The Manuscript Works Newsletter
Essential knowledge about scholarly book publishing that every author should have. Get weekly tips on writing and publishing your scholarly book from developmental editor and publishing consultant Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD.
Celebrating 2024's new books
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have Dear Reader, We've finally made it to the last month of 2024, which I think we all deserve to celebrate. I'm particularly happy today to celebrate all the scholarly books released this past year by Manuscript Works clients and readers. My heart definitely grew several sizes as I scrolled this list of books and thought about alllllll the hard work these authors (and the staff at their...
Project management for book writers
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have Happy September Reader, The theme for the newsletter this month is Back-to-School Tools, and each week I'll be sharing some of my favorite tools for getting organized and staying on track with your book publishing goals as the school year ramps up. This week, I'm delighted to bring you a guest newsletter from Dr. Shiri Noy, author of a new book called Project Management for...
How to work with me and have someone else foot the bill
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have Hello Reader, What's better than getting to work with a professional developmental editor on your book proposal or book manuscript? Getting to work with a professional developmental editor and having someone else pay for it! In today's newsletter, I want to share three ways that you can work with me this year without having to spend any of your own money. (I also offer a bunch of...
Black Feminist Writing: A conversation with Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have Hello, Reader! Last week, I shared an excerpt from the new book Black Feminist Writing: A Practical Guide to Publishing Academics Books by Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans. This week, I want to tell you how you can hear more about the book and Dr. Evans' process of writing it. First, here's a summary of Black Feminist Writing from the publisher's website (SUNY Press): Writing scholarly books...
Following up with publishers — when and how to do it
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have Happy last day of July, Reader! I spend a good deal of my working hours answering author questions about the book publishing process. I've been hosting daily Q&As this week as part of my Book Proposal Sprint (which you can still join here), and I also regularly field questions from alums of my programs and even strangers who send me emails. It's interesting to notice when certain...
How Candle Making Made Dr. Brielle Harbin a Better Writer
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have This newsletter is coming to you from Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD, professional developmental editor and publishing consultant. I help scholarly writers navigate the book publishing process with more ease and agency. I hope you'll stick around for practical tips on writing and publishing your scholarly book, but if you'd like to adjust your subscription settings, you can do that at...
How to summarize a book chapter
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have A template for your book proposal's annotated table of contents Hello reader, I've been talking about my Book Proposal Accelerator program for the past few weeks because another cohort is starting soon, on May 28th. This will be the last time the Book Proposal Accelerator will be offered in 2024, so if you have been looking for some structured guidance and expert feedback on your...
Making time to care for your book
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have Why book work is care work and how I can help Hello reader, So many troubling events are demanding our attention and action right now. For some of you reading this, writing your scholarly book will not be your top priority at the moment, and that's perfectly understandable. However, I know that many of you are committed both to standing up to the human rights abuses that are...
Rejection rates for scholarly book proposals
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have What are the odds your book proposal will get rejected? Hello reader, Before I get into today’s newsletter discussion about proposal rejection rates, I wanted to quickly share that my annual 5-day challenge, Find the Perfect-Fit Publisher for Your Scholarly Book, starts on Monday. It's free to sign up, and anyone who is thinking of publishing a scholarly book in the future is welcome...
Trade books - what scholars need to know
The Manuscript Works Newsletter Essential knowledge on scholarly book publishing that every author should have What scholars need to know about writing a book for "general readers" Hello reader, In my role as a developmental editor and publishing consultant, I specialize in working with scholarly authors. Most of these authors hold PhDs and want to publish books based on their original research. For most of them, publishing with an explicitly scholarly press—such as a university press or...
Essential knowledge about scholarly book publishing that every author should have. Get weekly tips on writing and publishing your scholarly book from developmental editor and publishing consultant Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD.