Publishing a book can be a long, exhausting process; it can also be intimidating if you don’t know what to expect or even how to start. This guide can help! First, it explains how to prepare a book proposal and approach potential publishers. Then, it describes the peer review process and offers suggestions for navigating it successfully. It explains a book publishing contract. Finally, it points to resources for effectively marketing a scholarly book.

*Note: The information in this library guide applies to scholarly books, which are generally defined as:

• nonfiction
• based on research
• use citations or data to support claims
• author (or authors) has credentials, such as experience, an academic degree, a reputation in the specific field

If you would like assistance with another type of book (e.g., popular nonfiction, textbook), please consult the Scholarly Communications Librarian.

Begin by identifying your goals, then keep them in mind as you craft your proposal and contact potential publishers.

What are your goals? How will publishing this research project as a book advance those goals?

• Career goals (e.g., tenure/promotion, reputation-building, positioning for the job market)

• Research goals (immediate and long-term)

• Specific goals for this book (e.g., audience, message, purpose)

When is the right time to write your proposal and approach publishers? If you want to maximize the probability that your proposal will be accepted by a top-notch publisher, you should wait until you can produce a table of contents with a summary of each chapter, a solid introduction to the book, and at least one sample chapter demonstrating the quality of your research. You should also be confident that you can complete the manuscript within 18-24 months.