Proposal Checklist

Having a new idea for a book that you believe could make a significant contribution to your field of expertise is an exhilarating moment in one's professional career. The first step towards turning your idea into a book is submitting a proposal to your Commissioning Editor.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal to ICRP, you can directly contact the Commissioning Editor. The Editor is a specialist in the relevant subject area and will guide you through the process. To ensure that you provide all the necessary information for your proposal, we have created a checklist that you can use. Our main piece of advice? Think about the who, the what, the why and the how.

The Basics

• Subject discipline
• Provisional title (and subtitle, if any)

The Who

Who will be writing the book?

• Your name
• Your position and affiliation
• Your CV (Also include brief bios for any co-authors or contributing authors)
• Your contact details:
  • Work phone
  • Email
  • Home phone (if you're happy for us to call there)
  • Mailing address

The What

What are you writing?

1. Type of publication. What audience are you writing for? Will this be a reference book or a textbook?
2. Overview. This is where you explain the publication's objective, and what it will be about. Think about:
   • What's your vision? How will this book benefit the academic community you work in?
   • Why would someone buy this book? How your selection of topics or treatment of the subject will encourage readers to buy the publication.
   • What's special about it? Think about what makes your book unique, its major themes and its approach.
   • How will it make a difference? Explain the unmet needs in your discipline and the challenges you're trying to address.
3. Table of contents. Include chapters and subdivisions within chapters, plus any special materials to be included in the appendices.
4. Sample materials. If you've already produced a sample chapter, please include it. It will really help us to understand the proposed publication. If you have published other articles and books, please attach a list of those materials as well.
5. If you are proposing a reference work, please also include details about the frequency of any planned updates

The Why

Why are you writing this? Who is this for?

So that we can consider how best to position your book, it would be great to know a little about the market need. Why is there a need for your proposed publication? Have there been changes in your field to cause a need for it, or is there a gap in the existing literature that needs to be filled?

Please also tell us about the primary market. Who needs your book? Indicate the audience(s) for this material (e.g. academic/research, graduate students, professionals). Be as specific as possible. If the book is aimed at graduate students, please indicate whether it is a primary or supplemental text.

Any information about the secondary market should be included; this should be a list of groups with an occasional need for this material. Who might need your book?

List in order of importance any professional societies or organizations that are likely to be part of the readership for your book.

If you know of any similar publications to the one you propose, this is really helpful information for us. Think about their weaknesses and strengths, and how your publication stands out.

The How

How you're planning to structure the manuscript

• How many words do you anticipate to fully cover your topic? How many pages of appendixes?
• Timetable: Evaluate how this project fits into your other professional commitments and give us your best estimate for completing and delivering the final manuscript and supporting materials (e.g. content for a website, permissions correspondence).

Submitting your proposal

Once you have compiled your proposal, please submit publications@icrp.org.uk

Our Target Markets include:

• Higher education refers to academic and scholarly books that have a specific audience in academics or research. These books cater to students who are looking to gain knowledge and develop skills in educational disciplines such as advanced sciences, finance, public health, social sciences, and engineering.
• On the other hand, trade publishing or professional books are intended for general readership and are sold through bookstores, online retailers, and other commercial channels.
  
  ICRP's Trade publishing group is seeking proposals from global thought leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the fields of business, finance, accounting, technology, education, parenting, and spirituality.

What do Commissioning Editors do?

ICRP's Commissioning Editors travel internationally to meet with current and prospective authors and editors to discuss new publications or business projects. They also aid authors in turning their ideas into successful books.

How the Commissioning Editor decides what to publish

Commissioning Editors take various factors into account when making their decision.

• Your book proposal (the most important piece of information).
• Market research - whether there's a market for the book.
• Cost analysis - whether it makes financial sense to publish it.

The Commissioning Editor presents the given information to the publishing committee meeting. At the meeting, external advisers and our local and international marketing and sales colleagues are consulted to determine if we should publish the book. The decision to proceed is generally made during this meeting.

Once the decision to publish is made, the Commissioning Editor offers a contract that defines the publication, delivery schedule, outlines the responsibilities of both the author and publisher, and confirms the remuneration.

Before you sign the contract: key things to consider

Reproducing copyrighted material?

If you are the author of a book or supporting website resources, it is important to note that you are responsible for obtaining permission to use any third-party material that is subject to copyright. Unless your contract states otherwise, you will also be responsible for paying any fees associated with the use of such material. It is recommended to determine the third-party material you may need to use in advance.

If you are an editor, it is your duty to ensure that your contributors understand these guidelines and acquire the necessary permission for using third-party material. Contributors must provide proof of permission obtained when submitting their contribution.

ICRP's Commissioning Editors are responsible for deciding which publications to publish. They travel internationally to meet with current and potential authors and editors to discuss new projects. They assist authors in transforming their great ideas into excellent books.