Your Compelling Book Proposal
The 12-Month Accelerator
Craft a brilliant nonfiction book proposal and build the author platform you need to succeed—no matter where you're starting.
You have an idea for book—a topic you're passionate about, maybe even an expert in. You know it could make a real difference, and you can picture it in finished form: a published book that impacts readers and establishes your authority.
But translating that spark into a proposal that screams YES to agents? How do people actually do it?
How do they develop their entire book's content, write sample chapters with ease and confidence, create an impressive marketing and promotion plan that feels doable, and build a platform that attracts attention (especially when starting with a small platform...or none at all)?
You may have absorbed bits of advice: “build a platform,” “write a killer proposal,” “hone your craft.” But trying to pull that off without a clear, integrated path, feels like you're juggling too many balls, struggling to make progress on any of them. And for many aspiring authors, it's easy to give up too soon, before their idea ever gets its chance.
Those bits of advice held some truth: crafting a truly compelling, pitch-worthy project involves more than just a good idea and demands far more than what AI can spit out. The process of addressing it all can be overwhelming and drag on...especially tackling it alone. You're tired of starting and giving up—this time you want to get it right.
What if you could navigate this entire journey with with expert guidance every step of the way? What if you weren't alone at all, but instead got personalized coaching from a real human being who's successfully guided dozens of writers just like you from a simple idea to signed book contract?
Your Compelling Book Proposal: The 12-Month Accelerator is a personalized coaching program for writers with a nonfiction book idea they want to develop so it's pitch-ready.
Yes! You can craft that book on your heart
You finally gain absolute clarity on your book's unique angle and your place in the market. You're moving through the proposal-writing process with confidence, knowing exactly what goes into each section, throughout a year-long strategy that seamlessly integrates your proposal, platform, and writing craft.
How? You're working directly with Ann Kroeker in Your Compelling Book Proposal: The 12-Month Accelerator.
In the Accelerator, you’ll receive personalized, 1:1 support at every stage, ensuring you're not just learning concepts, but doing the work. You'll refine your content with expert eyes on every word.
Your writing will transform from good to magnetic. You'll compose compelling sample chapters, build an author platform that authentically connects with readers (even from zero!), and experience guidance tailored specifically to both you and your project.
By the end of this 12-month journey, you won't just complete a book proposal; you'll refine a memorable hook for an agent-ready proposal...and you yourself will change. With dedicated support, you'll build a growing author platform that interests publishers, and gain confidence to pitch and launch your book—the book only you can write—as you look ahead to a sustainable author career.
TAMMY GUSTAFSON
I just signed my first book deal!
"I just signed my first book deal! I'm so grateful for Ann and the role she played in it. She helped me organize my concept, guided me with the book proposal, helped prepare me for pitches, and most recently, introduced me to my agent!
Tammy Gustafson
Author, Broken to Brave: Your Courageous Act of Healing After Intimate Betrayal
Your 12-Month Accelerator is more than just coaching; it’s resources and a roadmap designed to take you from idea to agent-ready proposal. I’ve structured the year into four focused phases.
Phase 1: Foundation & Clarity
We'll unearth your core idea, define your unique angle and ideal reader using my signature Power Pitch framework. Then we'll map your chapters, while establishing your platform's foundation.
Phase 2: Drafting & Expanding
Here, you'll further develop your book's structure, draft compelling summaries and begin to draft sample chapters alongside the start of your platform's foundational content.
Phase 3: Validating & Polishing
This phase is dedicated to refining your proposal while expanding your reach. You'll sharpen your prose, develop an eye-popping marketing plan, spiff up your sample chapters, and increase visibility to strengthen your author platform.
Phase 4: Finalizing & Pitching
In the final months of coaching, we'll polish your entire proposal, revisit to ensure you have a powerful hook, finalize your marketing plan, update your platform to reflect your growth, and prepare you to confidently pitch your project to agents with a query that reflects all your hard work.
At every step, your 1:1 coaching sessions will provide tailored feedback, ensuring you have clarity and accountability to move forward effectively and build momentum toward your publishing goals.
