book-proposal-writer
A Korean publisher's editor-in-chief decides pass or reject within 1 minuteA skill for writing a submission proposal that can do this. It combines the outputs of the previous 4 skills (concept sheet, persona, table of contents, author bio) to produce a publishing plan + sample chapter + marketing plan 3-in-1 packageis generated. Automatic branching by the format of major Korean publishers + preemptive detection of rejection signals. Publisher pass rate = concept sheet (USP) 40% + sample chapter (writing ability) 30% + marketing plan (sales ability) 30%. A publisher's editor-in-chief what they want (marketability, author capability, planning differentiation) is compressed into a 3-package format to when decides whether to submit.
1. Overview
A publisher submission proposal is a combination of the following 3 packages.
| Package |
Volume |
Purpose |
| Publishing plan |
A4 5-10장 |
Conveys the overall picture of the book within 1 minute |
| Sample chapter |
A4 10-30 pages (1-2 chapters) |
Directly verifies the author's writing ability and level of completion |
| Marketing plan |
A4 2-3장 |
The author's sales ability to reduce the publisher's burden |
A publisher's editor-in-chief usually decides pass or reject within 5 minutes. Within the first minute, the concept sheet and USP are judged; within the next 2 minutes, the first 5 pages of the sample chapter; and within the final 2 minutes, the marketing plan.
2. Trigger keywords
Automatic invocation trigger (see frontmatter description). Slash invocation: /book-proposal-writer.
3. Workflow (4 stages)
Step 1: Structuring the publishing plan (5 sections)
The publishing plan consists of the following 5 sections.
1-1. Cover (1 page)
| Element |
Content |
| Working title |
Working title from book-concept-planner |
| One-line copy |
One-line summary from book-concept-planner (15 characters) |
| 30-character copy |
30-character copy from book-concept-planner |
| Author |
Real name/pen name + short identity (50-character bio) |
| Genre/volume |
1 of 4 genres + expected number of sales |
| Submission date/contact |
Date written + email/phone number |
1-2. Book overview (A4 1 page)
| Item |
Volume |
Content |
| 300-character synopsis |
300자 |
300-character synopsis from book-concept-planner |
| USP 3축 |
200자 |
book-concept-planner의 USP |
| One-sentence summary |
50자 |
"This book is ___ for ___." |
1-3. Market/reader analysis (A4 1-2 pages)
| Item |
Content |
| Market size |
KPIPA·Kyobo Book Centre data citation (market size and growth rate by genre) |
| Target persona |
Summary of the 200-character persona card from book-target-reader |
| JTBD 3 dimensions |
Summary of book-target-reader's JTBD |
| Pain points |
book-target-reader's 5 urgent and core pains |
| Competing works matrix |
book-concept-planner's 4-8 book matrix |
1-4. Table of contents + synopsis (A4 2-3 pages)
| Item |
Content |
| Full table of contents tree |
book-outline-designer's part·chapter·section tree |
| Length allocation |
Length by part and chapter (number of 200-character manuscript sheets) |
| Chapter synopsis |
book-outline-designer's 5-element synopsis (chapter level) |
| Appendix·materials |
Templates·checklists·GitHub, etc. |
1-5. Author bio (A4 1 page)
| Item |
Content |
| 200-character bio |
book-author-bio의 200자 |
| Credibility signal matrix |
Table of 5 areas (education, work experience, publications, awards, fandom) |
| Previous activities |
Lectures, books, SNS followers, subscribers (including figures) |
| SNS·contact |
Instagram, YouTube, blog, email |
Step 2: Write sample chapter (1-2 chapters)
The sample chapter is First impression of the main text. Follow these principles:
Sample chapter selection
| Selection |
Reason |
| Chapter 1 or Chapter 2 |
Verification of writing skill and structure in the introduction |
| Chapter where the USP is most evident |
Shows the book's differentiators in advance |
| 3-5 sections |
Chapter 1 length + 1 additional section recommended |
Sample chapter writing principles
- Length: 12-30 sheets (varies by genre and publisher)
- Level of completion: Same level as the main text (not a summary or draft)
- Visual materials: Include all charts, code, and illustrations (practical books and technical books)
- Citations·footnotes: Cite accurately (humanities books and technical books)
- Genre tone: Tone and style consistency of the 4 genre presets
💡 A publisher's editor judges writing skill and level of completion from the first 5 pages of the sample chapter. The first 5 pages must be the strongest.
