The Elements of an Effective Book Proposal

Create a book proposal that gets noticed! Includes audio lecture and bonus materials

Whether submitting your book idea to an agent or an editor, you want your proposal to stand out. In this audio presentation, literary agent Steve Laube outlines the basic elements of an effective book proposal.

[Originally presented at the Northwest Christian Writers conference in St. Paul, July 2018.]

BONUS CONTENT - Sample Proposal Templates, a Proposal Checklist, and more

Included in this course is a Book Proposal Checklist, an article about writing a great cover letter, a sample Fiction proposal template, a sample Non-Fiction proposal template, plus a copy of the Book Proposal Tips and Tricks e-book. You can use these guides to help with the creation of your own proposal.

Extra Credit

In addition there is an extra 75 minute audio class Steve Laube gave on the same topic about 15 years ago. What you may find of interest is how the presentation process has changed due to the proliferation of email submissions. But also how the foundational elements of creating a good proposal have not changed over the years. This older class was presented at an American Christian Writers conference. Find out about their multiple conferences and other services at www.acwriters.com.


Your Teacher


Steve Laube
Steve Laube

Steve Laube, a literary agent and president of The Steve Laube Agency, has been in the book industry for 40 years, first as a bookstore manager where he was awarded the National Store of the Year by CBA. He then spent over a decade with Bethany House Publishers and was named the Editor of the Year. He later became an agent where he has represented nearly 2,000 new books and was named Agent of the Year by ACFW. He was also inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall-of-Fame by their College of Theology.

In addition, he is the President and publisher at Enclave Publishing and also serves as President and owner of The Christian Writers Institute. His office is in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the general editor of the annual Christian Writers Market Guide.


Frequently Asked Questions


When can I start taking this course?
The course will be available immediately and will remain available as long as you keep your account with us, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. It is completely self-contained and can be enjoyed at your own pace - you decide when you start and when you finish. If there is something you missed, you can go back at any point at any time.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling in this course, you will have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - on any device at any time. Simply log into your account from a device and the courses for which you registered will remain available to you.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us within 10 days and we will give you a full refund. ([email protected])
May I share this course with others?
We would prefer that you keep your course purchases for your own use. We are aware that we cannot prevent "sharing," but doing so undermines the spirit under which the Institute was created. We ask that you use your best judgment and respect the value of our teachers’ intellectual property.
Can I interact with the teacher directly?
Our courses are not set up for one-on-one interaction. Some of the teachers are available for coaching but at this point we recommend you reach out to them through their web sites to see if they are available.

Get started now!