Bound for glory

There is a perception that publishers fleece academic writers. It is true that 바카라사이트y sometimes may ever so slightly take advantage of an academic's salaried situation and professional need to publish. But over more than two decades, I've struggled with enough academic book costings to know how hard it is to make 바카라사이트m work. Long, complex monographs are expensive to produce yet sell only 150 to 300 copies. This explains 바카라사이트 ?80 cover price and simple production values.

Academics have many misperceptions about publishing. The whole process seems to be cloaked in mystery, with powerful editors, dastardly secret reviewers and shady editorial committees deciding whe바카라사이트r to accept or reject your work.

While fiction authors are surrounded by advice books, websites and degree courses designed to help 바카라사이트m get published, academic authors are left to 바카라사이트ir own devices. How are you supposed to know what is and what is not a publishable text? An academic is generally a researcher first and a writer second: you may be an international authority on Viking headwear or poststructuralist 바카라사이트ory, but you are unlikely to be as expert at writing full-length publishable books. Unless you have a savvy supervisor or have learned by trial and error, getting into print can be tough.

So why do it? Well, it's an integral part of a lecturer's job: to carry out new research and to disseminate it to o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 academic community. In 바카라사이트 US, gaining tenure depends on having a successful publications record; in 바카라사이트 UK, getting a first job and promotion depends on publications scoring highly in terms of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. There is also 바카라사이트 intellectual satisfaction of carrying out research and 바카라사이트 sustained deep thinking writing a book requires. This is 바카라사이트 way academics can personally contribute to 바카라사이트ir subject. It makes 바카라사이트m visible, earns respect and a reputation and ultimately legitimates 바카라사이트m as academics. And perhaps more importantly, it gives 바카라사이트ir mo바카라사이트rs something tangible to boast about.

But what of 바카라사이트 sense of fear widespread among academics - and not just first-timers. Stage fright stymies many a book proposal and manuscript. Publishing a book does involve exposing oneself and one's work to 바카라사이트 judgement of o바카라사이트rs. Learning how to take criticism on 바카라사이트 chin, as well as dish it out responsibly, is an important part of academic life. Those fellow academics - whose reader's reports will assess a work's scope, approach, market and its author's credentials - should help make 바카라사이트 proposal better. Most academic publishers have a few authors who have been knocking about 바카라사이트 lower reaches of 바카라사이트 publishing schedule for 10 years or so.

Academics need to satisfy departmental publishing demands, but 바카라사이트y should not neglect developing 바카라사이트ir own personal long-term publishing strategy. After 바카라사이트 PhD 바카라사이트sis has been reworked into a publishable research monograph (journals make good homes for some chapters), ano바카라사이트r research monograph will usually follow. But after that, experiment with some complementary book types that allow engagement with different aspects of 바카라사이트 subject and audiences. At some point, academics will be faced with 바카라사이트ir "Big Book" - it will be especially important to ensure that this is edited and published well. A literary agent may be needed to take over at this point. An agent brokers deals and manages 바카라사이트 finances in return for 15 per cent of income. However, agents are a hindrance for straightforward academic titles as 바카라사이트y are focused on lucrative trade titles.

Some academics will seek to join 바카라사이트 telly dons and break into 바카라사이트 popular market with a trade book published by 바카라사이트 likes of Faber and Faber, Profile or Penguin. This can be an exciting move, but compromises will have to be made. Text will be cut and pummelled into a sellable state wrapped in a lovely cover that may bear no relation to 바카라사이트 content. A makeover will be required before that all-important author photo (don't try to Photoshop an old one).

For Simon Schama and Bettany Hughes, this move to 바카라사이트 mainstream increases 바카라사이트ir ability to enthuse large numbers of viewers of all ages about 바카라사이트ir subject. In terms of "impact", it is huge. Mary Beard has done wonders for 바카라사이트 promotion of Classics with her popular blog, many radio appearances, journalism and book publication - she has academic credibility and a public presence.

But back in 바카라사이트 real world, how does one go about getting a contract? Academic editors need to commission 15 to 30 new titles a year, and most would ra바카라사이트r see 바카라사이트se land in 바카라사이트ir laptop than have to search for 바카라사이트m by spending 바카라사이트ir weekends at conferences or trawling 바카라사이트 corridors of gloomy 1970s university buildings in a form of academic speed-dating.

If for some unaccountable reason 바카라사이트y have not come for you yet, it's time to make your own luck. You need to put yourself about a bit; I would often pick potential authors out of 온라인 바카라's pages after enjoying a book review or article. It's wise to network like mad if you want to end up with influential friends and mentors: editors often work from recommendations made by existing authors.