Step-by-step personalized support
You'll have a proven system with ongoing support from a coach who knows the problems you'll face and will work with you to solve them.
Your 12-Month Accelerator addresses four aspects of your work & project at the same time (publishers look for these):
PHASE 1: Foundation & Clarity (Months 1-3)
PHASE 2: Crafting & Expanding (Months 4-6)
PHASE 3: Validating & Polishing (Months 7-9)
PHASE 4: Finalizing & Pitching (Months 10-12)
In a year or less, your proposal will be ready...and you'll be ready.
Throughout these phases, our 1:1 coaching sessions will provide tailored feedback and accountability to ensure you're not just progressing, but building momentum toward your publishing goals.
What you get in YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator
Proven Proposal Template
A strategic framework for crafting a compelling proposal that you'll adapt to reflect your ideal positioning and the strengths of your project.
Recorded Training Library
On-demand training covering essential proposal, platform, and craft elements, designed to complement our 1:1 work.
Direct Voxer/Heartbeat.chat Check-ins
24/7 asynchronous access to me for quick questions, feedback, and accountability.
2 one-Hour 1:1 Coaching Calls per Month
Dedicated sessions for personalized strategy, deep dives into your manuscript and platform, and troubleshooting.
Content Reviewed by Your writing Coach
Coaching input on your writing all along the way—strengthen your ideas and the writing itself as you build it as well as a full review of the entire document (we'll work together on it until your proposal is pitch-ready).
Query & Pitch Strategy Coaching
Strategic guidance on drafting your query letter and identifying the right literary agents for your work. We’ll develop a customized pitching plan so you know how to reach out and represent your book with confidence when the proposal is ready.
Bonus: Co-writing Sessions
Complimentary, ongoing access to WriteTrackers, a co-writing community that gathers 2x/week to write for 1.5 hours—for the year you can join our sessions at no additional cost to devote time to your project and establish the practice of writing, prioritizing your work in the supportive company of other writers.
Is This Your Accelerator?
This year-long journey is designed for the driven, dedicated nonfiction author who is ready to invest in their craft and their future.
If this sounds like the 1:1 support you need to finally bring your book idea to life and establish your author authority, I'm thrilled to have you apply. (Not sure if you're a fit? Go ahead and apply! You've got nothing to lose.)
Hi, I'm Ann Kroeker
a writing coach ready to partner with you on this book proposal
You need more than just a template; you need a seasoned partner who understands the nuances of nonfiction writing, platform-building, and the path to getting an agent and a book deal.
A writing coach, author, speaker, and host of the top 1% "Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach" podcast, I leverage over three decades of experience in the writing and publishing world to support writers looking for input and confidence to advance their careers. My clients have achieved personal goals, landed contracts, hit bestseller lists, and won awards.
I've presented at conferences, retreats, and summits; coauthored On Being a Writer: 12 Simple Habits for a Writing Life That Lasts; and authored Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families and The Contemplative Mom.
My mission is to equip you with the clarity, confidence, and concrete deliverables you need to navigate the publishing landscape successfully. YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator isn't just a coaching program; it's my commitment to helping you build a sustainable, impactful author career that begins with crafting this compelling proposal.
Your Accelerator Experience with Me
You'll get all of the supporting coaching content (including the recorded template explanations, platform strategies, and craft training) along with, of course, the proven book proposal template, but at its heart, this is a 1:1 coaching program.
We'll meet up to 3x a month as needed to keep you on track with the proposal and platform goals, providing you with deadlines (you'll love deadlines, right?).
We'll work within your scheduling limitations, too, and interact asynchronously when life is less predictable or more scrunched. As you saw, you'll be able to leave me a message when you're free and I'll respond when I'm able to. You get it almost on-demand but without having to set aside a quiet space for a Zoom call.
When we are on Zoom calls or interacting asynchronously, feel free to keep it real. No need to look professional for our interactions—you can have your pets and kids in the background as long as it doesn't distract you.
We're teaming up to get this done and get it done well—the strongest platform, clearest writing, and most compelling proposal.
What clients have to say:
Twyla Franz
Only a few months into querying and pitching, I signed with an extraordinary agent.
