How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

How to participate in the publication process
How to write a book chapter or a book
Doing other writing for publication

At the publishing company, the proposal for a new book typically goes to an editor in charge of obtaining new manuscripts in your field. This editor, often called an acquisitions editor, oversees the review of your proposal, answers questions you may have while preparing the manuscript, and supervises the review of your manuscript. Once your manuscript is accepted, responsibility commonly moves to another editor, sometimes called a production editor, who coordinates the editing of the manuscript and other aspects of the conversion of your manuscript into a book.

Open communication with the editors facilitates publication. If, as you prepare the manuscript, you have questions about format, permissions, potential changes in content, or other matters, ask the acquisitions editor. Getting the answer now may save much time later. If you fall behind and might not be able to meet any of your deadlines, inform the acquisitions editor promptly so that, if necessary, plans can be revised. Similarly, if at times during the editing and production phase you will not be available to review materials or answer questions, inform the production editor so that schedules can be designed or adjusted accordingly.

Book manuscripts in the sciences, like scientific papers, commonly undergo peer review. Your editor may do a preliminary assessment to determine whether the manuscript is ready for peer review or whether revisions are needed first. Once the manuscript is ready for peer review, you may be able to help the editor by suggesting experts in your field to consider including among the reviewers. After peer review is complete, the publisher will decide how to proceed. At a university press, a committee of faculty members is likely to advise the publisher in this regard.

(Rachel Doll, University Press of Florida)

For a book manuscript, as for a scientific paper, any of four decisions may be reached. Commonly, the manuscript will be accepted, but some revisions will be required. Occasionally, the manuscript will be accepted without revisions. Sometimes, if the manuscript needs major revision, the author will be asked to revise it and submit it for reevaluation. And sometimes, if a manuscript has fallen far short of its seeming potential, it will not be accepted.

In the likely instance that some revisions are required, the editor will indicate how to proceed. Commonly, you will receive peer reviewers’ suggestions. You also should receive guidance from the editor—for example, regarding which suggestions are important to follow and which are optional, or what to do about contradictory advice from different reviewers. The editor will also work with you to determine a timetable for completing the revisions.

Once your manuscript is successfully revised, the book will enter production. In this phase, a copy editor will edit the manuscript, a designer will design the book, and ultimately, the book will go to the printer. Your manuscript probably will go to a freelance copy editor who specializes in editing book manuscripts in your field. Because such individuals know your field and the conventions in it, they can edit your manuscript more appropriately than general copy editors could.

Your communication with the copy editor is likely to go through the production editor coordinating publication of your book. You will receive the edited manuscript for review, as well as any queries (questions) the copy editor might have, such as about points that seem inconsistent or otherwise in need of clarification. Check the edited manuscript in the time allotted; if inaccuracies or other problems have been introduced, correct them. Answer any queries so that necessary changes can be made.

In addition to receiving the edited manuscript to check, you will later receive page proofs—that is, copies of the draft pages of the book. Review the page proofs promptly but thoroughly. Make sure that nothing has been omitted, all corrections of the edited manuscript were entered accurately, and all photographs and other illustrations are included and correctly oriented. Limit your changes, however, to those that are necessary. Now is not the time for rewriting.

For many books in the sciences, a good index is crucial. Once the page proofs are ready, and thus one can see what information will appear on what page, an index can be prepared. Some authors prepare the indexes for their books themselves. Others, however, use professional indexers. Indexing is a highly skilled craft, and often a professional indexer can prepare a more useful index than the author could. A professional indexer also is likely to prepare the index more efficiently. If your book will be professionally indexed, your publisher should be able to identify and hire a suitably qualified indexer. In some cases, the contract for your book may indicate that the publisher will pay for indexing. If you are to pay, the publisher may deduct the sum from your book royalties rather than ask you to pay directly. In any case, the money is likely to be well spent.