal guide
- The Highlights Foundation courses on nonfiction and science writing
- Courses that include proposal templates or mentor examples
- Her own book proposals, which she shares in workshops
Final Takeaway
If you’re writing middle grade or YA nonfiction, your proposal is your most powerful tool. A thoughtful, well-structured proposal shows editors you understand your market, your material, and your reader.
“It’s not just a pitch,” Stephanie says. “It’s everything.”
Additional and resources mentioned:
- MG Expository Pitches Post (including Stephanie’s pitches): https://kirstenwlarson.com/2024/09/20/winning-expository-book-pitches-examples-and-analysis/
- Stephanie’s website: https://stephaniegibeault.com/
- Her X profile is @GibeaultWrites: https://x.com/GibeaultWrites
- Her Instagram profile is @stephanie_gibeault: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_gibeault/
To get the full transcript of this podcast, sign up for Kirsten’s newsletter. It will be included with my next monthly mailing. Sign up here: https://kirsten-w-larson.kit.com/8ca48d284c
Want to shape the conversation? Join my Reimagine Insiders paid community for an opportunity to ask future guests your questions. https://writers.kirstenwlarson.com/b/insiders