"Only a few months into querying and pitching, I signed with an extraordinary agent. He read through my proposal and said I obviously knew what I was doing—there was next to nothing to change before sending it out. Ann's proposal program was incredibly helpful at setting everything up and helping me figure out exactly what to say and where. Ann is brilliant and one of the most generous people I’ve ever met. I'm so grateful to have Ann in my corner, helping me put together a rock-solid proposal, sharing her wisdom through countless brainstorming sessions, and believing in me the whole way."
TWYLA FRANZ
Author, Founder of The Uncommon Normal
Torrie Sorge
The first thing I tell beginning writers, hire a writing coach. Specifically, hire Ann!
"The first thing I tell beginning writers, hire a writing coach. Specifically, hire Ann! Next to my family, Ann has been my biggest cheerleader, encourager, and supporter. She enthusiastically champions my work and reminds me of my 'why' when I forget. She not only says my words matter and they have a place in the world, she whole-heartedly believes it. From providing practical writing coaching to teaching me about the publishing world to guiding me through the process of signing with my agent — Ann has been the single best investment in my writing journey."
Torrie Sorge
Author, Speaker
Mark Vroegop
If you are looking for help writing a book, she's amazing.
"Years ago, she said, 'You need to write this book.' Her skill and encouragement were vital to this project. If you are looking for help writing a book, she's amazing."
Mark Vroegop
Author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy and President of The Gospel Coalition
Eva Kubasiak
Working with Ann Kroeker has been the single most valuable addition to my writing life.
"Working with Ann Kroeker has been the single most valuable addition to my writing life. Not only are her courses packed with valuable information, but her heart for her clients and passion for helping them reach their writing goals shines through in everything she does. After working with Ann one-on-one, I had the skills and confidence I needed to clearly communicate my book idea through verbal and written communication with agents and publishers. I can't imagine going through the process of writing my book proposal and pitching without her!"
EVA KUBASIAK
Author
LORI ASHLEY TAYLOR
Her devotion...the trajectory for success
"Ann's guidance on developing a book proposal facilitated a dream come true with the launch of my first book with a mainstream publisher. There is no doubt that her devotion toward my growth as an author provided the trajectory for success."
LORI ASHLEY TAYLOR
Author, Dragonfly: A Daughter's Emergence from Autism...a practical guide for parents
Sara McElroy
Working with Ann is a true joy, and any writer would be lucky to have her in their corner.
"Ann's support and guidance has been invaluable to me on my journey to securing a literary agent and a traditional publishing book deal. Not only does her writing and publishing expertise run deep, but she is profoundly adept at understanding the needs of her writers and meeting them where they are. To me, that is the mark of a great coach. Some days, I needed her thought partnership and brilliant ideas; on others, I just needed cheerleading and, occasionally, even some tough love (which was always delivered with her signature warmth, of course!). Working with Ann is a true joy, and any writer would be lucky to have her in their corner."
Sara MCELROY
Perfect Off Paper
Here's the value you get with YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator...
INCLUDED FEATURES & ESTIMATED VALUE
TOTAL PROGRAM VALUE - $11,767
But you won't pay this amount; this reflects the combined professional market value of the services included.
Your total investment in YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator
(a $5,167 value adjustment compared to individual coaching services)
PAY IN FULL
$6600
Pay in full for a year of coaching
12 INSTALLMENTS
$550/mo
Billed $550/m for 12 months
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
I want to ensure that every writer who joins YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator is set up for maximum success and the application gives us both vital information. Please know I can't wait to read your application and hear about your writing project. Applying helps me learn more about you and your project (it might even help you start to articulate your idea!). After I review your submission (usually within 2 business days) I'll look at my openings and email you. If the application and availability align, I'll invite you to join me on a Zoom call so we can discuss aspects of the program and ensure you see clearly how I'll help you develop your proposal to be pitch ready. We'll determine your next steps so you can step forward with confidence on your publishing journey. If it's a good fit, I'll invite you to join!
