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Publishing with Wilfrid Laurier University Press

We welcome proposals in the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. We publish scholarly monographs and collections, trade books based on sound scholarship, and textbooks in our areas of specialization.

We do not generally publish original fiction or poetry, children’s books, conference proceedings, festschrifts or unrevised theses.

  1. SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL
    1. Proposal
    2. Peer review
    3. Editorial board
    4. Funding
  2. SUBMITTING YOUR FINAL MANUSCRIPT
    1. Manuscript format
    2. Multi-author and edited collections
    3. Permissions
  3. FROM MANUSCRIPT TO BOOK
    1. Copyediting
    2. WLU Press house style
    3. Design and typesetting
    4. Proofreading and indexing
    5. Printing
  4. MARKETING, SALES, AND DISTRIBUTION 
    1. Author questionnaire
    2. Sales
    3. Promotion

Submitting Your Proposal

We are pleased to receive new proposals. A proposal should include:

  • abstract and chapter descriptions
  • sample chapters (the introduction and one body chapter)
  • rationale for the project, including origins of the work, place in the extant literature, methodology/sources, intended audience, and significance to the field
  • description of physical elements, including estimated page or word count, number of illustrations, tables, photographs, etc.
  • schedule for completion for peer review
  • your curriculum vitae
  • for edited collections, a list of contributors, including institutional affiliations when possible, and a detailed explanation of the guiding editorial principles shaping the collection and ensuring its coherence
  • for textbooks, an assessment of the market, with examples of relevant courses in North America, along with their associated university departments
  • Competing titles
  • Potential reviewers

Appraising proposals and manuscripts for publication requires considerable resources. On average, it takes four to six weeks for the editor to give due consideration and respond fully to a proposal. While authors are free to send simultaneous proposals, we respectfully ask that you inform us if your work is under consideration elsewhere.

Once the editor has invited further editorial consideration of the manuscript, we require that the manuscript be on exclusive offer to WLU Press over the course of our review process.

Please send proposals to:

Siobhan McMenemy
Senior Editor
647-458-0411
smcmenemy@wlu.ca

Initial manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial development

Once your proposal is accepted, your editor will request that you submit the manuscript for peer review. We ask you to submit an electronic copy. It should include:

  • title page
  • table of contents
  • foreword, preface, introduction
  • text body
  • appendices, glossary, etc.
  • endnotes
  • bibliography
  • drafts or copies of all tables and illustrations (figures, graphics, maps, photos, etc.), with captions, credits and position noted in the manuscript
  • Please double-space all text and set it left-justified with a ragged right margin. Number pages consecutively and include a word count.

We will commission a minimum of two expert readers to assess the work anonymously, and prepare a report on your manuscript. We ask readers to evaluate the quality of the scholarship of the work, as well as the quality of the writing and the structure of the work.

Once the reports are complete, we forward blind copies to you with our editorial recommendations. Your editor will ask you to respond in writing to those reports. The purpose of the response is, primarily, to ensure that you and your editor are satisfied with the nature of the planned revisions for the sake of strengthening your manuscript for publication. The review dossier is also used in the course of in-house discussions with our editorial board, and for the purposes of funding applications, which will be assisted in most cases by your editor.

Editorial board

Once the peer review process is complete, the editor presents the manuscript, reports and your response to our Editorial Board. Comprised of scholars from the Laurier faculty, our Board is mandated to ensure that the manuscript meets the academic and professional standards of the University.

Funding

Due to limited markets, most scholarly books in Canada require some financial assistance. WLU Press seeks support from a variety of sources and asks authors to help us identify funding options for their projects. Institutional book preparation grants, government special interest programs, local programs such as the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation, and the Canada Council for the Arts are possible sources.

We submit applications on behalf of our authors, when eligible, to the Award to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP), administered by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada (CFHSS). Book-length manuscripts (more than 100 manuscript pages) by Canadian citizens or residents, and books entirely Canadian in content, qualify for funding. Unrevised conference proceedings, unrevised theses, and works containing more than 30% previously published material are not. Please see http://www.ideas-idees.ca/aspp for complete details.

The Press undertakes an analysis which considers the cost of editing, production, distribution, and marketing in the context of price, grants or subsidies, sales potential, and other revenue in order to decide whether to proceed with publication.

Submitting Your Final Manuscript

Once your manuscript is accepted for publication, you will need to prepare it for copyediting and production. Manuscripts that do not meet the following standards may be returned to you for further work, leading to delays in production. If you have any questions, please contact your editor.