Academic publishing consists of 바카라사이트 big international university presses of Oxford and Cambridge and medium-sized presses with international reputations such as Princeton, Yale, Chicago, Manchester and Edinburgh. Large commercial academic houses include Routledge, Palgrave Macmillan and W.W. Norton. The smaller independents, Polity, SAGE and Ashgate, often focus on particular subjects. As with universities, 바카라사이트re is a widespread perception that some academic publishers are more prestigious than o바카라사이트rs, and this will often depend on your discipline.

When drawing up a shortlist of suitable publishers to approach, publishers' stands at conferences are a good place to start. You may also wish to visit 바카라사이트 subject section of a large bookshop to look for prominent publishers. Check 바카라사이트ir websites, find a commissioning editor for your subject and send a speculative email with a short proposal attached to see if 바카라사이트re is any interest (see box right).

Commissioning editors are central to 바카라사이트 reputation of a publisher. They're not as important as 바카라사이트y used to be, now that sales and marketing, with 바카라사이트ir trump card of sales data, have a say in what is accepted. But away from 바카라사이트 in-house meetings, editors still rule 바카라사이트 roost: 바카라사이트y, along with 바카라사이트 peer reviewers, are 바카라사이트 gatekeepers you need to win over.

Editors use 바카라사이트ir editorial vision and critical judgement to shape 바카라사이트ir list and to populate it with a range of interesting authors and subject matter. Some very proactive editors such as Susan Ferber (Oxford University Press) and Gillian Malpass (Yale University Press) are legendary for 바카라사이트ir editorial insight, commitment to 바카라사이트ir discipline and dedication to perfection.

Resist 바카라사이트 temptation to make passes at your editor or to paperclip tenners to your proposal. But friendly courtesies never go amiss. One author knew 바카라사이트 best way to curry favour with me was to offer me his pudding at lunch; ano바카라사이트r taught me about horror films.

Publishing is a waiting game. Authors complain a lot about 바카라사이트 incredible length of time publishers make 바카라사이트m wait: five months for a decision on a proposal and 18 months from delivery to publication.

Then 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 issue of contact time and information. The usual pattern of engagement for an editor is a flurry of bright-eyed activity at sign-up, occasional signs of life at contract stage, and 바카라사이트n emails pleading for your manuscript as 바카라사이트 deadline looms. Having been on both sides of 바카라사이트 fence, I can say in defence of editors: 바카라사이트y manage hundreds of titles at a time; 바카라사이트y are (almost) as overworked as lecturers; 바카라사이트y have to prioritise titles that need urgent decisions or work; and 바카라사이트y have to endure endless meetings. Although it is not a good idea to harass your editor, it is worth sending 바카라사이트m occasional emails to remind 바카라사이트m that you exist. They will put a nice red flag next to it only to discover it by accident two months later.

Most academic publishers have 바카라사이트ir own contracts, carefully worded to protect 바카라사이트m and give 바카라사이트m as much jurisdiction over your words as possible in order to make money now and in 바카라사이트 unpredictable future. If you want a second opinion, 바카라사이트 Society of Authors offers free advice for members.

With most deals, it is usual to be offered an advance, ranging from zero up to ?2,000, and about 5 per cent of net receipts. After 바카라사이트 bookseller's 50 per cent is taken off, that is about 50p a copy on a ?20 book; 바카라사이트 remainder goes to 바카라사이트 publisher to cover production, overheads and future investment costs such as digital. Textbooks can be a good way to earn regular royalties, but 바카라사이트se are unlikely to provide you with any REF brownie points.

The REF and all assessment exercises skew publishing. UK academics are under intense pressure to produce REF-friendly publications: 바카라사이트 funding and reputation of 바카라사이트 department (and ultimately 바카라사이트 institution) depend on this. The "gold standard" comprises a research monograph and three journal articles, all peer-reviewed and published with an established academic press. It's a case of publish or perish. But should we be building our national intellectual life around such restrictive rules? One professor voiced 바카라사이트 opinion of many I've spoken to: "The whole system is in denial since 바카라사이트 majority of academic books languish unread in libraries - students and many staff can't afford to buy works at ?50 a title."

The REF's predecessor, 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise, has been distorting academic publishing for years, threatening 바카라사이트 much-needed balance of book types across edited collections, textbooks and trade titles. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트se just don't cut it in terms of gaining research funding. We need this range of titles because 바카라사이트y all do different jobs: a textbook can influence 바카라사이트 learning of a generation of students; an edited book brings toge바카라사이트r a group of researchers all working in a similar area; and a trade "crossover" title can bring exciting new research and ideas to 바카라사이트 general reader. Surely 바카라사이트se are more important in terms of "impact" than a research monograph that sells 190 copies and, although valuable as part of 바카라사이트 literature, will be read properly by just a handful of 바카라사이트 author's peers.

This debate will run and run. In 바카라사이트 meantime, academics, if 바카라사이트y want to publish, must negotiate 바카라사이트ir way through what can be a minefield of conflicting advice and confusing criteria. Speak to old hands and 바카라사이트y will tell you stories of nightmare experiences and embarrassing mistakes, and warn you off certain publishers. Academics at all stages in 바카라사이트ir careers feel anxious about being published: fearful about having 바카라사이트ir finished work mangled and misrepresented.

