We welcome submissions for book ideas.
If you have an idea for a book, please read through the following information and guidelines on how to submit a book proposal to the Royal Society of Chemistry.
On this page
Process overview
How to prepare a book proposal
Commissioning editors
How to prepare a book proposal
It is important that you complete the Book proposal form thoroughly, and provide as much detail as possible to help reviewers understand your idea and increase the likelihood of favourable reviews. Here are some guidelines to help you prepare the form.
Book proposal formTitle
Keep titles are succinct, and include keywords that potential readers will be using to find content on this topic.
Series
Look through our list of book series and, where applicable, indicate to which series you feel your book would be a valuable addition.
Authored or edited?
Edited volumes feature chapters written by key researchers in the field, who can provide specialist knowledge that may be beyond the experiences of the book editors. Authored volumes are written by a single author or multiple authors, and provide a coherent overview of the subject.
Content & scope
What do you expect to cover in the book? What are the key topics? If there are specific topics that you want to focus on in the book, or topics that you have decided to omit, explain your reasons for doing so.
Motivation
Why do you feel this book is needed?
Table of contents
Provide a provisional table of contents, including chapter titles and two or three sentences summarising the chapter content. For edited books you'll also need to include proposed contributors.
Selling points
What's unique about your book? What makes it stand out against others on this topic?
Competition
What existing books will yours compete with? These should be books aimed at a similar audience and covering similar topics; how does your book differ from these?
Readership
Who is the primary audience for your book?
Length of the book
How long do you expect the book to be? Think about the number of chapters you are proposing; how long would you expect these chapters to be?
Images
How many images will the book contain? Consider how many on average would be needed in each chapter. Do they need to be in colour? Will colour add scientific value to the book, or would the figures be just as understandable in black and white?
Timescale
When do you expect to deliver the final and complete typescript? Be realistic - consider existing demands on your time. An edited book typically takes 18 months be submitted; authored books may take longer than this.
Commissioning editors
We have a team of commissioning editors, each with a dedicated portfolio of subject areas.
Janet Freshwater CSci, CChem MRSC, Associate Publisher, Analytical and Food Chemistry
- New Developments in Mass Spectrometry
- New Developments in NMR
- Detection Science
- Specialist Periodical Reports
- Food Chemistry, Function and Analysis
- Issues in Toxicology
- Practical and Technical Guides for Laboratory-based Chemists
Dr Merlin Fox MRSC, Associate Publisher, Applied Materials and Engineering
- Biomaterials Science
- Soft Matter
- Inorganic Materials
- Optical, Electronic and Magnetic Materials
Matt Caffrey, Commissioning Editor, Materials Science
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
- Sustainable Energy
Mr Drew Gwilliams MRSB, Commissioning Editor, Biochemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
- Drug Discovery
- Drug Development and Pharmaceutical Science
- Chemical Biology
- Professional Development
- Chemistry Student Guides
Dr Helen Armes MRSC, Commissioning Editor, Physical Chemistry and Sustainability
- Issues in Environmental Science and Technology
- Catalysis
- Green Chemistry
- Chemistry in the Environment
- Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
- Advances in Chemistry Education Research
Get in touch
To contact one of our commissioning editors about a book idea, please use the 'Contact us' form on this page. We look forward to hearing from you.