Please submit an electronic copy of your manuscript, which should represent the final version of the work. A complete manuscript must include the following elements, where applicable:

  • title page
  • table of contents
  • foreword, preface, introduction
  • acknowledgements, dedication
  • list of tables and/or illustrations
  • text body
  • appendix and/or glossary
  • notes
  • bibliography
  • tables
  • all illustrations (figures, graphics, maps, photos)
  • captions for illustrations
  • complete permission file

The manuscript should be submitted in either .doc or .docx format. Label all files clearly, indicating your name and title of manuscript. Please co-ordinate with your editor before transmitting files to determine the most suitable method, i.e., via email or file transfer.

Manuscript format

Text

  • Double-space all text on consecutively numbered pages, leaving at least a one-inch margin at top, bottom, and both sides.
  • Include as little formatting in your manuscript as possible, as this greatly speeds copy-editing and typesetting.
  • Include permissions to reproduce all material from other sources.
  • Submit notes, bibliographies, and reference lists in an appropriate and complete format. For guidance on how to prepare notes and bibliographies in humanities-style documentation, consult The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, the MLA Handbook, 8th edition, or the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition. If your manuscript uses a scientific style, consult the Council of Biology Editors' (CBE) Scientific Style and Format, or other appropriate style manual in your field. Whatever style you choose, please follow it consistently throughout the manuscript. If not, we will return the manuscript to you for revision or request that you pay for additional copy-editing costs. Consult with your editor early in the process to ensure that you understand the implications of your choice of reference style.
  • Tables, graphs, maps, illustrations, and other images should not be embedded in the text. These facets of the manuscript constitute artwork (see below).

Artwork

  • All illustrations, whether graphs, maps, line drawings, photographs, or other images, should be judiciously chosen, and submitted in the highest possible quality. Authors are responsible for providing illustrations that meet our standards of production. Discuss with the editor any illustrations you intend to include in your manuscript at the earliest opportunity (ideally before the conclusion of the peer review process) We reserve the right to limit the number and format of illustrations.
  • Submit all artwork in separate, individual files.
  • Ensure all files are named according to our file-naming conventions:
    • Smith_ch1_001.tif (for images numbered discretely by chapter)
    • Smith_001.tif (for images numbered sequentially throughout book)
  • Include captions and credits for all images.
  • For artwork not available in an electronic format please consult with your editor for instructions.
  • Submit all electronic images in the following file formats: TIFF, JPEG, or EPS.
  • Do not submit files in the following file formats: GIF, PNG, BMP, or PSD.
  • Do not submit electronic images embedded in a Word document or PowerPoint presentation.
  • Electronic files require a resolution of 300 dpi with a physical size of at least 5 x 7 inches to ensure high quality reproduction. As a rule of thumb, this means each image should be at least 600 x 800 pixels. A suitable TIF file will generally be at least 15-20 MB in size, while a comparable JPG will be 1 MB or larger.
  • If submitting JPEG files, do not re-save the file as this causes image degradation. If you need to rename the file right-click on the file and select “Rename” from your menu options. DO NOT rename a JPEG file by opening it and using the “Save As” option.
  • Do not artificially increase the resolution of an image. Saving a low-resolution file with a higher resolution setting in graphics editing software such as Photoshop does not increase the resolution of the image. On the contrary, the image will become fuzzy and pixelated.
  • Image files that look good on your computer screen are generally too low in resolution for print book production. For this reason, web images and screen captures are rarely acceptable for print publication. Please keep in mind that material on the web is not necessarily in the public domain.
  • The Press can produce maps requiring professional cartographical services, but the author will be responsible for charges incurred.
  • Provide sources and permissions for all tables, charts, graphs, images, etc. All material must be reproducible, and any additional work necessary to ensure its quality will be billed to the author.

Electronic Citations

To Use or Not To Use?

When print publications exist alongside Internet sources, we prefer that authors cite the print publication rather than the Internet version. The URL can be provided after the print citation.

Following Chicago 17/e, 14.6, we agree that URLs can “lead readers directly to the source cited, and authors are encouraged to include them as part of their source citations.” When citing a URL, the full facts of Internet publication should also be included wherever possible. The author should provide a descriptive phrase to indicate what type of source it is (homepage, listserv, or newsgroup, for example).

When and Where to Cite URLs

Do you need to use a URL? Please use the following instructions:

  1. Is there a print resource you can cite instead? If so, cite the print resource, as it is a more stable point of reference.
  2. If you must cite the URL, cite it in the bibliography.
  3. If you can’t cite it in the bibliography, cite it in an endnote or footnote.
  4. If you can’t cite it in an endnote or footnote, cite it in the main text.

