front cover of Getting It Published, 2nd Edition
Getting It Published, 2nd Edition
A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious about Serious Books
William Germano
University of Chicago Press, 2008
Since 2001 William Germano’s Getting It Published has helped thousands of scholars develop a compelling book proposal, find the right academic publisher, evaluate a contract, handle the review process, and, finally, emerge as published authors.

But a lot has changed in the past seven years. With the publishing world both more competitive and more confusing—especially given the increased availability of electronic resources—this second edition of Germano’s best-selling guide has arrived at just the right moment. As he writes in a new chapter, the “via electronica” now touches every aspect of writing and publishing. And although scholars now research, write, and gain tenure in a digital world, they must continue to ensure that their work meets the requirements of their institutions and the needs of their readers.
 
Germano, a veteran editor with experience in both the university press and commercial worlds, knows this audience. This second edition will teach readers how to think about, describe, and pitch their manuscripts before they submit them. They’ll discover the finer points of publishing etiquette, including how to approach a busy editor and how to work with other publishing professionals on matters of design, marketing, and publicity. In a new afterword, they’ll also find helpful advice on what they can—and must—do to promote their work.
 
A true insider’s guide to academic publishing, the second edition of Getting It Published will help authors understand what to expect from the publishing process, from manuscript to finished book and beyond.
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front cover of Getting It Published, Fourth Edition
Getting It Published, Fourth Edition
A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious About Serious Books
William Germano
University of Chicago Press, 2026
In this thoroughly updated fourth edition, a trusted editor offers a comprehensive guide to selecting—and working with—a book publisher.

For more than two decades, writers have turned to William Germano’s Getting It Published as a guide to the world of serious book publishing, including university presses. A professor, author, and thirty-year veteran of the book industry, Germano knows what editors want and what writers need to do to get their work published.

This fourth, thoroughly updated edition of Getting It Published accounts for new challenges facing authors and changed conditions in the publishing industry. From open access to peer review, from approaching a press to considering an agent, publishing can be confusing for authors trying to understand their options. This new edition continues to offer the clear, practicable guidance on choosing the best path to publication that has made the book such a trusted resource. Its latest revisions include an expanded chapter on proposals (and their covering emails) as well as current information on the shifting landscape of ebook publishing. But this book is more than a nuts-and-bolts guide. It takes up a writer’s biggest challenges: how to frame a book-length project, shape its argument, conceive its audience, and pitch it convincingly to an editor.

Getting It Published reflects the latest changes and technologies in the publishing industry but keeps its eye on what remains constant: Whether working on their first book or their fifth, writers can make their work stronger by knowing what publishers do and why they do it.
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front cover of Getting It Published, Third Edition
Getting It Published, Third Edition
A Guide for Scholars and Anyone Else Serious about Serious Books
William Germano
University of Chicago Press, 2016
For more than a decade, writers have turned to William Germano for his insider’s take on navigating the world of scholarly publishing. A professor, author, and thirty-year veteran of the book industry, Germano knows what editors want and what writers need to know to get their work published.

Today there are more ways to publish than ever, and more challenges to traditional publishing. This ever-evolving landscape brings more confusion for authors trying to understand their options. The third edition of Getting It Published offers the clear, practicable guidance on choosing the best path to publication that has made it a trusted resource, now updated to include discussions of current best practices for submitting a proposal, of the advantages and drawbacks of digital publishing, and tips for authors publishing textbooks and in open-access environments.

Germano argues that it’s not enough for authors to write well—they also need to write with an audience in mind. He provides valuable guidance on developing a compelling book proposal, finding the right publisher, evaluating a contract, negotiating the production process, and, finally, emerging as a published author.
“This endlessly useful and expansive guide is every academic’s pocket Wikipedia: a timely, relevant, and ready resource on scholarly publishing, from the traditional monograph to the digital e-book. I regularly share it, teach it, and consult it myself, whenever I have a question on titling a chapter, securing a permission, or negotiating a contract. Professional advice simply does not get any savvier than this pitch-perfect manual on how to think like a publisher.”—Diana Fuss, Princeton University
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