A Guide to English Language Book Publication Step-by-Step
Ideas
The University of Tokyo is the top university in Asia and one of the best universities in the world. As a scholar working here, you know your area of research well so you can provide an informed and unique perspective that publishers demand.
Choosing a Publisher
Turning your research into a book requires you to take your existing expertise and publications in order to make them appealing to readers. You will need to define your audience and identify the potential publishers who might have an interest in your work.
Proposal
The book proposal is the best way to find out if a publisher is interested in your work. Proposals are fairly standard. Proposal guidelines ask for you to provide a summary of your project and an outline of book chapters, to identify the market for your book and any potential competitors, and a realistic word length and date of submission of the finished book.
Refereeing
Once your proposal has been reviewed by anonymous peer referees, the reports will be returned to you. Reports will often include both positive and negative points, and it is natural for potential authors to focus on the negative ones. It is best to respond to referees by accentuating the positive and addressing any criticisms with suggested modifications or a robust defense of your approach. It is important to respond effectively to referee reports.
The Contract
Book contracts are relatively standardized among the top publishers but it is important to read the contract carefully and pursue any point of concern. There is some minor variation in terms of royalties, numbers of the initial print run, gratis copies and your rights as the author, including translation rights.
Submission
Once you have the contract and a target date for submission, it is time to write the book. If there is any need for an extension to the submission deadline, it is important to ask as far in advance as possible. Publishers need to plan production and marketing for new books so need a definite sense of when you are going to finish.
Corrections
Once you have submitted the book, the process is not over. Referees and the publisher often ask for revisions. Extensive revisions take time and a new deadline is usually set.
After the book is accepted for publication, a copy editor will check your manuscript and usually send a list of queries where the meaning is unclear or there are suggestions for improvement. Most of the changes involve making sure the book fits with the publisher's rules regarding style and referencing. If you keep these in mind when writing, you can save yourself a lot of trouble at this stage.
Finally, the proofs will be sent to you and there will be one last chance at making corrections. Usually only minor corrections are permitted at this point and focus mainly on typographical errors. At this final stage non-native speakers often need the most support in help with correcting subtle nuances of meaning in English.
Publicity
Once your book goes into production, you will be contacted by the publisher for guidance on who should receive complementary copies and which journals should receive review copies. You will also be asked to provide a short summary of the book highlighting its importance for publicity. Your opinion on the cover design will also be sought. Publishers will attend academic conferences and reach out to potential buyers but they will appreciate your advice on these activities well.
Publication
Congratulations! Your book has been published. You will now have a physical reminder of your excellent work and standing in the field.