Step 3: Write a marketing plan (A4 2-3 pages)
Present marketing activities the author can do directly to the publisher. The less burden on the publisher, the higher the chance of passing.
5 categories of a marketing plan
| Category |
Activity |
Metric |
| SNS activity |
Instagram, YouTube, Brunch, blog series |
Followers, subscribers, reach |
| Lectures·classes |
In-house lectures, online classes, book talks |
Number of lectures·attendees |
| Press·media |
Column contributions·interviews·podcast appearances |
Number of outlets·reach |
| Book clubs·communities |
Trevari·Munto·in-house book club recommendations |
Number of book clubs·members |
| Publication events |
Publication commemorative lectures·signings·online live |
Number of events·attendees |
Marketing plan writing formula
출간 전 (D-90 ~ D-1)
- [SNS] 인스타 100개 포스트 시리즈 / 유튜브 5편 영상
- [강연] 사내 강연 2회 / 외부 강연 1회 시범
- [언론] 칼럼 3편 기고 (매일경제·한경·서울신문 중 1)
출간 직후 (D+0 ~ D+30)
- [출간 이벤트] 온라인 북토크 1회 (300명 목표)
- [SNS] 인스타 라이브 / 유튜브 책 소개 영상 / 브런치 매거진
- [언론] 신문 서평·잡지 인터뷰 의뢰
출간 후 (D+30 ~ D+90)
- [강연] 기업·기관 강연 5회 / 온라인 클래스 1개 오픈
- [북클럽] 트레바리·문토 5개 그룹 등록·참가
- [커뮤니티] 독자 인증 캠페인 / 리뷰 50개 모으기
Features of marketing plans publishers like
- Specific numbers — Instead of "a lot," "100 posts·5 lectures·300 attendees"
- Activities already underway — Leverage channels you already have before publication, not starting after publication
- Minimal budget burden — Less reliance on ads ↑ more direct author sales ↑
- Specify collaboration with publisher — A collaboration plan like "publisher press release + author channel simultaneous send"
Step 4: Convert to each publisher's format
Automatically convert the format to match the publisher you are submitting to. See §7 for publisher-specific conventions.
4. 4 Genre presets (automatic branching)
4-1. Practical·self-help (Woongjin·Dasan Books·Gilbut format)
| Dimension |
Branch |
| Cover one-line copy |
Directly expose the benefit ("In 30 days…") |
| Market analysis |
Market size·growth rate·trend figures |
| Sample chapter |
Includes Q&A·exercise boxes·checklists |
| Marketing plan |
Emphasize lectures·classes·corporate in-house lectures |
| Length |
A4 12-18 pages (full proposal) |
4-2. Humanities·general knowledge·essays (Minumsa·Munhakdongne·Changbi format)
| Dimension |
Branch |
| Cover one-line copy |
Identity·perspective·metaphor |
| Market analysis |
Citations of similar authors·works (works rather than market figures) |
| Sample chapter |
Narrative·style·quotations·footnotes |
| Marketing plan |
Book clubs·literary lectures·conversations with the author |
| Length |
A4 10-15장 |
4-3. Technical·professional books·IT introductory books (Hanbit Media·Insight·Gilbut IT format)
| Dimension |
Branch |
| Cover one-line copy |
"From 1 book on X to Y" pattern, specify version |
| Market analysis |
