Have you ever scratch your proposal and started from scratch? Or maybe just the chapter outline? There is more than one way to tell a story. I am starting to question my approach to the book I am writing. Agents seem to like the book, but my proposal has been rejected enough times that I am feeling I need to try something new. Is it crazy to rewrite it? Did anyone here ever do this?
A new proposal?
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I was thinking of doing a new T of C and that would force me to do all new chapter summaries. I do think my sample chapters are really good so I would somehow like to hold onto them. But maybe I can keep my idea with a whole new story line? It is just hard to figure out what is wrong. I have five more agents who are waiting for my proposal, but I am worried about sending it out without trying something new. Maybe that is stupid. I really don't know.
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I don't think it's crazy. And that's probably because I'm in the process of rewriting a proposal right now. Editors love it, but the marketing/sales department don't think it will sell.
I'm keeping the theme of the book, but changing the voice.
P.S. I write practical nonfiction.
I'm keeping the theme of the book, but changing the voice.
P.S. I write practical nonfiction.
Not crazy at all. I think it's great that you are able to look at your work objectively and question it. Given your uncertainty about your proposal, absolutely experiment with a rewrite and also by writing an entirely new one. In the end you'll know which is best. If you've received personalized remarks from agents and/or editors about your present proposal, you might consider them when rewriting.
Revising Proposal
Thanks for sharing your plans. Please note that agents and publishers do realize that your pitched TofC, chapter summaries, and even chapter text is expected to undergo change over time. So, I would not revise these with the expectation that these are "cast in stone" and that you and the publisher must "fully live with" all that you submit at this early stage.
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Thanks for sharing your plans. Please note that agents and publishers do realize that your pitched TofC, chapter summaries, and even chapter text is expected to undergo change over time. So, I would not revise these with the expectation that these are "cast in stone" and that you and the publisher must "fully live with" all that you submit at this early stage.
I've done this countless times. In fact, it always seems easier to start from scratch than to tinker with and fuss over an earlier proposal. Sometimes the new proposal comes out ten times better, sometimes it comes out in such a way that makes the original seem pretty good after all.
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