Submitting a Proposal

Please check with us before sending a complete manuscript, since unsolicited submissions are not returned. We do not publish poetry, fiction, memoirs, or children's books, nor do we publish Festschriften, symposium proceedings, or unrevised dissertations. For more information please contact:

For Bioethics, Religion & Politics, and Religion & Ethics:
Richard Brown, reb7@georgetown.edu

For Languages and Linguistics:
Gail Grella, grellag1@georgetown.edu

For International Affairs, Human Rights, Public Policy, and Public Management:
Donald Jacobs, dpj5@georgetown.edu

Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
Fax: 202-687-6340

Your cover letter and prospectus should contain the following:

1. A description of the manuscript, including:
  • The argument of your book and what makes it unique
  • Level of readership or audience
  • Discipline(s)
  • Comparison/contrast with competing titles

    2. Table of contents, with (for each chapter) details of contents and length. Total projected length.

    3. Description of special features:
  • The number and type of illustrations, photographs, tables, maps, glossary, appendices, etc.
  • Whether they will require any special design considerations

    4. Delivery information:
  • Note on availability of sample chapters or whole manuscript for review
  • Projected completion date
  • Word processing system used

    5. Author information: Your curriculum vitae, including details of your professional standing, previous books, and other relevant publications.

    6. Suggested readers, including those who might have already read the manuscript.

    7. Other comments that reveal different, original, or interesting aspects of your project.

    If your book is to be used as a textbook

    Please also answer the following questions and submit one or more sample chapters, along with a sample of any artwork to be included: (We can often reach a publishing decision about a project on the basis of a complete proposal, with a strong focus on the chosen market, from the author.)

    8. What market do you intend to reach?
  • What courses are likely to use the book? Will it be used as a main or supplemental text?
  • Will the courses require prerequisites?
  • What would the estimated enrollment likely be for these courses? How frequently are they offered?
  • What is the education level of the audience (e.g. college juniors and seniors, graduate students)? Will the course be taken by majors, non-majors, or both?
  • What developments (e.g. changes in course content) are likely to affect the preparation and marketing of the book?

    9. Competing works:
  • What books will compete with the proposed book?
  • Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the competition.
  • How will your book differ in content? How will it better meet the needs of instructors than the alternatives?
  • What unique approache(s) to the subject that you have taken?

    10. Pedagogy: Do you plan to use a special pedagogy for this book? Describe its rationale, implementation, and competitive advantages.
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