Tech hiring·salaries·market trends (JobKorea·Wanted data) |
| Sample chapter |
Code examples·diagrams·step-by-step instructions |
| Marketing plan |
GitHub·tech blogs·conference presentations·online courses |
| Length |
A4 15-20 pages (including code) |
4-4. Novels·literature (Minumsa·Munhakdongne·Changbi·Munhakdongne New Writer Award format)
| Dimension |
Branch |
| One-line cover copy |
Characters, conflict, and worldbuilding condensed |
| Market analysis |
Similar works and literary award trends |
| Sample chapter |
Completed Chapter 1 (for short stories, the full length) |
| Character cards |
3-7 main characters separately |
| Marketing plan |
Literary events, readings, and author meetups |
| Length |
20-50 A4 pages (full short story or 1-2 chapters of a full-length work) |
5. Output format (standard publishing proposal template)
# [출판사명] 출판 제안서 — [가제]
제출자: [저자명]
제출일: YYYY-MM-DD
연락처: [이메일·전화]
---
## 표지
- **가제**: ___
- **한 줄 카피**: ___
- **30자 카피**: ___
- **저자**: [본명/필명] · [50자 정체성]
- **장르**: [실용서·인문·기술·소설] 중 1
- **예상 분량**: ___ 매 (200자 원고지)
- **예상 출간**: YYYY-MM (협의)
---
## 1. 책 개요
### 1-1. 300자 시놉시스
> [300자]
### 1-2. USP (차별화 3축)
1. ___
2. ___
3. ___
### 1-3. 한 문장 요약
> "이 책은 ___를 위한 ___입니다."
---
## 2. 시장·독자 분석
### 2-1. 시장 사이즈 (KPIPA·교보문고)
[장르별 시장 규모·성장률·트렌드]
### 2-2. 타깃 페르소나 (200자)
[페르소나 카드 요약]
### 2-3. JTBD 3 차원
| 차원 | 정의 |
|------|------|
| 기능적 | ___ |
| 감정적 | ___ |
| 사회적 | ___ |
### 2-4. 페인포인트 (긴급·핵심 5개)
1. ___ (강도 5·빈도 5)
2. ___
...
### 2-5. 경쟁작 매트릭스 (4~8권)
| 경쟁작 | 출판사 | 발행 | 강점 | 약점 (이 책의 기회) |
|--------|--------|------|------|--------------------|
| [경쟁작 1] | ___ | 2024 | ___ | ___ |
...
---
## 3. 목차 + 챕터 시놉시스
### 3-1. 전체 목차 트리
[부·장·꼭지 트리, book-outline-designer 출력 인용]
### 3-2. 분량 배분
| 부 | 장 수 | 매수 |
|----|------|------|
| 1부 | ___ | ___ |
...
### 3-3. 챕터 시놉시스 (장 단위 5요소)
[book-outline-designer의 시놉시스 인용]
---
## 4. 저자 약력
### 4-1. 200자 약력
> [200자]
### 4-2. 신뢰 신호 매트릭스
| 영역 | 신호 | 강도 |
|------|------|:----:|
| 학력·자격 | ___ | ★ |
| 실무 경력 | ___ | ★★★★★ |
| 저술·강연 | ___ | ★★★★ |
| 수상·인증 | ___ | ★★ |
| 팬덤·플랫폼 | ___ | ★★★★ |
### 4-3. 이전 활동 (수치 포함)
- 저서: ___ (출판사·연도·판매부수)
- 강연: ___ 회 (기업·기관)
- SNS: 인스타 ___ 팔로워 / 유튜브 ___ 구독 / 블로그 월 ___ 방문
---
## 5. 샘플 챕터 (1~2 장)
### 5-1. 샘플 챕터 선정 이유
[USP가 가장 잘 드러나는 1장 또는 2장 선택 이유]
### 5-2. [장 제목]
[12~30매 본문 직접 첨부 또는 PDF 별첨]
---
## 6. 마케팅 플랜
### 6-1. 출간 전 (D-90 ~ D-1)
- [SNS] ___
- [강연] ___
- [언론] ___
### 6-2. 출간 직후 (D+0 ~ D+30)
- [출간 이벤트] ___
- [SNS] ___
- [언론] ___
### 6-3. 출간 후 (D+30 ~ D+90)
- [강연] ___
- [북클럽] ___
- [커뮤니티] ___
### 6-4. 출판사 협업 요청
- ___ (보도자료·이벤트·서점 제휴 등)
---
## 7. 일정·계약 협의
- 원고 완성 예정: YYYY-MM (협의 가능)
- 첫 미팅 가능 일정: ___
- 인세·계약 조건: 협의
---
## 8. 첨부 자료
- 샘플 챕터 PDF (별첨)
- 저자 SNS·블로그 링크
- 이전 저서 정보
- 강연·기고 자료
6. Usage examples
Example 1 — Practical book (Dasan Books submission)
"30일 챌린지로 시작하는 부업" 다산북스 투고 제안서 작성해줘.
