Submitting a Book Proposal

How to Prepare and Submit Your Book Proposal

If you are interested in writing or editing a book for ASM Press, we ask that you submit a proposal for our consideration. An effective proposal provides clear, detailed, and organized information about your project. Listed below are some essential points to consider as you prepare your proposal.

Essential Considerations

• Rationale.  Explain why the book you are proposing will be beneficial to the microbiology community. How does it differ from books currently available?
• Market.  What audiences will benefit from using your book? For example, will it appeal to research scientists in your own field, researchers in allied fields, physicians, university and college instructors, graduate students, undergraduate students, others? Do you have any notion of how large this audience is?
• Competition.  What books are currently available or in preparation that are competitive with your title? Please indicate the author, title, publisher, and date of publication if possible.
• Unique features.  Describe the unique features in your proposed book that will distinguish it from other related books. Think in terms of content, timeliness, accuracy, contributors, accessibility, pedagogy, etc.
• Manuscript.  How many pages will your double-spaced manuscript contain? Estimate the number and kind of illustrations in your book. For example, how many pieces of line art, micrographs, computer generated art, and photographs will be included in your manuscript? Do you expect any color illustrations in your book? Please indicate any other special considerations.
• Level.  What background will readers need in order to use your book successfully? Is the level of your book targeted for undergraduates, graduate students, medical students, or researchers?
• Contributors.  If you are editing a volume, please list your proposed contributors. Do you have commitments from any of them confirming their participation in the volume?
• Schedule.  Give your best and most realistic estimate of when you can provide a first draft of your manuscript. Are you aware of any contingencies that your publisher should know about?
• Table of Contents.  Please enclose a complete table of contents or detailed outline for the proposed work.
• Reviewers.  If you know of reviewers who would be particularly appropriate to review your proposal, feel free to suggest them.
• Current CV.  Please enclose your current curriculum vitae as well as a cv for any coauthors or coeditors.

What happens next?

Once received, your proposal will be reviewed by the ASM Press editorial staff. You might be contacted and asked to provide additional information, or your proposal might be sent straight to reviewers for their assessment. This process can take as long as six weeks. Feel free to contact ASM Press at any time to determine the status of your proposal.

Please submit your book proposal to: Lindsay Williams, Editorial and Rights Coordinator, ASM Press, 1752 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904; or you may send your proposal electronically to: lwilliams@asmusa.org.  *Please note, proposals for journal articles must be submitted to the journals department (visit www.asm.org for their contact information.)

Thank you for considering ASM Press as a prospective publisher for your book.