When you are trying to get a piece of writing published, one of the most challenging things to do is write a proposal and first chapter. This proposal, also called a query, is the first thing a potential editor sees and needs to interest him enough to entice him to read your first chapter. Follow these tips for writing a proposal and first chapter.
Instructions
1. Research agents and editors before you begin drafting your proposal. Be sure that your query targets only those editors who publish material in the genre you are writing in. For example, sending a romance novel to an editor who focuses on horror fiction is fruitless.
2. Start your proposal with an ear-catching sentence that gives a hint about the topic your manuscript. This sentence should be quirky enough to capture the editor's attention, but not so vague that you annoy him.
3. Give specific information about your manuscript in the proposal. Let the editor know the work's length, subject matter and general theme or goal. Provide a short background on your career as a writer as well. Bullet points work well for this type of information.
4. Keep the query letter short and to the point. Editors receive a large number of proposals each week, and if you want yours to stay on the desk and out of the trash bin, try not to clutter it with excess language.
5. Select the strongest section of your manuscript to use as your first chapter. This does not necessarily have to be the portion of the work that you plan to use as the opening. Often, novels begin at a point in the story where the action is already underway, so feel free to play around with the order of your work before you choose what you will submit as the first chapter.
