INSTITUTIONAL WORKSHOPS FAQ
This page addresses frequently asked questions about institutional workshops run by Laura Portwood-Stacer of Manuscript Works.
Please direct all inquiries to Molly Grote at Molly_Grote@press.princeton.edu.
How long are your workshops?
I offer 90-minute workshops as well as half-day (3–4 hour) workshops. A 90-minute workshop includes one of the topics below. A half-day workshop includes two topics.
What topics are covered in your workshops?
The available workshop topics are described below. Each topic is self-contained; content from the different topics cannot be mixed and matched in a single presentation. If you would like me to cover more than one topic, please book a half-day workshop. If you would like me to cover more than two topics, you may request multiple workshops on separate days.
Topic 1: How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal
This workshop will acquaint prospective authors with the key components of the scholarly book proposal, highlight common mistakes that first-time (and experienced!) authors make, and offer concrete tips on how to make your proposal stand out in the sea of submissions at your dream publisher. Even if you have written successful book proposals before, you will learn new information to take your future projects to the next level. This workshop pairs well with all of the below topics.
Topic 2: How to Land a Scholarly Book Contract
This workshop will introduce scholars to the book publishing process and answer key questions that both new and experienced authors should be asking, such as how to find the right press for your current project, how to connect with editors, when is the ideal timing to submit a proposal, how to navigate submission to multiple publishers, and more. Scholars at every career stage are welcome. Recommended pairings: How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal; Surviving Peer Review; or Clarify Your Book Goals.
Topic 3: How to Publish a Book from Your Dissertation
This workshop for early career researchers and their mentors will cover how to effectively pitch a revised dissertation project for scholarly publishers. We will discuss what scholarly presses mean when they say that they don't publish dissertations and how to ensure that your submission materials address the major concerns publishers have when considering revised dissertations. We will also address the common advice to “write your dissertation as a book” and when you should start approaching publishers about your project. Recommended pairing with How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal; How to Revise a Book Manuscript for Publication; Clarify Your Book Goals; or How to Publish an Interdisciplinary Book.
Topic 4: How to Revise a Book Manuscript for Publication
This workshop will teach participants how book manuscripts move through the acquisition, peer review, and approval stages at scholarly publishers (such as university presses). It will also offer concrete revision strategies that result in greater success at each step of the publication process. Participants will learn about the four pillars of effective scholarly writing and leave with a time-tested method for improving their texts in progress and accomplishing their personal and professional goals. Scholars at every career stage are welcome. Recommended pairings: How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal; How to Publish a Book from Your Dissertation; Surviving Peer Review; or Clarify Your Book Goals.
Topic 5: Surviving Peer Review
This workshop aims to reduce the anxiety of peer review by demystifying the process and and giving participants practical tools to handle whatever arises. Participants will learn the major sticking points to be aware of before sending a manuscript out for review, how to suggest appropriate reviewers, and how to write a compelling response memo for publishers. Recommended pairings: How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal; How to Land a Scholarly Book Contract; or How to Revise a Book Manuscript for Publication.
Topic 6: Clarify Your Book Goals
This workshop teaches participants about the wide variety of personal and professional goals people try to meet by publishing scholarly books. Guided exercises will help participants identify their own needs and priorities and which publishers are best equipped to help them meet their goals. Participants will leave with a greater awareness of why they seek to publish a book and the steps they need to take to have a successful publishing experience. Recommended pairing: How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal; How to Land a Scholarly Book Contract; or How to Revise a Book Manuscript for Publication.
Topic 7: How to Publish an Interdisciplinary Book
This workshop will cover the unique challenges of writing and publishing interdisciplinary books and the importance of strategic framing in pitching an interdisciplinary project to scholarly publishers. Participants will be guided through hands-on exercises to help them gain a focused vision of who their book is for. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for identifying the best-fit presses and crafting a cohesive book proposal. Recommended pairing: How to Write an Outstanding Book Proposal; How to Land a Scholarly Book Contract; How to Publish a Book from Your Dissertation.
What is included your workshops?
All workshops include a live Zoom presentation (60 minutes per topic), interactive Q&A (30 minutes per topic), and a set of slides and handouts in PDF format. I will provide a link where attendees can download the slides and handouts.
I place no limit on the number of attendees, and institutions may record the workshop to be shared internally for up to 60 days.
Your institution is responsible for creating the Zoom event and registering attendees, providing accessible captions during the presentation, as well as making and distributing any recordings and transcripts you wish to provide.
One 30-minute planning meeting is included with your workshop booking. This is an opportunity for the workshop organizers to discuss logistics and publicity in advance of the workshop. The ideal timing for this meeting is at least 60 days before the workshop date.
Individual meetings with attendees and feedback on works in progress are not part of my workshop offerings. Individuals who are interested in these services are encouraged to check out my online programs. Institutions may purchase enrollments in these programs on behalf of their faculty if so desired. Such requests should go directly to Laura Portwood-Stacer.
Who can attend your workshops?
My workshops are appropriate for faculty and researchers at all career stages, as well as advanced graduate students. Attendees may be working on first or second books (or beyond). Even very experienced authors will learn something new from my workshops about current norms in scholarly publishing.
The workshop content is not specific to any particular field, so all book-writing scholars across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields are welcome.
My institutional workshops may be hosted by individual departments or units, multiple units across a university, or multiple campuses as part of a consortium of institutions. I ask only that registration be conducted privately and not made available to the general public. Institutions with budgetary limitations may inquire about the possibility of being paired with another institution for a joint workshop to be coordinated by PUP Speaks.
What days and times are your workshops held?
My available hours are generally 8:30am to 3:30pm Pacific time on weekdays, subject to calendar availability. In-person workshops and alternate days/times may be available upon request.
Do you have workshop descriptions, bio, and a headshot that can be used for publicity purposes?
The workshop topic descriptions above can be used in publicity materials. My headshot can be downloaded here (feel free to crop as needed). A full bio and brief bio appropriate for publicity materials and introductions can be found here.