How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022
How to find a publisher
How to write a book chapter or a book
Doing other writing for publication
Sometimes the publisher finds you. At companies publishing books in the sciences, editors keep track of science, for instance by attending scientific conferences. Thus, an editor may approach you about the possibility of writing a book. Make sure, though, that the publisher is legitimate, for example by ascertaining that it has published high-quality books in your field. Unfortunately, just as predatory journal publishers exist, so do predatory book publishers. They take authors’ money and do not produce a valid product—or any product at all.
If you are the one with the idea, see which publishers have published good books on topics related to yours. These publishers are most likely to accept your book. They also can best edit and produce your book and market it to the right audience. For scholarly or technical books in the sciences, university presses and commercial scientific publishers often prove most appropriate. Popular books in the sciences often are served well by commercial publishers that include such books among their specialties. Some university presses also excel at publishing science books for general readerships.
Whether the idea for the book is yours or a publisher’s, you generally must submit a proposal before receiving approval to prepare and submit the manuscript. Typically, the proposal includes an annotated table of contents, a description of the intended market for the book, a sample chapter, and your curriculum vitae or résumé. To help decide whether to accept the proposal, the publisher may send it for peer review. The publisher also will do a financial analysis; if the expected profits do not seem to justify the cost of producing the book, the publisher may decline the project even if it seems otherwise promising. However, sometimes another, perhaps more specialized publisher will accept the project. For example, sometimes a university press, not a commercial publisher, agrees to publish a book that is of scientific importance, but for which sales are expected to be low.
Book proposals, unlike scientific papers, may be submitted to more than one publisher at once. If, however, a proposal is being submitted simultaneously, the author should inform each publisher. For specialized scientific books, the author typically submits a proposal directly to the publisher. If, however, a book seems likely to sell very well, using an agent can be advisable.
If a proposal is accepted, the publisher is likely to offer the author an advance contract to sign. (Some publishers, however, do not generally offer a contract until the book manuscript is completed and accepted.) An advance contract, which typically runs several pages, usually specifies such items as length, the maximum number of figures and tables, the deadline, royalties paid to the author, electronic rights, and even film rights (not a likely concern, though, for most book authors in the sciences). Review the contract carefully. If modifications seem called for, work with the publisher to come to an agreement.
An advance contract is not a guarantee that the book will be published. It does indicate, however, that if you satisfactorily complete the manuscript, publication should proceed. In the sciences, unlike in fiction writing, you generally should have a contract before doing most of the work on a book.
Another option is to publish the book yourself—in print, online, or both. This option can have both pluses and minuses. On the plus side, you will retain full control of the project, including the schedule, content, editing, design, production, marketing, and price (if any). Also on the plus side, you will reap all of any profits made. The minuses are much the flip side of the pluses. You will not have the publisher’s services, such as editing, page design, cover design, and marketing (though you yourself can contract for these services, for example from companies that specialize in helping authors self-publish books). And you will bear all the expenses of producing, publicizing, and distributing the book. Academic and other libraries may be less likely to buy a self-published book than one from an established publisher, from which they may routinely purchase. Also, publication by a highly regarded publisher, especially after peer review, provides validation that self-publication lacks and so can aid more in career advancement.
A book is a major investment of time and effort. Take the time to reflect carefully on where and how you wish to publish.