Getting It Published: A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious about Serious Books (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)

Writers and publishers depend on one another, but it often seems as if they speak two different languages. Getting It Published is a lively, insider's guide to academic publishing—a book that will tell you not only how publishing works, but how you can make it work for you. Written by a veteran editor with experience in both the university press and commercial worlds, the book fields the big questions in a scholar's life. Why do editors choose some books and decline others? How does a writer decide where to submit a project? How does the review process work, and why is it necessary? What can an author expect from a publishing house—before, during, and after publication? William Germano answers these questions and more, and along the way, offers encouragement, tips, and warnings. This savvy guide unravels the mysteries of publishing and walks you through the process from start to finish. You'll learn how to think about your book before you submit it and what you need to know about your contract. With wit and humor, Germano also addresses some of the finer points of publishing etiquette, including how—and how not—to approach a busy editor and how to work with other publishing professionals on matters of design, marketing, and publicity. Graduate students, recent Ph.D.'s, and experienced authors alike will appreciate the chapters on "Quotations, Pictures, and Other Headaches" and on compiling and editing collections and anthologies. "Scholarly publishing is a big, noisy, conversation about the ideas that shape our world," Germano writes, "Here's how to make your book part of that conversation."> Since 2001 William Germano's Getting It Published has helped thousands of scholars develop a compelling book proposal, find the right academic publisher, evaluate a contract, handle the review process, and, finally, emerge as published authors.But a lot has changed in the past seven years. With the publishing world both more competitive and more confusing—especially given the increased availability of electronic resources—this second edition of Germano's best-selling guide has arrived at just the right moment. As he writes in a new chapter, the "via electronica" now touches every aspect of writing and publishing. And although scholars now research, write, and gain tenure in a digital world, they must continue to ensure that their work meets the requirements of their institutions and the needs of their readers. Germano, a veteran editor with experience in both the university press and commercial worlds, knows this audience. This second edition will teach readers how to think about, describe, and pitch their manuscripts before they submit them. They'll discover the finer points of publishing etiquette, including how to approach a busy editor and how to work with other publishing professionals on matters of design, marketing, and publicity. In a new afterword, they'll also find helpful advice on what they can—and must—do to promote their work. A true insider's guide to academic publishing, the second edition of Getting It Published will help authors understand what to expect from the publishing process, from manuscript to finished book and beyond. Writers And Publishers Depend On One Another, But It Often Seems As If They Speak Two Different Languages. Getting It Published Is A Lively, Insider's Guide To Academic Publishing - A Book That Will Tell You Not Only How Publishing Works, But How You Can Make It Work For You. Written By A Veteran Editor With Experience In Both The University Press And Commercial Worlds, The Book Fields The Big Questions In A Scholar's Life. Why Do Editors Choose Some Books And Decline Others? How Does A Writer Decide Where To Submit A Project? How Does The Review Process Work, And Why Is It Necessary? What Can An Author Expect From A Publishing House - Before, During, And After Publication? William Germano Answers These Questions And More, And Along The Way, Offers Encouragement, Tips, And Warnings.--jacket. Introduction -- What Do Publishers Do? -- Writing The Manuscript -- Selecting A Publisher -- Your Proposal -- What Editors Look For -- Surviving The Review Process -- What A Contract Means -- Collections And Anthologies -- Quotations, Pictures, And Other Headaches -- How To Deliver A Manuscript -- And Then What Happens To It -- This Book - And The Next. William Germano. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 193) And Index. Machine generated contents note: Preface Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. What Do Publishers Do? 3. Writing the Manuscript 4. Selecting a Publisher 5. Your Proposal 6. What Editors Look For 7. Surviving the Review Process 8. What a Contract Means 9. Collections and Anthologies 10. Quotations, Pictures, and Other Headaches 11. How to Deliver a Manuscript 12. And Then What Happens to It 13. This Book-And the Next For Further Reading Index. Why do some editors choose some books and decline others? How does a writer decide where to submit a project? How does the review process work? William Germano, a veteran editor, answers these questions and more, offering encouragement, tips and warnings along the way.