Writing a Proposal for Routledge Studies in Critical Realism
Routledge work closely with the Centre for Critical Realism (CCR) to encourage new and high quality publications to the Routledge Critical Realism series (which already has over fifty works to its name). The process for getting a book published in the Routledge Critical Realism Series is a straightforward one, with a number of important stages:
1) Initial enquiries
If you are in the early stages of thinking about publishing with the series, we recommend you contact the CCR Managing Editor, Gareth Wiltshire: g.wiltshire@lboro.ac.uk to discuss your ideas on an informal basis. He will be able to provide you with helpful advice concerning themes and approaches that are likely to be in keeping with the series’ profile. This does not preclude you from submitting a proposal directly.
2) Writing the Proposal
A typical book proposal will contain a statement of aims, a detailed chapter list with a synopsis of each chapter, a description of the target audience for the book, and if possible some sample chapters (or even the entire manuscript). For more detailed instructions please see Routledge’s Proposal Guidelines: Research Monographs. Please be sure to include the names of (at least) two potential reviewers for your proposal. The entire proposal is usually around five pages in length without the sample chapters.
3) Submitting the Proposal
When ready, submit your completed proposal via email to the CCR Managing Editor (g.wiltshire@lboro.ac.uk) who will forward it onto the critical realism series editor at Routledge. The proposal will be read by the Routledge series editor who may discuss it with other editors and marketing colleagues within Routledge. The CCR Managing Editor will also circulate your proposal to CCR board members for initial feedback, which will be passed on to the Routledge series editor. If your proposal is of interest, it will then be put out to review, or you may receive feedback on any areas that need a little work for the proposal to be ready for external review.
4) The Review Process
The proposal will be sent to several experts in relevant subject areas across the world (N.B. we request you identify potential referees in your proposal, though it may well be that we approach other scholars familiar with your topic or approach). Ideally, we’d receive at least two reviews at this stage. These reviews are shared with the author who has a chance at this stage to feed back any thoughts or queries about comments raised by reviewers. Depending on the comments raised by the reviewers at this stage, there are different options for what happens next.
5) The Decision
The proposal, along with all of the reviews and the author’s response, will be considered by the Routledge Critical Realism series editor and the CCR board. The next stage will be either to:
a) Recommend publication of the book to the Routledge Editorial board.
b) Request the proposal is revised and resubmitted. This would be the response if the idea for the book is good, but there are a few areas that need to be changed or tightened up.
c) Reject the proposal. This would be because, after consideration, the book does not fit into the Routledge Critical Realism list.
Upon recommendation of the book to the Routledge Editorial Board, it is likely we will offer an initial contract and that the editorial board will have suggestions about the book, such as a possible change to the title. Once the green light has been received from the Routledge Editorial Board, a final contract will be sent out to the author.
6) Under Contract
Routledge Critical Realism authors receive guidance from the publisher with regard to how the manuscript needs to be prepared. Whilst the book is under contract, the Routledge Critical Realism team will keep in touch with the author to discuss how the work on the manuscript is progressing and to offer help where necessary. Our books are advertised early on after they have been signed up.
7) Delivery
Once the author has finished his or her work on the manuscript and submitted it to Routledge, the publisher will be in contact to clear up any queries with regard to the project and go through some administrative tasks required before the book can be put into production.
8) Production
Routledge has an experienced production team who will guide our authors through the production process.