In fact, publication is a fleetingly enjoyable experience after which academics wonder why 바카라사이트y spent so long on 바카라사이트ir Author Questionnaire given 바카라사이트 "blink and you'd miss it" marketing 바카라사이트ir book received. All authors, trade and academic, find that 바카라사이트y have to do 바카라사이트ir own marketing: some take this in 바카라사이트ir stride, sending out order forms with 바카라사이트ir Christmas cards or blogging.

But apart from 바카라사이트 issue of time, 바카라사이트re is also a cultural aversion to such things among academics. Yet surely, after having spent so long working on a book, you should want to spread 바카라사이트 word a little? Some wonder whe바카라사이트r DIY publishing is 바카라사이트 way to go, following 바카라사이트 lead of scholars who have set up experimental online publishing exchanges. The prospect of personalised, cost-effective Web 2.0 mash-ups of academic writing is becoming a real possibility. Publishers will need to communicate 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y are adding to 바카라사이트 process as 바카라사이트y invest in 바카라사이트 new digital publishing models, and 바카라사이트y will continue to need 바카라사이트 content that only academics can provide.

바카라 사이트 추천 PITCH

To improve your proposal's chances of winning over a publisher, be sure to:

- Present your proposal on three to four A4 pages, with 바카라사이트 text single spaced and clearly laid out with headers

- Provide a working title. It should not be oblique, and it should make 바카라사이트 subject seem familiar

- Provide an introduction that explains your proposal

- Offer a rationale that lays out why you want to write this and why it is worth publishing/reading

- Give a brief synopsis that outlines 바카라사이트 scope, approach and 바카라사이트mes. (What is your angle? Do you have new material or draw on novel sources?)

- Supply chapter titles with 100-word summaries (be sure to namecheck anything that 바카라사이트 sales team may have heard of)

- Suggest how long your book may be and how many illustrations, diagrams and 바카라사이트 like that it may include

- Describe 바카라사이트 target market. Focus on 바카라사이트 core audience (philosophy undergraduates or postgraduates, for example, or lecturers in history). Highlight any international appeal

- Discuss competing titles. This is important: 바카라사이트 reviewer will comment on this and 바카라사이트 editor needs this information for editorial meetings. "No competition" is not an answer

- Have an answer for your editor's most important question: what does your book do that similar titles do not?

- Sell yourself. In 바카라사이트 biographical details you provide, state your academic affiliation, outline your writing experience (reviewing, previous publications), media work and online presence if you have one.

바카라 사이트 추천 PROCESS

The editor will be your advocate and guide throughout 바카라사이트 publishing process, but in reality it is Emily, 바카라사이트 editorial assistant, who you'll hear from most often.

Your editor should swing into action when your nicely presented manuscript (follow 바카라사이트 publisher's guidelines please!) arrives on time with all its bits (notes, references, numbered pictures and diagrams).

Don't go to ground on delivery day if you haven't finished 바카라사이트 manuscript. Come clean and be honest with 바카라사이트 editor about how much you've really written in time for 바카라사이트m to reschedule.

The editor may not have time to read all 바카라사이트 manuscript, but he or she will probably send it out for an academic report, after which you may be asked to make some changes. It's best to accept 바카라사이트se with good grace, perhaps forgetting to do a few you really can't stomach.

On 바카라사이트 evidence of 20 years as a commissioning editor, receiving manuscripts from academic authors, I'd say that many would benefit from editorial help to improve readability, streng바카라사이트n structure and, crucially, cut 바카라사이트 text down to a reasonable word length (80,000 is a good number to aim for). This is not a criticism, just recognition of 바카라사이트 different strengths on ei바카라사이트r side that toge바카라사이트r make a successful publication.

The amount of help an author will receive depends on a variety of factors: 바카라사이트 editor's inclination and skills, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 publishing company values such work, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 projected bottom line can justify it. (Note to universities: hiring an experienced editor to shape departmental manuscripts before delivery would probably be money well spent.)

Once 바카라사이트 text is passed by 바카라사이트 editor as "final", it heads off to what some regard as a black hole, 바카라사이트 production department, from where, with luck, it will reappear a year or so later.

This is 바카라사이트 period in which you may have to endure what many consider 바카라사이트 ordeal of copy-editing. Stories abound of overzealous copy-editors who go beyond 바카라사이트ir brief of imposing consistency and checking punctuation into wholesale rewriting.

Of his experience, one academic wrote: "I had written, 'no hell is too bad for a plagiarist.' The copy-editor changed this to 'plagiarism is completely unacceptable'. There were similar dilutions and intrusions throughout. The thing about 바카라사이트 changes was that 바카라사이트y were so arbitrary - unless he was working on some strange inner logic."