GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING A MANUSCRIPT PROPOSAL

The preliminary materials you send to us will be evaluated very carefully Homestead Schools, Inc staff and by selected reviewers. When writing your proposal, keep two objectives in mind: (1) you want to convey accurate and specific information about your manuscript, and (2) you want to convince both publisher and reviewers that your project has merit. Think about what information you would need to know about a project if you were making the decision or recommendation as a reviewer as to whether or not a contract should be offered for the proposed project.

These goals will facilitate the promotion and improvement of standards of client care and practice through the professional development of various health-care providers.  These goals are reviewed and revised on an annual basis. Director of continuing education is responsible to formulate, review and revise these goals on an ongoing basis.

So we can properly evaluate your project, your proposal should contain, four items: (1) a prospectus, (2) a detailed table of contents for the book, (3) sample chapters, and (4) a copy of your curriculum vitae. Each of these items is discussed below.

1. The Prospectus

The prospectus is a very important part of your proposal. Each item in it should be carefully and thoroughly written. The more time you spend on it, the easier the actual writing of your project will be. The prospectus should include the following information:

A.  Description of the intended market for the book and the needs of this market. This section profiles the appropriate academic course for the book, describing the course, its level, prerequisites, and the type discipline to which the course should be marketed.  Professional markets should be described in similar detail.

Secondly, you need to take some time and really think about the needs of this market– particularly the needs that are not being met by the current books. What is it that students really must learn in this course? What practical skills should they take away from this course? What trends, innovations and new standards will affect the way the course is taught? If your book is targeted toward the practicing nurse, dentist, psychologist or other health care provider professional needs should be described.

B.  Description of competing books. List books with which your project will compete, and discuss specifically their strengths and weaknesses. Compare and contrast the organization, approach, writing style and features of the competing books. Describe how each of the competing books does–and doesn't–meet the needs of the market as stated above. Which of these books have you taught out of in your courses or used professionally?

If there are no books your project will compete against, explain why not. What changes have taken place in the market to encourage you to write your book?

Your discussion of existing texts will help reviewers and the publisher place your material in perspective. Remember, this is written for reviewers and not for publication, so be as frank as possible regarding your competition.

C.  Description of your book and how it will meet the needs of the market. In a few paragraphs, describe the work, its rationale, approach and organization. List what you consider to be the outstanding, distinctive, unique features of the book. Will the book include examples, cases, margin notes, boxed material, questions, problems, glossaries, bibliography, appendixes, etc.? Do you plan to provide supplementary material (instructors’ manual, study guide, student workbook, etc.) to accompany the text?

D.  Your qualification for writing this book. Cite your own experience, previous publications, special research, courses taught, professional practice and current interests that give you the qualifications to write this book.

E.  Physical characteristics of the book. What is the estimated length of the completed book (double‑spaced typewritten pages normally reduce by about one‑half to one­ third when set in type; i.e., 600 typewritten pages = 300 to 400 printed pages). Approximately how many photographs do you plan to include? Approximately how many line drawings (charts, graphs, diagrams) will you need? How many tables will be in the book? Will contributors be involved? What is the expected completion date of the project?

2. Detailed Table of Contents

You should also submit a detailed table of contents for the completed book. The more information you provide, the more feedback we can obtain from reviewers. This table of contents should include part titles, chapter titles and section titles, appendixes and anything else that is part of the manuscript (e.g., you might want to indicate where cases will fall or what ideas you have for boxes in a particular chapter.)

3. Sample Chapters

You should also submit a detailed table of contents for the completed book. The more information you provide, the more feedback we can obtain from reviewers. This table of contents should include part titles, chapter titles and section titles, appendixes and anything else that is part of the manuscript (e.g., you might want to indicate where cases will fall or what ideas you have for boxes in a particular chapter.)

4. Curriculum Vitae

Please send a copy of your current curriculum vitae, listing degrees, employment history and publications.ideas you have for )

Once we have these materials from you, we will review them with our in-house editorial and marketing advisors, and possibly send them to outside reviewers for more in-depth feedback.  This process can take two to three weeks and sometimes longer if more extensive review is warranted.  In all cases, we will endeavor to get back to you as quickly as possible with our publishing decision.

Please send your proposal to: