The book proposal book: A GUIDE FOR SCHOLARLY AUTHORS

"There is so much in this little book to recommend to the bewildered or intimidated potential author that it is hard to imagine navigating the territory of scholarly publishing without it. . . . In crafting this guide for authors, Portwood-Stacer has done a tremendous service for both the academy and for the community of scholarly publishers."—Gregory M. Britton, editorial director of Johns Hopkins University Press

“Laura Portwood-Stacer brings great knowledge, clarity, and compassion to the project of coaching scholars through the book submission process. The result is much more than an exceptional guide to writing a book proposal. It’s a window into the entire publishing process, with advice for authors heading into the labyrinth for the first time, or the tenth. I have added this book to a very short list of titles that I regularly recommend to authors, and I know that many other editors will do the same.”—Gita Manaktala, editorial director of The MIT Press

“Following Portwood-Stacer’s advice will not only create a better book proposal; it will create a better book.”—Beth Luey, author of Handbook for Academic Authors

 
 
The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Authors, by Laura Portwood-Stacer

A step-by-step guide to crafting a compelling scholarly book proposal—and seeing your book through to successful publication

The scholarly book proposal may be academia’s most mysterious genre. You have to write one to get published, but most scholars receive no training on how to do so—and you may have never even seen a proposal before you’re expected to produce your own. The Book Proposal Book cuts through the mystery and guides prospective authors step by step through the process of crafting a compelling proposal and pitching it to university presses and other academic publishers.

Laura Portwood-Stacer, an experienced developmental editor and publishing consultant for academic authors, shows how to select the right presses to target, identify audiences and competing titles, and write a project description that will grab the attention of editors—breaking the entire process into discrete, manageable tasks. The book features over fifty time-tested tips to make your proposal stand out; sample prospectuses, a letter of inquiry, and a response to reader reports from real authors; optional worksheets and checklists; answers to dozens of the most common questions about the scholarly publishing process; and much, much more.

Whether you’re hoping to publish your first book or you’re a seasoned author with an unfinished proposal languishing on your hard drive, The Book Proposal Book provides honest, empathetic, and invaluable advice on how to overcome common sticking points and get your book published. It also shows why, far from being merely a hurdle to clear, a well-conceived proposal can help lead to an outstanding book.

 
 
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