How to Cite URLs

Once you’ve established where you should place a URL, you still have numerous options when it comes to which version of a URL to cite. Please use the following instructions:

  1. Cite the Digital Object Identifier (DOI).
  2. If the resource doesn’t have a DOI, use the URL assigned from the Internet Archive (http://archive.org); see “Using the Internet Archive,” below.
  3. If the URL isn’t in the Internet Archive, you can create a URL there instantly.

Using the Internet Archive

The Internet Archive (https://web.archive.org/) is a non-profit digital library dedicated to archiving documents, resources, ephemera, and other cultural artifacts from the World Wide Web and the Internet for posterity. This organization has a proven track record of successfully archiving web pages and resources that have disappeared or changed, so we recommend using URLs generated from the Internet Archive so that they can be found with ease by readers.

     Find a URL on the Internet Archive

  1. Go to https://web.archive.org/
  2. In the main search bar, next to the “Wayback Machine” logo, paste in the URL you would like to use.
  3. If the page has been saved on the Internet Archive, it will specify the date(s) that the archiving took place, and a calendar with those dates highlighted.
  4. Click on the most recent highlighted date, and click on the time that appears in the pop-up window.
  5. This will lead to the archived version of the web page. (This process is notoriously slow—please be patient!) Look through the archived page to make sure that it accurately reflects the content that you want to include.
  6. If the page contains what you want to cite, copy the URL in the address bar and use this as your URL in the book.

     Save a URL on the Internet Archive

  1. Go to https://web.archive.org/
  2. Under the top menu, click on “Web.”
  3. A palette will appear under the “Web” menu. At the right is a search box under the words “Save Page Now: Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.”
  4. Enter the URL you want to cite in this box and click Save.
  5. Click on Save Page. This can take several minutes.
  6. When the URL has been archived, you will be taken to a page that says, “A snapshot was captured.” Click on the hyperlink after this text.
  7. You will be taken to the archived version of the web page. Look through the archived page to make sure that it accurately reflects the content that you want to include.
  8. If the page contains what you want to cite, copy the URL in the address bar and use this as your URL in the book.

 

Multi-author and edited collections

Collective works present particular organizational challenges. Please:

  • Standardize all electronic text files into one word processing format.
  • Check that each file contains the final version of each contributor’s work.
  • Ensure that all contributors are using the same style of documentation; otherwise, the Press may have to return the manuscript for correction or invoice you for the additional copy-editing costs.
  • Confirm that all contributors have obtained permission to reprint any reproduced material, and provide copies of permission-granting forms to the Press.
  • Include among the end matter a list of contributors and their institutional affiliations and short biographies. Biographies should be of consistent length and style.

Permissions

Our contract specifies that the author or volume editor is responsible for obtaining all third party permission to reproduce text, graphics (tables and figures), and images (illustrations, photographs, maps) from copyrighted sources. No permission is required to reproduce work in the public domain or brief quotations. Occasionally copyright holders request a fee for reproduction of materials, and this cost is the responsibility of the author.

Your book cannot proceed to production without a complete permissions file. In order to avoid delays, start your enquiries early. Canadian copyright law is still evolving and does not include explicit fair dealing provisions, so proceed carefully. If you have any questions about permissions, your editor can advise you on a case-by-case basis.

General guidelines

  • Obtain permission to reproduce all long prose quotations and for all instances of poetry that are used purely for aesthetic purposes (e.g. epigraphs). In instances where poetry is the subject of direct critical engagement, permission for use of more than 5% of the total word count of a single poem must be secured. All song lyrics, regardless of their use in the manuscript, must be accompanied by the appropriate permission. If possible, paraphrase long passages rather than quote directly. Cumulative quotations from a single work should not exceed 500 words without permission. Material from commercial sources can be particularly sensitive, so err on the side of caution.
  • In Canada, most published works enter the public domain 50 years after the death of the author. Reproducing unpublished work can be more complex: discuss these cases with the acquisitions editor as soon as possible.
  • For tables you design yourself, credit the source of the data. If tables represent an analysis of data from another source, you must obtain permission.
  • You must obtain permission to quote interviewees who are readily identifiable; all interviewees must be informed of the possibility of publication.
  • If you are unable to determine or contact a copyright holder, make an honest and documented attempt to obtain permission: send a registered letter detailing your request to the last known address of the publisher or author/author’s estate. Inform your editor of any problems you encounter as soon as possible.

