June 3 @ 7:00 pm - June 5 @ 7:00 pm
Online
$59Overview
A Two-Night Mini Online Course
For most nonfiction books (except picture books), the first step in pitching your project to an agent or editor isn’t a full manuscript—it’s a compelling book proposal. This crucial document does it all: it hooks readers, outlines your vision, sells your idea, and proves why you’re the right person to write it. In this course, author Stephanie Gibeault and agent Jacqui Lipton break down the key elements of a standout book proposal and share strategies to make yours hard to resist.
This is a short course with two, 75-minute sessions during the week, packed with information about book proposals.
- Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Thursday, June 5, 2025 (7pm – 8:15pm Eastern)
- Webinar-style program with closed captioning available and limited interaction in the chat
- You’ll have access to the recordings through July 31, 2025.
Why This Workshop?
Understanding the way book proposals work is a needed lesson for many writers. Jacqui Lipton’s understanding of legal considerations and experiences as an agent, paired with Stephanie Gibeault’s background in the sciences and writing are the perfect combination for guiding you through the book proposal process.
Join them to discover:
- What a book proposal is, and when to use it,
- Strong curriculum connections that can make your proposal stand out,
- Agents’ and editors’ needs when it comes to proposals,
- and much more!
Along with your presentations, you will receive take home exercises to help uncover the comp titles that will best fit your project.
Feedback Expected
- There will be limited interaction in the chat feature of this webinar-style program.
- Stephanie Gibeault and Jacqui Lipton will answer as many questions as possible on the second night of the program.
It’s a Great Fit If…
- You are considering writing nonfiction for children and want to learn more about creating a book proposal for your project.
- You are an author working on a nonfiction middle grade or young adult book.
- You’re looking for something short, sweet, and smart! This is not a full workshop. Instead it is two, 75-minute sessions meant to engage and build your understanding of book proposals.
Tentative Agenda
At registration: You will receive a Zoom link to use each night of the course.
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND LIVE:
If you are unable to attend either session for any reason, you’ll have access to the recordings (with closed captioning) through July 31, 2025.
Please note that if you register for the course after the start of the first session, you will not receive recordings immediately. You’ll receive both recordings after the close of the last session, usually within 24 hours.
All Times are Eastern Time. Click on the headings below to explore the agenda in more detail.
Part One: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Welcome from the Highlights Foundation
- What’s a book proposal – and when do you need one?
- What is included in a book proposal?
- Examples from actual book proposals that sold
- Comp Title Research Exercise (Try this at home!)
Part Two: Thursday, June 5, 2025 (7pm-8:15pm Eastern)
- Tips for developing an irresistible book proposal
- Curriculum connections – what are they and how do you use them?
- Permissions and legal considerations
- What are agents and editors looking for in a book proposal?
- Q&A
How It Impacts Kids
Readers need to discover your nonfiction projects. In order to get your work into the hands of readers, you need to understand how book proposals work. This short course can help you.
Testimonials from Our Community
“Online sessions really helpful for those of us who live far away (I’m in Victoria BC) so traveling to Highlights isn’t possible very often. Really great to have access to courses.”
“All the faculty were very knowledgable and extremely helpful!”
