Submitting Your Proposal

Blackwell Publishing welcomes inquiries from all prospective authors. To help us reach a publishing decision, please submit the following: 

•     A cover letter providing an address, phone number, e-mail, and fax number where you can be reached.

•     A preface explaining all the major reasons why someone would want to buy and use your book.

•     A prospectus briefly summarizing the contents of the manuscript, its intended purpose, its distinguishing features, its estimated length (in words, manuscript pages, or final printed pages), competing works, and potential market.

•     An outline of proposed contents.

and, if available,  

•     A list of potential contributors

•     A sample chapter or two, or

•     Two original copies of the manuscript, complete with supporting material (bibliographies, notes, copies of illustrations, etc.). The author should retain an original copy of the work (and the computer files) as a safeguard. 

Even if you have already prepared a complete or partial manuscript, submitting a preface and prospectus that satisfy the following guidelines will enable us to arrive at a publishing decision in the shortest possible time. 

Preface. The preface should be a polished piece of writing that explains all the major reasons why someone would want to buy and keep your book for future reference. Written for the reader of the proposed book—not the publisher—the preface should include the following elements:

·         A first paragraph that describes the book. It should clearly state what the book is about. The first sentence of this paragraph may begin, "This book is about…"

·         A description of your target audience: Who is this book written for?  If this is a textbook you may wish to consider having a two part preface “To the Instructor” and “To the Student” customizing the information relevant to the below issues as appropriate for these two audiences.

·         Prerequisites: What information/experience does the reader need to bring to your book in order to fully understand and benefit from the information contained in it?

·         Explanation of your approach: What will your general strategy be for covering the subject matter? Discuss any unique organizational elements. What are the merits of this approach?  Can the reader take alternative pathways through the material?  If so, what are they?  Are there any chapter or sectional dependencies that the reader should be aware of?  If there are many paths or alternative approaches consider using a diagram to illustrate them.

·         Scope of coverage: Describe the range of information covered in your book. If you have omitted customary topics or included material that might be unusual, new or at variance with other books on this topic explain the value of these omissions or inclusions to the reader.

·         Listing of features: What are the primary features (factual) of your book? Examples of factual features include: Scope of coverage, approach to the material, currency of topics, case studies, pedagogical devices, number of problems/examples, supplements etc.  It is often useful to list each item and provide some descriptive text.

·         Benefit to the reader: What knowledge/skills/benefits will the reader gain from your book?  These can be merged with the feature listings, but be explicit in the value delivered.  “Contains 10 case studies” is insufficient. “Contains 10 case studies drawn from well-known studies clearly illustrating the pitfalls to avoid when implementing technology X” is far better.

·         Supplements:  Describe what is available and who can access it (instructors only/students/general public) and how/where can it be found.   

Prospectus. The prospectus should cover the following points as briefly as possible: 

•     Purpose: Tell the aim of and need for the book.

•     Audience: List what levels (titles) of people are the likely readers.

•     Market: Approximate the number and types of potential buyers and the means and media (publications) that can be used to reach them. For textbooks, include course offerings and enrollment figures; for reference works, explore industry demand.

•     Format: Estimate of the number of manuscript pages, the number and kind of figures (line drawings, photos) and tables, and how much time you will take to prepare the proposed book.

•     About the Author(s): Include a biographical sketch covering employment, professional accomplishments, and any other information that establishes your credentials as an authority on the subject matter, including vita. Include the same information on contributing authors (if any).

•     Competitive Books: Identify specific books that would compete (to some degree) with your book, and indicate the advantages of yours.  

•     Potential Reviewers: We will send your materials to experts in the field for their comments and analysis. Provide the names, credentials, and contact information of a few people whose input would be beneficial.

Outline. The chapter outline should include a list of all chapters and indicate what the reader can expect to learn in each section, e.g., "How to Evaluate Financial Measures," "10 Key Variables of Effective Crop Rotation," and so on. For each chapter, prepare an introduction of 75-150 words. These introductions should be written for the reader and should approximate the kind of introduction that you might expect to have in the published book. Here again, the introductions should tell the readers of the benefits they will derive and should provide road maps for the chapters. A sample chapter is helpful, but optional, at this stage.

Decision to Publish

The commissioning editor will review the proposal and obtain expert reviews that evaluate the proposed content of the book. Reviews may take six weeks or more, but will help to shape or refine the project.

The decision to publish rests largely on the answers to these questions:

·         Is this manuscript or proposed manuscript a good fit for the publishing program of Blackwell Publishing?

·         Is there a significant need for a book on this topic?

·         Does this manuscript/proposal adequately address that need?

·         Can it be produced at a cost that ensures a competitive price in the marketplace?

Based on a positive response to these questions, the commissioning editor presents the

project to fellow members of the in-house publishing committee. This important step

involves a marketing and financial evaluation of the project. The outcome of this

meeting is a formal decision to publish or to decline.

The Contract

A contract may be offered as soon as a commissioning editor is certain of the decision to publish. Royalties (author’s compensation) are based on the type of book, production costs, and estimated sales. They are generally a percentage of the net sales of the book (total dollars received). Commissioning editors will point out any special circumstances that the contract must address. Authors are encouraged to carefully review the contract and note all obligations and financial arrangements.

Once all parties have signed the contract, authors will receive a copy for their records. The contract is a legally binding document that seals both the author’s and the publisher’s commitment to the project. The manuscript delivery date will be stated in the contract and Acquisitions Department personnel will provide reminders of the need for timely submission of the final manuscript.