모든 선행 스킬(컨셉서·페르소나·목차·약력) 산출물 결합.
→ Dasan Books format automatically applied (long introduction, abundant examples)
→ Cover → Sections 1-5 → 1 sample chapter (first chapter) → Marketing plan (leveraging 50,000 Instagram followers)
→ Output 14 A4 pages
Example 2 — IT introductory book (Hanbit Media submission)
"Next.js 15 + shadcn/ui 실전" 한빛미디어 투고 제안서 작성해줘.
12 챕터·600매·샘플 1장 포함.
→ Hanbit Media format automatically applied (4-part structure, code included, GitHub appendix)
→ JobKorea and Wanted recruitment data in market analysis
→ Sample chapter: Chapter 1 (Next.js 15 new features + code examples)
→ Marketing plan: GitHub, YouTube 50,000, tech conference presentation
→ Output 18 A4 pages
Example 3 — Essay (Minumsa submission)
"엄마이지만 나로 살기" 민음사 투고 제안서 만들어줘. 400매·샘플 2장.
→ Minumsa format (free form, author individuality, quotations, footnotes)
→ Quotations from similar authors and works in market analysis
→ Sample: Chapters 1 + 2 (verifying narrative and style)
→ Marketing: 5 book clubs, 3 literary lectures
7. Korean publisher proposal conventions
Format guide by publisher
| Publisher |
Genre |
Format characteristics |
Submission channel |
| Hanbit Media |
IT |
4-part structure, code-rich, GitHub appendix, 15-20 A4 pages |
book@hanbit.co.kr |
| Insight |
IT translated books |
Respects original structure, mainly translated books |
Publisher website |
| Gilbut |
Practical/IT introductory |
3-part structure, Q&A, practice boxes |
book@gilbut.co.kr |
| Woongjin Think Big House |
Practical/self-development |
Long introduction, rich narrative |
Email submission |
| Dasan Books |
Self-development/economics |
Abundant examples, interview quotations |
Publisher website |
| Minumsa |
Literature/humanities |
Free form, separate newcomer award |
Newcomer award / direct submission |
| Munhakdongne |
Literature/essay |
Munhakdongne Newcomer Award / free submission |
Newcomer award contest |
| Changbi |
Humanities/children's/literature |
Changbi Newcomer Award / social perspective |
Newcomer award / email |
| EunHaengNaMu |
Literature·Humanities |
Newcomer contest active |
Newcomer contest |
| Humanist |
Humanities·Social |
Emphasis on social message |
Mail submission |
General convention of Korean publishers
- Email submission — PDF attachment + one-line copy and author name in the body
- Awaiting response: Average 2-6 weeks (large publishers 6 weeks-3 months)
- Reply upon rejection — Usually a form response, specific feedback is rare
- Resubmission policy — Resubmission to the same publisher is OK after 6 months (different work recommended)
- Simultaneous submission — Simultaneous multiple submissions are common in Korea, and publishers are aware of it
Korean newcomer awards·contests
| Contest |
Genre |
Timing |
Prize |
| Munhakdongne Newcomer Award |
Fiction·Poetry |
Every year |
Publication + prize money |
| Changbi Newcomer Award |
Fiction·Poetry·Criticism |
Every year |
Publication + prize money |
| Minumsa newcomer discovery |
Fiction·Poetry |
Year-round |
Publication + debut |
| Korean Publishing Culture Award |
All |
Every year |
Book·author award |
| Korea Science and Technology Book Award |
Science·Technology |
Every year |
Prize money + certification |
8. Precautions
Pre-detection of rejection signals
If the following signals are present, passing the publisher is difficult. Preliminary supplementation is essential:
| Rejection signal |
How to supplement |
| Weak USP |
