“Five Things NOT to Say in a Book Proposal”

Learn the basics of crafting a compelling book proposal while avoiding some of the common blunders that raise red flags for acquisitions editors. Beyond the obvious missteps like typos and crazy fonts, there are things that might seem positive but actually send the wrong message to prospective publishers. Unpacking these five potential pitfalls, we will explore many more things to know about making the right first impression for yourself and your book.

 

Jessica Miller Kelley is senior acquisitions editor at Westminster John Knox Press, where she acquires and develops books in the genres of Christian Living, spirituality, social issues, and spiritual biography. She began her career in the Christian book industry staffing the Cokesbury store in the basement of Vanderbilt Divinity School while finishing her Master of Theological Studies degree. She then spent eight years at Abingdon Press / the United Methodist Publishing House editing books, Circuit Rider magazine, and MinistryMatters.com before joining the WJK team in 2013. After fifteen years in Nashville, she has returned to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where she lives with her husband Matt and three children.

Website: https://www.wjkbooks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamillerkelley/

Twitter: @JMillerKelley