Bringing a book into the world requires both vision and a plan. The proposal is where those meet—a living document that serves as the book’s blueprint, strategy, and invitation to publishers. While many writers find them challenging, they are actually a gift to help you refine and articulate the essence and urgency of your work.

This three-part virtual workshop with with literary agent, Wave Literary Agency founder, and bestselling author Rachel Neumann is designed to support nonfiction writers in transforming their ideas and their work into compelling, publishable proposals, with expert support and in a community of values-aligned writers.  

Workshop Overview

Across three 2-hour sessions, participants will gain a deep understanding of what makes a powerful nonfiction book proposal and how to position their work in today’s publishing landscape. Each session will focus on a part of the proposal and blends teaching, discussion, and hands-on workshopping, with opportunities for feedback.

Participants will leave with a strong first draft of their proposal and a clearer sense of how to move forward toward agents, publishers, or continued development. 

Sessions will take place on 3 Tuesdays in May (12th, 19th, 26th) from 4-6pm PST.

Sliding scale: $300 for Mesa Refuge alums, $325-$350 for general public. Limited to 25 participants. Please reach out to nkansky@mesarefuge.org if the cost of the workshop is prohibitive to your participation.

Cancellation Policy: In order to receive a partial refund (a $15 admin fee is deducted from your payment), we require 7 days notice. 

Session Breakdown

Session 1: The Architecture of a Winning Proposal – May 12, 2026, 4-6pm PST

• What agents and editors are really looking for
  
• The essential components of a nonfiction proposal (overview, platform, chapter outline, sample chapter)
  
• Understanding the marketplace and positioning your book
  
• Identifying your Keynote, core idea, audience, and narrative stakes
  

Outcome: A concise keynote and an understanding of all the proposal elements.

Session 2: The Arc of Your Story – May 19, 2026, 4-6pm PST

• Crafting a compelling overview that captures voice, authority, and urgency
  
• Building a strong chapter outline and narrative arc
  
• Writing (or refining) your sample chapter
  
• Small-group breakout sessions for feedback and accountability

Outcome: Understanding of how to outline/arc 

Session 3:  Positioning & The Path to Publication – May 26, 4-6pm PST

• Positioning and Comps: Your space in the universe
  
• How to find and approach the right literary agent
  
• Query letters and submission strategy
  
• Understanding the agent-author relationship and next steps
  

Outcome: Clear next steps to refine and build your proposal

Rachel Neumann is the President of Wave Literary, a full-service leading literary agency developing the books we need for the world we want She teaches narrative healing and writing courses and retreats, and provides mentoring for new authors on their journey to publishing. Rachel is also an award-winning author of four books, including Not Quite Nirvana and I Am Home: Portraits of Immigrant Teenagers. Her latest book, How to Start a Fire: A Story of Loss, Love, and Revolution, shares lessons from her life growing up on a remote rural commune and in Oakland, as well as her experiences in the middle of revolutions around the world. Her work has appeared in New York Times, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, The Nation, and Dissent Magazine, among many others. She has midwifed over 100 books, including two dozen New York Times bestsellers and for over a decade was the publisher and personal editor for Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a 2024 Mesa Refuge alum and co-chair of Mesa Refuge’s Board of Directors.