Revisit book-concept-planner Step 3, strengthen the competitor matrix |
| Vague target |
Revisit book-target-reader Step 1-3, specify one persona |
| Unbalanced table of contents length |
Pass book-outline-designer Step 2·4 verification |
| Insufficient author credibility signals |
Strengthen 2 or more of the 5 areas of book-author-bio (lectures·contributions·SNS, etc.) |
| Incomplete sample chapter |
Complete it to the level of the main text, then strengthen the first 5 pages |
| Abstract marketing plan |
Specify all of numbers·periods·channels |
| Ignoring the publisher's format |
Analyze 5 recent books from the submitting publisher and tailor the format |
Avoiding submission traps
| Trap |
How to avoid |
| Resume-style proposal |
Center on the book's value (USP·persona·market), with the author's bio in the latter half |
| Too-long proposal |
If over 20 A4 pages, add a key summary and separate the appendix |
| Inflating numbers |
Accuracy of facts such as SNS follower counts and number of speaking engagements is mandatory |
| Bulk email to publishers |
No bulk copy-paste of recipient/greeting; customize per publisher |
| Pressing for a reply |
2-6 weeks is the standard waiting period for a reply; a polite follow-up email after 1 month is OK |
| Excessive personal information |
No personal information unrelated to the book, such as family, religion, or politics |
Source policy
- Market data and citations must cite sources (KPIPA, Kyobo Book Centre, JobKorea, etc.)
- SNS figures, number of speaking engagements, etc. accuracy of facts is mandatory
- Direct quotation of external reference materials outside the vault is prohibited
9. Related skills
Before (previous steps — all must be completed)
book-concept-planner — Concept document, USP, market positioningbook-target-reader — Persona, JTBD, pain pointsbook-outline-designer — Table of contents, synopsisbook-author-bio — Author bio
After (chaining)
book-publisher-matcher — Publisher matching (where to send it once the proposal is complete)book-chapter-writer — Writing the main body chapters (after the proposal passes)
Alternative
moai-consultant:consult-strategy — Business proposal (not a book)moai-tutor:education-grant-writer — Government grant application
Post (review — regular chain)
moai-writer:korean-spell-check — Korean spelling and grammarmoai-coworker:ai-slop-reviewer — AI slop review (mandatory)moai-writer:korean-humanize — Precise polishing to remove AI tells (mandatory)
Prose in the proposal (overview, market analysis, sample chapter, marketing plan narrative) is finished with the regular chain **book-proposal-writer → moai-coworker:ai-slop-reviewer → moai-writer:korean-humanize**. Tables such as the credibility signal matrix and competitor matrix are data outputs, so they are not subject to the chain.
10. Sources
External official sources (as of 2026)
Vault reference (concepts and frameworks only)
Extract insights related to "publishing proposals, planning documents, market analysis, marketing plans" from the GOOS Obsidian vault (applying the 3-step insight derivation + copywriting specificity principles). Do not use the original metaphors or expressions as is.
Version history
- v2.9.0 (2026-05-17): Introduction of new skills. moai-coworker plugin workflow 5. 3 packages (planning document, sample, marketing) + 5-section planning document + 4 genres + rejection signal detection + format guide for 10 Korean publishers.