Photographs

  • Copyright of a photograph taken before November 7, 2012, belongs to the owner of the negative, who may or may not be the photographer. The copyright in a photograph taken on or after November 7, 2012, belongs to the photographer.
  • If the copyright is owned by an individual, or a corporation owned primarily by an individual, the image passes into the public domain 50 years after the owner’s death.
  • If the copyright is owned by any other type of corporation, the image passes into the public domain 50 years after the making of the initial negative.
  • If you photograph individuals expressly for the purpose of your book, obtain letters of consent from your subjects whenever possible.

From Manuscript to Book

Once your manuscript has successfully passed through peer review and the editorial board, the editor transmits the manuscript to the managing editor, who will consult with you regarding scheduling and your responsibilities from this point forward.

Copy editing

The managing editor will assign a copy editor to your manuscript, who will ensure the manuscript is well organized, consistent, grammatically correct, and conforms to the style agreed upon by author and editor. Approximately one month is required to copy-edit a manuscript.

Once the manuscript is copy-edited, the managing editor returns the text to you for review. You will review changes, make corrections as requested, add any necessary information, and answer queries. This is the last opportunity for minor polishing; major rewrites cannot be done at this stage. The Press will ask you to return the reviewed manuscript within two weeks.

WLU Press house style

WLU Press uses Canadian spellings in accordance with the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2nd ed. (2004). Where an entry offers a choice of spellings, choose the first. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, is the guide we follow for most questions of style. Above all, be consistent. Use inclusive language.

We ask that authors adopt WLU Press house style as early as possible in the writing process. This includes using our text, artwork, and electronic citation guidelines in our Manuscript Format guide.

Design and typesetting

The managing editor reviews the final manuscript copy, ensures that all revisions and corrections are incorporated, and passes it to the production department, where the interior design of the book is created. Formatted page proofs are produced.

We reserve the right to determine the appearance of a book but strive to include author input in the process whenever possible. If you have particular ideas about cover images or design, we ask that you discuss them with your editor as early as possible in the publishing process.

Proofreading and indexing

We will send you a first set of page proofs and ask you to check for typos, omissions, and errors. The Press checks corrections but does not do a line-by-line proofreading. You may at this stage begin to prepare an index, but remember that pagination will not yet be finalized.

Once your corrections are made to the proofread pages, a set of final proofs is created and sent to you for indexing. Alternatively, the managing editor can arrange to have the work indexed professionally.

Printing and ebooks

Print and binding takes approximately four weeks. When bound books are delivered to the Press, we will send a small number of copies to the author immediately, with the remaining author copies designated in the contract to follow shortly after. Simultaneously, we are producing ebook versions in a variety of formats.

Marketing, Sales, and Distribution

Wilfrid Laurier University Press is a keen advocate of our authors and their books. We encourage authors to discuss any ideas they have for reaching the best market for their book.

Author questionnaires

Once your manuscript is accepted for publication, we send you a series of marketing forms to complete. These forms communicate your ideas on various aspects of marketing, including catalogue copy, cover design, media coverage, potential markets, and more.

Sales

Our books are distributed throughout Canada, the United States, and internationally. We have commissioned sales representatives in both Canada and the US to sell directly to bookstores, libraries, and wholesalers. We are distributed in Canada by University of Toronto Press Distribution, in the United States by Ingram Publisher Services, and outside North America by Eurospan.

WLU Press produces two print catalogues per year, which are distributed to sales representatives, bookstores, libraries, and wholesalers. We also participate in online catalogue platforms such as Book Manager, Catalist, and Edelweiss. Advance copies in ebook form are made available to booksellers, reviewers, and librarians through these platforms.

Promotion

WLU Press advertises in scholarly and literary journals, carefully considering each title’s particular focus and intended audience when placing print and digital media ads. We send review copies to appropriate journals, newspapers, magazines, radio, and web-based media using suggestions from the author and our own sources.

We promote your book by email to both our opt-in mailing list and to your contacts. We also produce flyers for authors to distribute at conferences or speaking engagements.

We display books at many association meetings and conferences and regularly attend national and international major book fairs. We encourage our authors to inform us of opportunities for book display, and we provide promotional materials whenever possible.

Each book has its own page on our website and is highlighted at other times through targeted lists, such as forthcoming books, new releases, award winners, or in relation to special events.

WLU Press is represented on social media through our Facebook page and on Twitter and we encourage authors to engage with the press and with readers on these platforms.