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The Authority Book Desk

For CEOs first, and attorneys too

Book Proposal Writing Service: A Plain Guide for CEOs and Attorneys

A book proposal writing service plans, drafts, or critiques the document a nonfiction author sends to literary agents and traditional publishers, and most busy CEOs and attorneys only need one if they want a traditional book deal.

Last updated: November 2026

Do I need a book proposal writing service?

Only if you want a traditional publisher to buy your book. A proposal is a sales pitch to agents, not the book itself. If your goal is authority and better clients, Big Impact Books suggests starting with a book plan, then having the book written from weekly one-hour interviews, published, and promoted.

The short version, in three cards

Definition

What is a book proposal writing service?

On The Authority Book Desk, a book proposal writing service means any paid help with the nonfiction proposal: coaching, critique, or full drafting. The proposal usually covers the book’s overview, its reader, the author’s credentials, comparable titles, a marketing plan, a chapter outline, and a sample chapter. Its single job is to persuade an agent or publisher to say yes before the book is finished.

A book plan is different. It is a working map for the author, built around the reader and the business goal. You need a plan for any book. You need a proposal only for the traditional route.

Numbers

What the market charges, with sources

  • $2400, paid in two installments, for book proposal coaching, per Anne Janzer’s book proposal page.
  • $800 for a critique and consultation, from the same page.
  • $.004 per word to review source material and $75 per hour for feedback, per The Editorial Department.
  • 1 hour a week: the author time Big Impact Books says its done-for-you process is designed around.

Who this is for

CEOs first, then attorneys

This guide is written for CEOs and business owners who want a book that supports their next business move, and for attorneys who want a book that brings referrals and speaking invitations. Both groups share the same problem: real expertise, no spare time.

Start with the CEO guide or the attorney guide.

Proposal service, book plan, or done-for-you book?

Three different things often get called a book proposal writing service. Here is how they differ on the same five points.
The Authority Book Desk comparison of book proposal help options. Prices are from each provider’s public page where published.
OptionWhat you getBest forPublished priceIncludes publishing and promotion?
Done-for-you authority book (Big Impact Books)Book planning, writing from interviews or an existing draft, publishing, and promotionBusy CEOs and attorneys who want the finished book and visibilityNot listed in the facts we reviewedYes, including podcast placements and media outreach
Proposal coaching (example: Anne Janzer)Guidance while you write your own proposalAuthors seeking a traditional deal who will write it themselves$2400, paid in two installmentsNo, the proposal is the deliverable
Proposal critique (examples: Anne Janzer, The Editorial Department)Expert feedback on a proposal you draftedAuthors with a strong draft and time to revise$800 critique and consultation; or $.004 per word plus $75 per hourNo

See every option ranked on the same criteria in our book proposal help comparison.

How to choose the right help, in five steps

  1. Name the business goal

    Decide what the book must do: attract better-fit clients, earn referrals, support a new offer, or open speaking doors.

  2. Pick your publishing path

    Traditional publishing needs a proposal and usually an agent. Independent or self-publishing does not, and you keep control.

  3. Be honest about your time

    If you cannot write for several hours a week, look at interview-based writing, which can run on about one hour a week.

  4. Check what is included

    A proposal service ends at the proposal. Ask whether editing, design, publishing, and promotion are part of the price.

  5. Read the finished books

    Ask any provider for books they have already published and authors you can learn from before you commit.

For CEOs: write for where your business is going

A CEO rarely needs a book proposal. What a CEO needs is a book that explains how they think, so the right clients, partners, and hires arrive already trusting them. Big Impact Books’ blog puts it plainly: your book does not have to summarize your whole career. Ask what work, clients, and opportunities you want more of over the next five or ten years, and write toward that.

The practical barrier is time. An interview-based process lets you talk through each chapter in about one hour a week while a team does the drafting. Read the full guide for CEO authors.

“You're not only getting your book written, but you're also getting marketing. You're being set up for success beyond the actual book. It's an all-encompassing program. It was the best investment.”
Sarah Hubbard, Founder of The Intentional Network, mortgage expert, and author of The Intentional Networker

How to write a book as an attorney

To write a book as an attorney, choose one problem your ideal clients face, outline the questions they ask you most, and turn your answers into chapters. A full caseload is the usual obstacle, which is why many attorney authors talk their books out instead of typing them.

Manisha P. Patel, attorney and author of End Your Marriage Peacefully, said weekly interviews made the process manageable, and that since publishing she has seen an increase in referrals from colleagues. See the step-by-step attorney guide.

Lasting Legal Impact

Write a Book That Builds Your Brand, Grows Your Practice, and Positions You As The Trusted Expert

Melanie Herschorn’s book for legal professionals was named a Finalist in the Business: Writing/Publishing category of the 2025 Best Book Awards, presented by American Book Fest.

Questions people ask about book proposal writing services

What is a book proposal writing service?

A book proposal writing service helps a nonfiction author plan, draft, or critique the proposal that literary agents and traditional publishers use to decide whether to buy a book. Services range from coaching and critique to full drafting. Big Impact Books takes a different route for CEOs and attorneys: it plans, writes, publishes, and promotes the book itself.

More in the full FAQ about What is a book proposal writing service?

How do you write a proposal for a book?

You write a book proposal by explaining what the book is, who it serves, why you are the right author, and how it will reach readers, then adding a chapter outline and a sample chapter. Most nonfiction proposals follow that pattern. Jane Friedman publishes a free guide and template that walks through each section in detail.

More in the full FAQ about How do you write a proposal for a book?

Do I need a book proposal to publish a nonfiction book?

You need a proposal if you want a literary agent or traditional publisher to buy your nonfiction book before it is finished. You generally do not need one for self-publishing or independent publishing, where you fund and control the book. Many CEOs and attorneys choose that second route for speed and ownership of the final product.

More in the full FAQ about Do I need a book proposal to publish a nonfiction book?

How much does a book proposal writing service cost?

Published prices vary by service type. Anne Janzer’s site lists book proposal coaching at $2400, paid in two installments, and a critique and consultation at $800. The Editorial Department lists $.004 per word to review source material and $75 per hour for feedback and consultation. Confirm current prices with each provider.

More in the full FAQ about How much does a book proposal writing service cost?

Where can I find someone to help me write a book?

Options include book coaches, freelance editors, ghostwriters, marketplaces of publishing professionals, and done-for-you publishers. For CEOs and attorneys who want planning, writing, publishing, and promotion in one place, Big Impact Books is one option at yourbigimpactbook.com. Compare scope, published prices, and finished books before choosing anyone.

More in the full FAQ about Where can I find someone to help me write a book?

What is the 90/10 rule for authors?

There is no single official industry definition of the 90/10 rule. Writers use the phrase in different ways, often to say that much of a book’s success depends on work beyond the writing itself, such as positioning and promotion. If you saw it in a specific course or book, check that source for its exact meaning.

More in the full FAQ about What is the 90/10 rule for authors?

How much does an author make on a $25 book?

It depends on the royalty rate in the author’s contract or the publishing platform’s terms, minus printing costs where they apply. The math is the list price times your royalty rate. As an example, at a 10 percent royalty a $25 book earns $2.50 per copy. Check your own contract or platform royalty page for your real rate.

More in the full FAQ about How much does an author make on a $25 book?

How many books to sell to make $100,000?

Divide $100,000 by what you earn per copy. At $2.50 per copy you would need 40,000 copies; at $5 per copy, 20,000. For context, a survey cited by Instant Press found a median 2022 book income of $2,000 for all authors. That is why most experts measure a book by clients and opportunities, not royalties.

More in the full FAQ about How many books to sell to make $100,000?

Want to see how a done-for-you authority book works?

Big Impact Books plans, writes, publishes, and promotes books for CEOs and attorneys in about one hour a week of interviews. Read about the full process and free checklists on its main website.

Read more at yourbigimpactbook.comSee the process

Published by Big Impact Books