- A project abstract of no more than 150 words
- A list of keywords for the book.
- A description of the manuscript, including:
- The argument of your book and what makes it unique
- A description of the unique research that has gone into the project
- Level of readership or audience
- Discipline(s)
- A table of contents, including a detailed outline that describes the content of each chapter.
- The total projected length of the manuscript in number of words.
- A list of the number and type of figures, tables, photographs, maps and other illustrations, including any special design considerations.
- Delivery information:
- Note on availability of sample chapters or whole manuscript for review
- Projected completion date
- Word processing system used
- Author information: Your curriculum vitae, including details of your professional standing, previous books, and other relevant publications, and your preferred pronouns.
- Author platform and marketing plan: Describe your existing platform as an authority on your topic and your ideas for promoting your work to potential readers:
- Have you been interviewed by the media? Do you have contacts in the media?
- Have you had any op-eds published?
- Which social media platforms do you actively use, and how many followers do you have?
- Have you given a book talk for a previous work? If so, which bookstores or organizations hosted you?
- Are you a member of an organization that will help promote the book, buy the book, or host you for an author event?
- Do you plan to hire a publicist?
- Do you belong to a speaker’s bureau?
- Suggested readers, including those who might have already read the manuscript. Please indicate which suggested reviewers have already seen the manuscript.
- Other comments that reveal different, original, or interesting aspects of your project.
- A list of 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? If your book has course adoption potential, how will it better meet the needs of instructors than the alternatives?
- What unique approach(es) to the subject have you taken?
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 sample chapters, with a strong focus on the chosen market, from the author):
- 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, nonmajors, or both?
- What developments (e.g., changes in course content) are likely to affect the preparation and marketing of the book?
- Pedagogy: Do you plan to use a special pedagogy for this book? Describe its rationale, implementation, and competitive advantages.