Academic and Scholarly Publishing Journey with our Expert Recommendations
Scholarly publishing needs strategy, industry expertise, and in-depth knowledge around the changing academic publishing world. No matter if you are a first-time author or an established scholar, deciding on a publishing path could have a tremendous effect on how far your book will go, how much recognition you will receive, and on your prospects for promotion and tenure at school. Through our complete publishing support, we offer, not just traditional academic presses, but university presses and self-publishing solutions as well as hybrid models designed expressly for academic work. We give researchers of all levels a voice on blog, and offer our own tips on everything from writing to submitting to revising. We also call for the end to the adversarial peer-review tradition.
Insights on Book Publishing
Step-by-Step Academic Book Publishing Process
Self vs Traditional Publishing
Academic Edited Volume Publishing Guide
Royalty Rates in Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
Advantages of Publishing Books in Open Access: Academic Impact and Reach
Why Open Access is the Future of Academic and Scholarly Book Publishing
Open-Access vs Traditional Publishing: Comparison for Scholarly Authors
Choosing the Best Open-Access Publisher
How to Get a Free ISBN
Copyright Protection for Academic Publications
How to Convert Thesis to a Book
How to Publish Your Thesis as a Book
Academic Book Publishing Options
Traditional Academic Publishing: University Presses and Commercial Publishers
This traditional publication format still stands as the ideal for academic credibility and institutional prestige. University presses and arguably established academic publishers, they point out, provide rigorous peer review, professional editorial assistance, and established distribution channels through the academic community.
Key advantages of traditional academic publishing:
- Enhanced academic credibility and tenure consideration
- Professional editing, design, and marketing support
- Established library and institutional sales channels
- International distribution networks
- Peer review validation process
Considerations for traditional publishing:
- Longer publication timelines (18-36 months)
- Limited author control over pricing and distribution
- Competitive acceptance rates
- Potential copyright transfer requirements
Self-Publishing for Academic Authors
Self-publishing as an alternative to traditional academic publishing is now an option for its far more aggressive authors. Modern platforms have professional-level production with authorial control over content, pricing, and distribution strategy.
When self-publishing works for academics:
- Specialized niche topics with limited commercial appeal
- Time-sensitive research requiring rapid publication
- Desire for open access distribution
- Retention of full copyright ownership
- Direct audience engagement opportunities
Hybrid and Partnership Models
Hybrid publishing models are starting to emerge, which provide authors with the advantages of traditional publishing alongside the invested author and greater control. These collaborations are gaining popularity with academic writers desiring higher quality and more writer involvement.
Publishing FAQs
How much time does it take to publish an academic book?
It takes university presses 18-24 months from acceptance to publication Commercial publishers can take you to print in 12-18 months. Self-published opportunities can shorten time-lines to 3-6 months, but come with additional author responsibilities.
What occurs during peer review?
Academic publishers use double-blind peer review where 2-3 reviewers are experts in the manuscript field of study, to evaluate the validity, originality and educational/scientific value of the manuscript. Normally it takes 3-6 months with possible outcomes of acceptance, revision or rejection. Authors should anticipate several rounds of revision before final acceptance.
What are book royalties for academic books?
Academic books 5-15% of net receipts, depending upon the type of the publishing house, sales estimate. University presses pay low royalties, around 5-10%, but provide more prestige whereas commercial publishers might pay more in the order of 10-15% and pay for performance.
How important is author platform in the success of academic books?
High-achieving academic authors have professional Web sites, give conference papers, post in academic blogs, and friend others in their disciplines.
What support are academic publishers giving for marketing?
There is substantial variability in the support for marketing, which generally ranges from listing in a publisher’s catalog and staffing a display at conferences to providing review copies and basic marketing materials. Authors are expected to also promote the book via networking, speaking, and social media.
Is there a specific Manuscript format I should use for submission?
Your book must be formatted using the standard techniques for an academic manuscript (double-space, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1” margins, sequential page numbering). Attach a full bibliography, correct citations, and high-quality figures as separate files. Individual publisher Polish journal guidelines should always be consulted prior to submission.
How do I retain intellectual property during the submission process?
The copyright to an academic paper is obtained automatically at the moment of its creation. But also, keep good records of your submission, don’t shotgun submit (submit to multiple houses at once), and do pay attention to contract terms, including rights retention through time (especially for digital and subsidiary rights that could impact future prospects).