My book is non-fiction and now that I've finished it I'm wondering in which format to send it to them - should I send a proposal or a synopsis? How long should it be? Advice gratefully received :)

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Well done on finishing!!!! Man, that's awesome work. =D Here's what you do next. Go to the largest library in the area, please. Look up the following: 1. The Writers Marketplace annual for your country. 2. A solid-looking book on writing book proposals. 3. Any books in the same area as your book. Now, do the following: 1. List all the agents and publishers you believe will accept your kind of work, based on what Writers Marketplace says. 2. Write a summary and query letter in accordance with the book proposal how-to. 3. Read any books in the same area as your book and write why your book is BOTH different AND better. This will become your concept and help you and your publisher develop a marketing plan. Finally, if you are not already considered an "expert" in your area, start volunteering yourself for small services which can build a reputation base, so you can sell your work later on successfully to radio stations, tv networks, readers. That's all you need to do!

There are a tiny number of publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts (those that don't go through a literary agent), so getting an agent is a really good idea. Visit http://www.agentquery.com or, at the library or bookstore, look for Bowker's Literary Marketplace, Writer's Market 2010 or Jeff Herman's Guide to Literary Agents. Look for agents that handle your genre, and are looking for new clients. Read, and follow, their submission guidelines. Those books will have something about writing a query letter, which is what you send to the agent first. It's part synopsis of your book, and part explanation as to why your book should be published. You have only that one-page letter to get the agent's attention, so take the time to make it a good one. Expect the whole process to take lots of time, and expect many rejections. When you are accepted by an agent, they will send your book to publishers, not you. Except for postage, the entire process of getting an agent is FREE, until your book is bought by a publisher. That is when the agent gets their cut, usually 15%, of the money that goes to you. Run away from any agent who asks for money upfront. Good luck!