I've set up the program as a year-long package with flexibility to allow for the unexpected. I recommend a pace to keep you on track, but you can move faster during some seasons when you have more time. All coaching sessions will be recorded and some of the training content is prerecorded for you to move through at a steady pace. Developing a powerful proposal, establishing the practice of writing, and building a growing platform will take time and commitment, but I believe you can do it in 12 months.
If you have reliable internet access, you can access everything from a browser. Here's what we'll use to stay connected throughout the year:
- Heartbeat.chat (an online learning platform) for recorded content (use in the browser or as mobile app)
- Zoom for coaching sessions
- Loom for replays (you don't need to download it; it's simply what I use to host video content)
- Google Docs as needed to share documents and comment on each other's work
- Email for reminders
- Optional: Voxer or the DMs in Heartbeat.chat to leave me audio or text messages 24/7 so I can get you quick answers without always needing to schedule a coaching call
That will be terrific! You can keep building your platform, because the bigger the platform, the bigger the deal, and you can continue testing ideas in the book. We can also move forward with crafting a query and creating a plan for researching and pitching agents.
I'd love to support you with this full program, because I believe it'll be coaching that prepares you for the best possible results. But it's a big investment, whether you choose pay-in-full or month-to-month installments. I hope the monthly installment plan works for you to invest in long-term coaching, so you get dedicated support for your publishing journey. To provide clients with the best outcomes possible, I no longer segment the program into only proposal development. I want you positioned for success and it's rarely enough to focus only on the document. I want to focus on you, the author, as much as the project, through this complete solution. Also, don't let this question hold you back from applying. Help me better understand your project as we look at your publishing path together.
YCBP originally focused only on the proposal document. Now it's a complete solution that prepares you for publishing. YCBP is now YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator because it's evolved to become a comprehensive, year-long, 1:1 coaching program that includes craft and platform training so clients position both themselves and their project in the best possible light. Decision-makers want to see a solid, growing presence already in place as well as a marketing plan with a "wow" factor (we want the marketing team to see your proposal and exclaim, "This author is going to do all of that?"). We want your hook to "pop" and your writing to "sing," and it takes time and individualized support to put all those pieces together. Too many clients have been in a rush to throw together their proposal and start querying agents without taking time to ensure they themselves are truly ready. I want you to have the best chance of hearing "yes" when you begin interacting with industry professionals and decision makers...so I created the best plan possible to get you ready.
As you reach and retain more and more of your ideal readers through the platform-coaching you'll get in YCBP, you'll be better and better poised to attract a decision-maker who sees what you bring to a publishing partnership. The bigger the platform, the better positioned you'll be to hear a "yes" when you meet with agents and acquisitions editors. And while I am connected to select industry gatekeepers, this program doesn't include or guarantee any introductions. It's a useful process for you to find agents yourself, as you'll sense when you've found a good fit. We can discuss query and pitch strategy on calls.
Yes, YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator is designed for authors of nonfiction. If you write fiction, I can point you to colleagues who coach novelists. And if you write memoir, well...let's talk.
Due to the high-touch nature of this coaching, which includes input on your written content, strategizing on Zoom calls, and brainstorming alongside you as you build out your project, you'll gain incredible insight and growth from the start. As a result, all purchases are final. I'm not able to offer refunds for unforeseen circumstances, such as scheduling conflicts or changing your mind. Please make sure you confirm your availability before committing. And with the 12-month container for this program, you'll find plenty of flexibility to complete your project even if life throws you a curve ball.
A note from Ann
As your coach for YCBP: The 12-Month Accelerator, I'm deeply committed to guiding you from your idea to a compelling, agent-ready proposal. This program is designed for authors like you who are ready for a year-long partnership focused on bringing your nonfiction book to life.
You'll have expert eyes on your project throughout the entire process. This means personalized feedback on your proposal drafts, sample chapters, platform content, and any writing exercises we undertake.
My passion is helping authors like you take the spark of an idea all the way to a ready-to-pitch project that truly shines. I've structured the program to provide precisely the kind of intensive support, accountability, and hands-on guidance that makes a tangible difference in achieving your author dreams.
I'm honored you're considering this journey, and I can't wait to partner with you to make your book a reality.
Your writing coach,
Ann