Your Career: How long will it take to get a book contract?

What to expect when you seek a scholarly publisher for your manuscript. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. What to expect when you seek a scholarly publisher for your manuscript The foundation of everything in scholarly publishing — including contracts — is review. Typically, an acquiring editor handles the entire process, from the initial evaluation of your proposal through peer review of your manuscript to submission of the final version for production. Having a full picture of the review process will help you understand the different points at which you might be offered a contract. There are, at base, three stages of review for every scholarly book project: - Internal review of the proposal. This is done — with or without sample chapters, per the guidelines on the publisher’s website — by the acquiring editor, possibly in consultation with press colleagues. - Peer review of the manuscript by external experts. Some presses send out book proposals for peer review. Others send out only full manuscripts. - Review by an editorial board. The board may simply approve the project without requiring further review; it may approve it on the condition that the revised manuscript be further reviewed. The board may also reject it, either outright or with an invitation to present it again later. When, during this multistep review process, will you get a contract? It varies. Some editors will offer you a contract based on your book proposal, and some will want to see a full manuscript. Still others will want the project to go through peer review before sending you a contract, and some will wait to make you an offer until after the press editorial board has officially approved the project. Continue reading: “[When Will I Get a Book Contract?]( by Rebecca Colesworthy Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Strategic-Leadership Program for Department Chairs | June 2024] [Join us in June]( for a professional development program tailored to the needs of department chairs. Experienced academic leaders will provide insights on the the current trends in higher ed, effective ways to manage a department, strategic planning, and more. [Register today!]( LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [After a Tough Year for Classroom Innovation, It’s Time for a Reset]( By Sarah Rose Cavanagh [STORY IMAGE]( How to better support instructors in the face of faculty backlash against the demands of student-centered teaching. SPONSOR CONTENT | St. Mary’s College of Maryland [SMCM Shares Insights on Blending Academic Excellence with Real-World Skills]( ADVICE [AI Detection Is a Business. But Should It Be Faculty Business?]( By José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson [STORY IMAGE]( How many false accusations of cheating are you and your institution willing to accept as collateral damage? FACULTY Q&A [‘Call the Philosophy Department Office and Tell Them I Have Been Arrested’]( By Nell Gluckman [STORY IMAGE]( An Emory professor who was arrested when the police broke up an encampment spoke to The Chronicle about what happened, and what it says about the state of higher education. ADVICE [How College Leaders Can Stand Up for DEI Workers and Programs]( By Kevin R. McClure and Kevin Gannon [STORY IMAGE]( Some of the most vulnerable employees at institutions are being hung out to dry. THE REVIEW | OPINION [College Presidents Behaving Badly]( By Thomas J. Sugrue [STORY IMAGE]( Calling the police doesn’t dampen protests. It accelerates them, often with devastating consequences. THE REVIEW | INTERVIEW [A Faculty Leader Sounds the Alarm About Higher Ed’s ‘Crisis of Repression’]( By Sammy Feldblum [STORY IMAGE]( An interview with Irene Mulvey, president of the AAUP, about recent campus crackdowns on protesters. FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Athletics Advantage - The Chronicle Store]( [The Athletics Advantage]( For tuition-driven institutions, sports are often a key recruiting tool. [Order this report]( for insights on how small colleges are using athletics to drive student enrollment, engagement, and retention. What we’re reading Here’s more on career issues and trends from around the web. See something we should include? [Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - On Slate, a podcast on [how to conduct interviews]( from “one of the great” interviewers. - [Advice]( in the Harvard Business Review on “how to present to an audience that knows more than you.” - In The Wall Street Journal, a [new survey of U.S. workers]( found that while “overall job satisfaction ticked up,” happiness with wages has dropped. MORE CAREER RESOURCES [Working Together to Improve the Institution]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: May 23, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. How can colleges succeed in challenging, hypercompetitive times? The answer may be cohesion and cooperation, says a new survey on shared governance. Join us to discuss it. With Support From Huron. [Register here.]( DATA [We Looked at How Campus Staff Salaries Have Changed Over Time. Where Does Your College Land?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Our analysis offers a sector-by-sector look at changes in average annual pay for workers in noninstructional jobs from 2012-13 to 2022-23. PAY UPDATE [How Much Has Faculty Pay Changed Over Time?]( By Brian O’Leary [STORY IMAGE]( See the latest federal data on compensation for all ranks of the profession at thousands of American colleges. ADVICE [Advice Finder]( [STORY IMAGE]( Want to advance your career? Improve your institution? Our academic experts have guidance for you, and we’ve made it easy to find. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Associate Dean & Head Of School]( University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee [Assistant Professor Sustainability & Environmental Change]( Towson University [Search other jobs.]( Stay ahead of the game and upload your resume to our job board. You'll be visible to hiring managers who are actively seeking top talent like you. [Upload your resume today](. NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037