Book Proposal Working Group

CFDE and Office of Scholarly Communications Convene Book Proposal Working Group in Fall 2025

Co-Leaders

John Morgenstern, Office of Scholarly Communications, Woodruff Library

Allison Adams, Center for Faculty Development and Excellence 

Faculty at any career stage are invited to participate in a semester-long, six-session, interactive working group designed to support the development of an effective book proposal. Led by publishing experts, the working group will offer insider perspective on how to appeal to acquisitions editors and avoid red flags. Participants will be guided through a structured program of drafting, feedback, and revision ultimately resulting in a full proposal tailored for their preferred publisher.

The working group will meet in person in the CFDE and via Zoom (hybrid) for six Tuesdays from 12:00 to 1:30., beginning September 9. Two of the sessions -- on September 9 and October 7 -- will be held on the Oxford campus.

Participants will be expected to draft one or two sections of their proposal in advance of most sessions (no more than 1000 words). Sessions will be devoted to workshopping and refining proposal drafts, learning the etiquette for approaching publishers, navigating the peer review process, and what to expect in a book contract. 

Registration Deadline: August 29, 2025

Register at this link

All sessions held on Tuesdays from noon to 1:30 pm.

Session 1

September 9, 2025

In-Person on Oxford campus

  • introductions
  • the elements of a standard book proposal
  • the value and uses of proposals for authors and publishers

Preparation: Read sample proposal and bring questions about book proposals and the workshop 

Session 2

September 23, 2025

  • finding the right publisher
  • workshop detailed book synopsis
  • guidance on competing titles

Preparation: draft detailed book synopsis in advance (no more than 800 words)

Session 3

October 7, 2025

In-Person on Oxford campus

  • making the initial pitch
  • workshop competing titles
  • guidance on chapter-level synopses 

Preparation: draft competing titles section (no more than 800 words)

Session 4

October 28, 2025

  • peer review process and develop list of prospective readers
  • workshop chapter level synopses
  • guidance on audience (section explaining the need for your book)
  • marketing as shared enterprise

Preparation: draft chapter-level synopses (no more than 1000 words)

Session 5

November 11, 2025

  • copyright considerations for third-party materials
  • workshop marketing and key features
  • workshop audience
  • guidance on professional biographies, titles, and third-party materials

Preparation: draft marketing and key features (no more than 500 words) and audience (no more than 400 words)

Session 6

December 2, 2025

  • workshop professional biography, titles, and explanation of third-party materials
  • guidance on word counts, timelines, and other details
  • what to expect in a book contract
  • workshop complete proposals

Preparation: draft professional biography, titles, and explanation of third-party materials. Assemble all the draft sections and revise full proposal based on feedback throughout workshop

Please direct questions to Allison Adams, aadam02@emory.edu.