Happy weekend, Manuscript Workers!
This is a final reminder that the next cohort of my Book Proposal Accelerator starts on January 8th (that’s tomorrow).
In my last few newsletters I’ve asked you to bring your questions about the program to me. I wanted to share my answers to the most frequently asked questions here, in case anyone is still considering whether to sign up:
FAQ 1: I’ve already written a draft of my book proposal and I want to send it out to publishers in the next few months, but I’d love some feedback on it before I take the plunge. Would the Accelerator be a good fit for me?
Answer: Yes, you are a perfect candidate for the Book Proposal Accelerator. The program will absolutely help if you are starting from scratch, but if you already have a draft you might get even more value out of it. You can watch each brief lesson, use the tips to polish up the various components, then post each component for feedback from me. I’ll serve as a pair of expert eyes, letting you know what’s working great and what you might want to tweak before sending to publishers in order to increase your chances of a positive response. By the end of the program you’ll have gotten feedback on your entire proposal draft, plus we can talk submission strategy so that you feel really confident in your plan.
FAQ 2: How much group work is involved in the Accelerator? I don’t have the bandwidth for peer feedback right now.
Answer: While the Accelerator is a group program, in that you will be going through it at the same time as others, there is absolutely no “group work” involved. No peer feedback, no breakout sessions, nothing where you will be obligated to read or respond to others’ work. I know nobody has time for that right now! The program is very introvert-friendly in my opinion, because that’s how I would want it if I were a participant.
All feedback on your work will be coming directly from me. If you choose to share your drafts for feedback (which is optional), you will be posting in the group platform and I will be responding in the platform as well. This means you will have the opportunity to see others’ posts and learn from my responses to them, but only if you want to. Previous participants have said they were surprised by how valuable this aspect of the Accelerator was, which is the reason I set up the feedback this way.
Previous participants have also expressed surprise at how personal the experience felt, despite the Accelerator being a group program. You will receive direct, tailored feedback from me, and the more you share with me about your goals, the more I’ll be able to give you detailed, actionable guidance on your book proposal and submission strategy.
FAQ 3: I will be traveling or teaching during some of the scheduled Zoom meetings. Is it ok to miss some of them?
Answer: You can miss all of them if you want to! The Zoom co-working and Q&A sessions are optional to attend, and all Q&As will be recorded for viewing after the fact.
FAQ 4: I’m just starting to think about revisiting my dissertation, so I’m not sure exactly what the thesis and structure of my book will be. I plan to work on it over the next several months. Is it too early for me to enroll in the Accelerator?
Answer: It depends on what you want to get out of the Accelerator. If you’d like feedback on your ideas as you’re starting to develop them, you’d be welcome to join. The Accelerator will also familiarize you with the book publishing process so you can think about your goals and have a long-term plan in mind before you get too deep into the process. However, you might find it harder to complete a full draft of your proposal during the six weeks of the program because you’ll be trying to both think and write about your book at the same time. Some people do their best thinking while writing, so I’m not going to say you won’t be able to get value out of the Accelerator. But I think in most cases like this, it could be a good idea to wait until the next cohort starts (likely in late May 2024).
FAQ 5: What’s the difference between the Book Proposal Accelerator and the Book Proposal Shortcut for Busy Scholars?
Answer: The curriculum in both programs is the same, and whichever one you sign up for, you will keep lifetime access to the curriculum and supporting materials.
The main difference is that the Book Proposal Accelerator is a six-week, cohort-based program that includes live meetings and personalized feedback on your drafts, while the Book Proposal Shortcut is self-paced and doesn’t include feedback (though I will still answer any questions that might arise for you as you work on your proposal).
If you think you won’t be able to take advantage of the special features of the Accelerator in the next six weeks, I’d recommend enrolling in the Shortcut instead. You may find that it gives you all the structure you need to complete your proposal and start submitting it to presses. If you later decide you want my feedback too, you’d be more than welcome to join a future cohort of the Accelerator (again, the next one is tentatively scheduled for late May through early July of this year).
Anything I didn’t cover here that you’re still unsure about? Reply and I’ll try to get your question answered ASAP so you can join us this week if you end up deciding to enroll.