Your Career: How to start networking with book editors

What to do, and not do, in your quest to publish your scholarly book. 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 do, and not do, in your quest to publish your scholarly book If you’re working on a manuscript, you will need, at some point, to reach out to an editor. That may mean pitching your project at a conference or submitting a proposal “over the transom.” In reaching out to book editors, there are some things that you should do (read up on presses), some that you can but don’t need to do (talk directly with an editor), and some that you will have to do to get published (send a book proposal). Graduate school trains you to find a “hole” in the scholarship and assert the novelty of your claims and contributions. But what editors at scholarly publishers look for are “fit,” “idea,” and “topic.” And what makes an idea or a topic a strong fit is shaped by many factors, including the particular editor’s: - Areas of acquisition and established strengths. - Sense of a book’s market and of how well-poised the author and press are to reach it. - Current projects. - Perspectives and goals for the lists under their purview. Fit is mutual. Before approaching editors, the first step is to do some research to identify publishers that you think might be a good match for you and your manuscript. The Association of University Presses offers a [subject-area grid]( indicating the different fields in which its member presses publish, along with some other resources. In addition, to get a more detailed picture of their various strengths and foci, it’s always good to spend time on their websites, perusing new and recent titles. Some also include editor bios or vision statements to let you know what they’re looking for. Continue reading: “[How to Approach a Book Editor]( 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](. ADVERTISEMENT SPECIAL OFFER FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for less than $20 and get unlimited access to essential reporting, data, and analysis. And as a special bonus, you'll get the 2024 Trends Report, our annual issue on the major trends shaping higher education — coming in March. NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [Dos and Don’ts of Creating Your CV]( By Jennifer S. Furlong and Stacy M. Hartman [STORY IMAGE]( Answers to common questions of early-career academics on this all-important job document. ADVERTISEMENT DATA [This Is Where New Ph.D.s Find Jobs]( By Audrey Williams June [STORY IMAGE]( Increasingly, those jobs are in industry. RATINGS REVAMP [Teaching Evaluations Are Broken. Can They Be Fixed?]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( Superficial assessments hurt professors and students, but reform is hard. ADVICE [Can a President Have Friends on the Campus?]( By Melody Rose and Patrick Sharry [STORY IMAGE]( Newcomers to a top leadership post aren’t prepared for the loneliness of the role. THE REVIEW | ESSAY [The Hyperbolic Style in American Academe]( By Len Gutkin [STORY IMAGE]( How paranoid accusations of “violence” became all the rage. 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[Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - On The Conversation, [a report]( on bullying in the workplace offers advice on “how to recognize and deal with it.” - The Wall Street Journal [takes a look]( at Sweden’s “secret to happiness at work:" a collective coffee break once or twice a day. - [Advice]( in the Harvard Business Review on three “types of overthinking, and how to overcome them.” MORE CAREER RESOURCES [Managing the Hybrid Work Force]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: February 15, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. Academic leaders face many challenges in a hybrid workplace, including communicating with staffs as tasks shift under AI and other emerging tech. Join us to learn more from a Chronicle survey. With Support From HP. [Register here.]( [Creating Summer-Bridge Programs]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: February 13, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. The summer before students start college is an ideal time to lay foundations for their success. Many colleges have programs to help. Join us to explore how they work best. With Support From Mongoose. [Register here.]( 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. POLITICS AND RACE [DEI Legislation Tracker]( By Chronicle Staff [STORY IMAGE]( Legislators, mostly Republicans, want to get rid of diversity, equity, and inclusion offices; end anti-bias trainings; and banish diversity statements. Upcoming Workshop [The Chronicle's Crash Course in Academic Leadership | Practical Tools for the 'Admin-Curious'] [Join us this winter]( for a virtual professional development program on preparing for a transition into the academic administration. This four-hour workshop will provide key insights for new and aspiring academic administrators on the inner workings of taking on a new role—from application all the way through the transition. 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