The big step in creating and sending in a book proposal is the outline or synopsis. While it doesn't have to be extremely detailed (mine rarely are), you do need to have an outline or synopsis to use for reference and for your proposal.

Once I've pitched my idea to my editor, this is the first thing she asks for. Send in an outline or a synopsis for the idea. Sounds easy enough, right? Until you realize that you're a seat-of-the-pants writer. Which is why I love my editor and publisher; they're very patient with me and have been wonderful about asking me to emphasize a specific part, or clarify a certain pivotal idea.

I don't do outlines. I have only done one outline; the rest have been synopsis'. I really enjoy brainstorming these, letting my brain and my characters have some fun showing me what they want to do. I usually have a few big scenes that flesh themselves out quite nicely while I do this.

Once I have my synopsis done, I send it in to my editor. She has been great, reading over it and asking me about certain aspects. From there, it gets passed up the chain. If they are interested in the story as the synopsis lays it out, my editor will let me know. If they aren't quite sure, or need for it to be a little more defined, again my editor will tell me and I'll work on tweaking the synopsis. Once it's all sorted out, I finally get the go ahead, and I'm off and writing!

My first book was a bit different, though it was a detailed synopsis. Since I had finished the book, I was able to create a nicely condensed synopsis that detailed the major happenings and defined the ending. With an incomplete story, it's not that simply, at least for me.

But however you write, with an outline, with a full synopsis, or with a sheet full of notes (which is my favorite way to write), the publisher will always want to see something that will tell them quickly how your story will read. It's an important part, and one that you should take the time to develop.