Writing for publication PG Summer School , July 2011

1. Writing for publicationPG Summer School , July 2011 Allison James

2. Books • What do publishers want? • to make money • publishers are not altruistic! • What do you want ? • to get published for your career • i.e. different aims & objectives • ………Need to find a balance….

3. Which publisher? • Look at book catalogues to see what kinds of titles are published • Look at book reviews to see who publishers what • Can’t just turn PhD into a book • PhDs and books are rarely the same • Monograph • Methods focused book • Theory focused book • Need to find a frame for your book that fits publishers list

4. Publication process • Choose a publisher • Find out commissioning editor • What lists are they responsible for? • Send out a feeler? • Submit a proposal • Wait for the reviews ……… • Be prepared to re-write the proposal to fit publisher’s demands! • Wait for a decision – commissioning editor has to take it forward on your behalf……… • Wait for a contract……

5. Book proposal from Palgrave series • Title • Brief description • Include here a description of what makes your project distinctive. What are the particular benefits offered by its content, scope, organisation and/or educational features? What needs does it aim to satisfy? • Content • Please attach a chapter by chapter synopsis of the project’s planned content and main argument(s). We appreciate that this is bound to be provisional in some respects but in order to make a fair assessment of the project’s potential, your initial presentation needs to be as detailed as possible (we would therefore suggest at least half a page per chapter). If you have some sample material available, we would be pleased to consider this as well.

6. Market • Most important section • Please indicate the primary market for your project - i.e. where it is going to sell in greatest numbers - and your best estimate of its size. If it is a textbook for students, what specific courses is it written for and at what level (1st/2nd/3rd year undergraduate, MA/MSc)? Are such courses normally compulsory or optional? What are typical student numbers? Would your project be suitable for the whole, or just part, of the course?

7. Competition • Please list (including author, title and publisher) those publications that your project will be competing with for the end purchaser’s attention and money. These might not be direct competitors, but simply what your primary readership is buying/using at the moment. What are the key benefits of your project over and above these other publications that would persuade potential customers to buy it?

8. Chapters in edited collections • Editors will have been through same process/ or are going to go through this process! • Will have a brief to which they expect you to write your chapter • Edited collections have to be purposive and have a theme that unites the chapters

9. Articles in journals • Chapters of thesis may be suitable • Research excellence framework means you need some articles in your cv! • Journals • Different target audiences • Academic journals or professional journals? • Different conventions, writing styles, word lengths, referencing systems etc… • Read previous issues to choose which journal • Check journal policy – house style and author notes

10. Submission • Only one journal at a time • Correct number of copies • On-line submission • Anonymise text • Cover sheet • Abstract & key words • Check word length

11. Refereeing process • Journal receive article • Editor sends out for review – at least 2 reviewers… • Editor and author wait….. • Editor receives review – two kinds of comments – • for editor and or author • Editor sends author’s comments to author

13. Outcomes • Accept • Minor revisions • resubmit • Major revisions • resubmit • Reject • ………..all takes time!

14. Preparation for writing • Be organised – plan your writing • Outline structure and argument • Clear introduction – nature and purpose of article • Make use of headings and sub-headings • References – follow house style and be accurate! • Grammar checks and spell checks beware! • Ask for advice & take it

15. Key to successful publication? • Content • Is it interesting • Does it say something new and worth saying? • Is there sufficient evidence? • Is it readable? • Structure • Does my argument flow? • Does it make sense • Does it tell a convincing story? • If I repeat myself, is the repetition effective or simply repetitive! • Editing…… • Proof reading…….

16. Editing task: • Read section of text • Note mistakes • Compare notes & discuss with your neighbour • Read correct version and see what you may have missed

17. Writing for publication • Is what academics do! • Write to disseminate research & advance knowledge and ideas • Different audiences for our writing require different types of writing • All publications are refereed • Referees’ comments can differ! Subjective process • All takes a long time – 2-3 years for a book, can be a year for an article • All academics get rejected at some time • Need to learn from our mistakes and accept criticism