Author Guidelines

Summary

1. A prospectus describing your book idea. This should include the following:
   1. Title and author information
   2. Synopsis and aims; describing the scope of the work, its rationale, and fit within the Rights to the City series
   3. Background information on the proposal
   4. A detailed table of contents
   5. Assessment of the readership
   6. Assessment of the work relative to competing titles
   7. Manuscript details; estimate length, illustrations, timeline
   8. Potential referees
2. An up-to-date CV for each author/editor outlining previous publication and professional experience.
3. 1-2 sample chapters; in sufficient condition to allow for a valid assessment of capacity. They do not need to be in their final form.

Please note that for this series, the target range for manuscripts is 50,000 to 70,000 words, including notes and references.

Detailed

1. TITLE AND AUTHOR INFORMATION
   • Proposed working title and subtitle
   • Is this an edited volume? (Yes, No)
   • Author(s)/editor(s) current position, affiliation, and email address(es)
   • A bio for each author/editor (no more than 100 words)
   • Upload a CV for each author/editor
     For edited books: provide names and affiliations for all contributors. Note if any potential contributors have not yet been approached or agreed to contribute
2. SYNOPSIS AND AIMS
   • Scope (c. 500 words)
     Outline the publication’s scope and highlight its originality.
     • Why does a text need to be written on your proposed topic and what is original about your approach?
     • What themes, concepts and ideas will you develop?
     • What is the publication’s topicality or academic/teaching/policy/practice relevance?
     • How widely is the topic studied? Is it at the forefront of current research?
     • What, if any, are the deliberate omissions? And why?
   • Aims (c.300 words)
     Highlight the specific aims of the work, explaining them as clearly and succinctly as possible.
     • What is the main selling point of the work?
     • What gap will the work fill and why is this publication needed?
     • Do you want it to challenge current policy, practice, or thinking? If so, who do you want to read this? And why?
     • Is the aim to disseminate research or new thinking? If so, who do you want to read this? And why?
3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   Please describe the background to the proposal:
   • If the work arises out of funded research, what, if any, are the dissemination requirements?
   • Was it originally devised to support a course?
   • If your book is based on your PhD/PhD research, describe the revisions made or planned.
   • What is the status of the manuscript (idea only? Complete draft?) Has any of the content been published elsewhere, for example in journal articles?

   Is this proposal under consideration at any other publishers at this time?

4. CONTENTS
   • Provide a provisional list of contents, with a 200–300-word summary describing each chapter. This will show the book’s structure. This does not have to be rigidly adhered to in the final version.
   • Provide a sample chapter and clearly mark the material ‘draft’. Please note that even if you have completed the typescript, you should not send it to us until asked to do so.
   • For edited collections, provide brief details about the selection criteria for the chapters and authors and outline how the editor(s) will ensure coherence throughout the text.
5. READERSHIP
   Provide a realistic assessment of who is going to read the book and who is going to buy it.
   • Is the title a research monograph for academic readers? If so, what level is it pitched at?
   • If your title will be relevant on any courses, provide details.
   • Will there be practitioner interest in the title? If so, how will it benefit them in their work?
   • What is the international market for your text? In which countries/regions specifically will it be of interest?
6. COMPETITION
   List any competing publications and provide an assessment of your book’s position against the competition.
   • How does your publication fit alongside others on the subject, and how does it differ? What unique features or focus does it have in comparison?
   • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the competition?
   • Why is your publication more suited to the needs of potential readers? 
7. OTHER INFORMATION
   • Estimate the total word count (rounded to the nearest 5,000 words) of your work.
   • Estimate the number and kind of illustrations you will require.
   • Provide a realistic schedule for completion of the work and indicate when you hope to complete the manuscript.
8. REFEREES
   • Provide names and contact details of at least four people whom you would regard as suitably qualified to comment on the proposal.
   • Please advise us of any conflicts of interest, or any reviewers that you feel would be inappropriate for us to approach.