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Information for Prospective Authors

For a downloadable PDF version of our author proposal guidelines, please click here.

Proposal Guidelines

Corwin’s Publishing and Professional Learning Group is committed to working hand-in-hand with both new and seasoned authors and consultants to design, develop, and deliver effective professional learning solutions that empower educators and the students they teach. We firmly believe that compelling content—that which is both research-based and extremely practical—lies at the very heart of these solutions. This content has the potential to take shape in a range of modalities and to ultimately take on a life of its own, effecting real change in schools and in the communities in which they are situated.

Content Considerations

What is ideal Corwin content?

• It is rooted in evidence-based practice
• It offers practical, hands-on advice to educators
• It includes tools and templates for educators to put to immediate use in their settings
• It draws on real world examples to illustrate points
• It has depth and substance while also being user-friendly and accessible

What formats does Corwin content take?

Corwin publishes content in many different formats depending on the nature of the specific project and the target audience. Below are some examples of our publishing formats.

How is Corwin content delivered?

Depending on the type of project and the publishing strategy, Corwin content may be delivered in a number of different combinations of the above formats. For example, one project may be a straightforward book project, while another may call for a facilitator’s guide to be used in a Corwin-delivered workshop, and another may be a hybrid print/digital project including a book and accompanying online video.

How to Propose Your Project

The following guidelines provide directions for writing and submitting your content proposal. The ideal proposal presents a convincing rationale for your project. It clearly delineates your objectives and, even more importantly, explains the benefits that this content will provide to the educators you are aiming to reach.

A well-developed prospectus should be brief (approximately 8-10 pages) and cover the points listed below, preferably in the order in which they are presented. Because your prospectus is the first effort on your part to convince the publisher and potential peer reviewers of your potential as an author, carefully check the spelling, grammar, and punctuation in all items you submit. If the prospectus contains typographical or grammatical errors, reviewers’ attention will be diverted from the more important consideration of content.

Please use the following three-part guidelines in preparing your prospectus and keep these areas separate, as it will make it easier for us to understand your intentions for the project. Feel free to add any additional items or categories you think are necessary.

The Prospectus

Part I: About the Project: Brief Overview and Rationale

What is the working title? Provide this along with 1-2 introductory paragraphs describing the proposed project, what it covers, its approach, and your purpose and goals in creating such content. Why are you creating this content? What will it accomplish? Explain the relevance of the content and how it will help meet the specific needs of educators.  Why is it needed at this time?

Part II: The Market

• Audience. In this section, please identify and describe the audience(s) for your project in as realistic and specific a way as possible. What types of professionals would be interested in the content? Please also describe any secondary audiences who might be interested in the content and explain what you anticipate the nature and level of their interest would be.
• Uses. What are the intended outcomes of your project, e.g., what would the content help the audiences do, understand, improve, carry out, etc.? How would readers/users assess their growth and progress relative to these outcomes? Distinguish between the uses for individual readers and for professional development delivery or whatever other distinction is most meaningful.
• Funding. How is the proposed book a match for district, state, or federal funding initiatives or grant opportunities for P-12 schools? Please list appropriate funding initiatives or other funding sources.
• Associations. What associations or specific divisions of professional organizations or journals would be interested in your content? With which professional associations have you worked?
• Translations. Have any of your books been translated previously? If so, who published the translations? In what countries do you have or have had speaking engagements? In your experience, which countries have the highest potential for translation opportunities of your work?
• Potential Course Adoptions. In addition to being sold to individual practitioners, Corwin content is also often used in college and university courses. If your content has the potential for such use, please provide as much specific information as possible. If you are proposing a book, please include the names of any frequently taught courses for which your book might be an appropriate text, along with the approximate enrollments.

Part III: The Content

• Format and length. What form and format do you envision the content taking and what is the approximate length of the material? Explain how the content you are creating lends itself to this format and/or how the content may work in multiple different formats. Also please describe how this format will work with the use models described in the previous section.
• Approach/Style of Presentation.  Does your content have a classroom-level, building-level, or system-level focus? How will the content be applicable to practice? 
• Research Base. What is the research or experience upon which this content is built? Briefly describe any special studies or previous work you have done that is relevant to the content. Also, if relevant, please identify any research or evidence used in your work that is based on the work of other Corwin authors.
• Features and Benefits. How does the proposed content address major teaching, learning, and/or leadership challenges facing educators and students today? Are there any special features of the content, such as vignettes, case studies, sample classroom materials, checklists, templates, or other illustrative materials or tools that you plan to incorporate?  
• Artwork/Design. Please explain any planned use of figures, tables, photographs, etc. If you are planning to include artwork, please specify the estimated number of graphics you plan to include. Also include any thoughts you have about the overall visual look and feel of the product.
• Ancillaries (include only if applicable). Ancillary content is supplemental print or online material designed to enhance the core product. Are you planning to create additional ancillary material in addition to the key content you have described? For instance, if you are proposing to write a book, do you envision an accompanying website with additional supplemental content? If so, please describe the nature of this content and explain why it would be important for the specified market.

Part IV: The Competition

• Competing or Related Works. Pick three (3) of the top competitors for your proposed content. Be frank, as this information will be given to reviewers to provide them with a comparative framework for your work. Please list the author, title, and publisher of the main competing or related products, and tell us how your product would differ, add to the conversation in your discipline,  or be superior. More specifically, focus on comparing topical coverage, organization, level, writing style, pedagogy, and any other relevant similarities and differences between your project and the competitors. If there is no existing content out there that you consider to be in direct competition with your proposed work, please list examples of published content of a similar nature and note how your book would fit within the spectrum of complementary content currently on the market.

DEI Guidelines for Corwin Authors: Considerations for Promoting Social Justice

List of Content Components

Outline of Contents and Component Descriptions

Please provide an outline of the content with all part and section titles indicated. If possible, also include a few sentences about the purpose and nature of each part and section and/or a list of the specific details and examples that will fall under these parts and sections.

Sample Content (if available)

Sample Material

Do not wait until your content is completed to submit the prospectus. Instead, send in your prospectus with one or two sample excerpts. If you are proposing a book project, note that we typically ask for two sample chapters to evaluate for content, style, level, etc. When we acquire projects in early stages of development, we are more able to provide editorial guidance and feedback.  Of course, if the content is already complete, or nearly so, then send copies of all that is available.

Biographical & Other Information

Alternative Title Possibilities

Along with your current working title, please suggest several alternative titles. We strive for titles that clearly communicate to all audiences the topic, purpose, and usefulness of our content.

Schedule

When do you expect to have your content ready? (Please be realistic in planning your schedule).

Other Publishers

Which other publishers are considering your project?

Author

What experience, background, or other qualifications do you have that make you uniquely qualified to undertake this project? What articles or books have you previously published and where? In what professional associations are you active and at which conferences do you present? Please explain and attach your vita or résumé. If you are an active consultant, please also provide details about the nature of your work. In addition, if you are interested in being considered for Corwin’s author consulting program, please include the following with your proposal: A video clip of you delivering professional development to an audience – no more than 30 minutes in length, a cover letter of interest that addresses why you want to become a consultant with Corwin, a list of at least five references, a description of the current professional development sessions you offer (including keynotes, workshops, implementation opportunities, coaching, etc.), and client testimonials speaking to the power of your work.

Corwin's Editorial Team

Corwin looks forward to receiving your proposal. Please email your proposal to only one editor, as it will expedite the response. If you have additional questions, contact us by phone at 800-233-9936.