Any helpful pointers?

[teen-writer]

My friend and I are starting a narrative non-fiction book together. I know close to nothing about the non-fiction market. I'm going to look into it in greater depth, but does anybody have any helpful pointers?

For example, with non-fiction, can't you get an agent before you've even written the whole book?

[newday11]

  Teen-writer, I LOL every time I see your cat face. I do narrative non-fiction. Emphasis should be on why you are specially qualified to write your book; show a strong platform. You can get an agent based on a proposal before the book is finished. A typical proposal is divided into:
1.   Cover
2.   One Paragraph Description
3.   Overview
4.   Market Analysis
5.   Competing Books
6.   Bio
7.   Table of Contents
8.   Narrative Description of Each Chapter
9.   Sample Chapters
newday11

[archetype]

Teen Writer, get a copy of Jeff Herman's Write the Perfect Book Proposal and Larsen's How to Write a Book Proposal.  They'll get you on the right track!

[teen-writer]

Thanks!!!!

Once school gets easier (second semester senior year!!), I'll read one of those books and my friend will read the other.