Communication and Dissemination

Publisher’s Perspective (Humanities/Social Sciences)

1.5 hour lecture followed by 3.5 hour workshop

Lecture
The present climate is notoriously difficult for scholarly publishing. This lecture (open to all staff and PhD students) on the current state of the academic publishing industry, is designed to give an understanding of the market and conditions in which publishers operate, and how this affects the reception of publishing proposals. It encourages participants to view their research as others will see it, along the line that stretches from commissioning editors and publishers’ referees all the way down the supply chain to booksellers, librarians, review editors, and the prospective readership. The material covered applies to academic publishing in general, and includes factors that will affect researchers throughout their publishing careers.

The morning lecture is followed by an afternoon workshop designed for early stage researchers in the humanities and social sciences, in the final year of their PhD or at the postdoctoral stage, when they are ready to focus on the transition between a thesis and a publication. Please refer to separate entry on RSSDP website for details and booking.

Workshop
Making a first approach to academic presses with the fruits of your doctoral research can be a daunting and uncertain business. This workshop is designed to demystify the task, shedding light on the decision-making process and helping early stage researchers considering publication to present their work to publishers in the best way.

The workshop follows on from a morning lecture which considers the current state of the academic publishing industry, in order to give an understanding of the market and conditions in which publishers operate, and how this affects the reception of publishing proposals. While the material covered in the lecture applies to academic publishing in general, and includes factors that will affect researchers throughout their publishing careers, the afternoon workshop is designed specifically for early stage researchers in the humanities and social sciences, in the final year of their PhD or at the postdoctoral stage, when they are ready to focus on the transition between a thesis and a publication. Factors involved in the decision between book and article publication will be considered, but the primary focus will be on monographs, with some coverage of essay collections as well as the particular issues surrounding interdisciplinary work. Discussion and exercises will ensure that the material remains practically based throughout. Handouts will be supplied.

Places on the afternoon workshop are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Please note that it is a condition of registration that participants on the afternoon workshop provide a brief synopsis of their research (up to one page) and do a small amount of advance reading.

Lecture

Workshop

Provider: UGC
Target Audience: RS & PGR