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Nonfiction Author Kit

Pitch and write nonfiction: query letter, book proposal, chapters, whitepapers, speeches, annotated bibliography and book notes.

9 templates in 3 steps, in the order you use them. Open any template in the editor, fill it in and export it to PDF, DOCX or HTML.

Step 1

Pitch

  1. Literary Agent Query Letter Template

    Lean

    Agent query letter: personalisation, hook and pitch, book details with comps, bio, closing, comps worksheet, pre-send checklist, submission tracker

  2. Nonfiction Book Proposal Template

    Full

    Nonfiction book proposal: hook, author platform, audience, comparable titles, marketing plan, chapter outline, sample chapter, specs

Step 2

Write

  1. Book Chapter Template

    Lean

    Book chapter: outline (opening, turn, close), scene list, draft, word-count tracker, continuity notes, revision checklist

  2. Whitepaper Template

    Full

    Whitepaper: executive summary, problem, market context, analysis, proposed approach, evidence, implementation, risks, references

  3. Speech Template

    Standard

    Speech draft: one message, time budget, timed structure, sourced facts, delivery notes, accessibility and room check, rehearsal log per section

  4. Editorial Style Guide Template

    Standard

    Editorial style guide: voice and tone, mechanics rules with reasons, terminology, formatting, inclusive and plain language (ISO 24495-1), reference editions

    ISO 24495-1:2023 (structure aligned); Chicago 18th ed.; AP Stylebook 2026-2028

  5. Fact-Check Log Template

    Lean

    Claim-by-claim log: status scale, source rules, claim, risk, source location, status, checker, final wording, post-publication corrections

    IFCN Code of Principles (named as reference)
Step 3

Discovery

  1. Annotated Bibliography Template

    Standard

    Search and source log, citation style quick reference (APA 7, Chicago 18, MLA 9, Vancouver), evaluative annotations, coverage check, synthesis

    APA 7th ed.; Chicago Manual of Style 18th ed.; MLA Handbook 9th ed.; NLM Citing Medicine 2nd ed. (cited)

  2. Book Notes Template

    Standard

    Book citation (edition, ISBN), three-sentence summary from memory, key ideas with evidence, quotes, self-test questions, if-then action

    Retrieval practice (Roediger and Karpicke 2006); ISBN citation fields