You can, and many authors do, often simply because they are unaware of the benefits of developing a book proposal first. While it is not always the most strategic approach, it can certainly work.
That said, book proposals are excellent planning tools, and in most cases we recommend developing your proposal before writing the full manuscript. A strong proposal helps you:
- Clarify and refine your concept
- Test market viability
- Attract literary agents or publishers before investing significant time in a full manuscript written on spec
- Evaluate the business case for your book and identify key questions that can guide the manuscript’s development
Many authors find that working from a proposal first results in a stronger, more focused, and more market-ready book.