How to Write a Middle Grade Nonfiction Proposal

A behind the scenes look at how I sold TOP SECRET ANIMALS

Nov 17, 2025

When I set out to write a nonfiction middle grade proposal I was a bit lost! Luckily my agent was able to send me an example and I figured out how to take my idea (more on that in a moment) to a finished proposal that I then sold to Sourcebooks!

”Emma Hintzen at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to Top Secret Animals by Christine Evans, illustrated by Blythe Russo. The humorous middle grade book explores strange-but-true stories of animals spies throughout history including birds, bugs, dogs, dolphins, and more. Publication is set for summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Molly O’Neill at Root Literary represented the illustrator.”

TOP SECRET ANIMALS is 20,000 words long (woah!) and it will be fantastically illustrated by Blythe Russo. Look out for it in summer 2027. But in the meantime you can go undercover with me as I declassify the secrets of how to write a nonfiction proposal.

The Idea

Like so many of my books, the idea for this book started as something else and morphed.

I originally wrote a picture book manuscript about G.I. Joe, a pigeon, who saved one thousand people in the Second World War. That didn’t sell so I reworked it as an early chapter book. That didn’t sell. So I put it away in the virtual drawer and moved on to other projects.

Black and white photograph of G.I. Joe the pigeon — G.I. Joe receiving his medal for gallantry

Then eventually I came across a story about other animal spies. I had no idea there were so many! So I pitched to my agent the idea of a nonfiction chapter book series with each book being about a different animal. She wisely suggested it being one big book and she sent me the example nonfiction proposal to help me shape mine.

The Proposal

Hook and introduction

My proposal had several sections. I started with a hook and an introduction to the subject. I included the expected length, the format of the book, and some comp titles. Then I talked about how the book would be organized and what the content would be in each chapter.

(yes, the title changed since I sold the project!)

Biography

An important section is your biography. You can include the usual information about your previous publications but also add anything that makes you an expert in this subject in particular. I highlighted some of my previous work experiences that were relevant to the book. Here’s my current biography for a new proposal I’m working on right now!

Outline

Then I outlined all the expected sections and chapters. Don't worry about this being set in stone. If you want to change these after the project is sold you’ll be able to chat to your editor about the tweaks you’d like to make.

I didn’t write many details about each chapter, just titles, but you absolutely could write more information about what each chapter will include to give the editor more of an idea of what you have in mind. I actually think I will write more information on each chapter in my next proposal.

Sample chapter

Next I wrote an entire sample chapter. It should showcase your tone for the book (humorous in my case), how you will layout each chapter, and any sidebars you’re planning to use. As this is an illustrated book I included some photos and illustration notes to show the editor what I had in mind (with no expectation they would pass those on to the eventual illustrator). My sample chapter was about 2000 words.

Bibliography

And finally, I included a biography so the editor could see the research I’d carried out so far.

What I didn’t include (but you might want to)

I didn’t include any marketing information (beyond comp titles). But you could definitely talk about how you book could be marketed. For example, connections with museums, holidays that might be relevant, and conferences and events you could promote the book at.