Getting published as a new author
Looking for inspiration on how to get started? This page will help you find out if Open University Press is the right publisher for you and guide your book towards publication.
How does an idea develop to become a full book and eventually be published? What happens behind the scenes to make it the best it can be? New authors are full of questions on how everything works behind the scenes and we are always keen to make sure our processes are as transparent as possible.
Read through our publishing timeline below to find out more
Timeline
- Editor seeks out new ideas and looks for new authors to speak with
- Proposal submitted – Editor provides initial feedback and chance for discussion
- Sent out for external peer review following any agreed revisions – 4-6 weeks
- Chance for further revisions and discussion
- Presented at internal editorial meeting for further discussion with colleagues from sales and marketing
- Sent to the Open University for final approval on behalf of the University
- Contract offer (all being well!)
- Manuscript writing – this can take up to 12-18 months and the Editorial Assistant keeps in touch during this time
- Draft submission followed by a clearance read from a subject matter expert – 4 weeks
- Chance for revisions – negotiated depending on feedback but usually around 4 weeks
- Final submission
- Production – 6 months – This includes copyediting, typesetting, designing the cover and printing the book.
- Publication!
- The book’s life has just begun and there are plenty of Post Publication Tips here
The proposal
The proposal is when the idea can really start to take shape as a book, although it is likely that there are still many changes ahead! Read our proposal tips and tricks below to help shine your proposal before submission:
- Consider the book’s audience and how best to reach it – it is good to be specific and think about the realistic level of knowledge your reader will have
- Research publishers in the field carefully – who is already reaching your intended reader and what gaps do they have in their portfolio? Make sure any publishers you approach already have a clear interest in the area and publish the type of book you are pitching
- Research competing texts – has your idea already been attempted? If so, what would your book offer that previous titles do not? If not, why might this gap exist and is there really a need for it to be filled?
- Clear chapter structure – your book should have a clear narrative from first to last chapter to help the reader navigate the material. Be realistic about how much one book can achieve, after all you can always use the remaining material for the sequel or second edition!
- Detailed chapter abstracts – think about your proposal from the reviewer’s point of view. What information would they find useful when evaluating the book? Write with concise sentences to outline your argument but do not feel you have to get everything down. Instead, the proposal should act as foundations for when the full manuscript is written and more details develop
- Realistic predictions of word count and timelines – it is essential that estimates are as accurate as possible so that we can take our production, sales and marketing schedules into account when considering the book. It is better to be allow extra time now than to be unpleasantly surprised later!
The peer review process
The peer review system is an integral part of the book submission and evaluation process. This typically takes 4-6 weeks, depending on the time of year and requirements of the book. We engage in a collaborative refereeing process which ensures that the work submitted is evaluated and commented upon by independent experts within the relevant field(s). The feedback is then shared with the author for further discussion and development about what is possible and appropriate for the audience identified.
Contact an Editor
You can find out more about the commissioning interests and contact details for the Open University Press editors here.
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