When & How to Write a Pre-Submission Letter to an Journal Editor

When & How to Write a Pre-Submission Letter to an Journal Editor
Deciding which journal or press will be the best place for publishing your scholarly writing can be incredibly difficult. There are a great many factors to consider, after all. The range and specialisation of the publisher are the most essential, but also of significance are citation factors, readership and circulation. Will the publication be electronic, print or both and does it matter to you and your work? Will it be available to all potential readers without charge or will it be behind a pay wall and therefore accessible to a smaller audience? Even matters such as how long a manuscript can be, the structure used to organise it and the number of tables and references allowed may eliminate some publishers from your list of possibilities, though careful editing can accommodate most author guidelines with regard to such elements.

The cost of choosing the wrong publisher can be high. Sometimes months pass before an academic or scientist hears from an acquisitions editor, and then only with the verdict that the manuscript has not been accepted for publication. This is extremely disappointing, especially if that publisher was chosen after extensive research and consideration, and it also constitutes an enormous waste of time. It is usually the case that the more innovative and groundbreaking your research, the more important it is that it be published as quickly as possible. There are also possible consequences for your career. If that position or promotion you expect can only be given to a scholar who has a set number of publications and you were counting on that one to bring the total to the required number, waiting months for a rejection can be catastrophic.

There are good reasons, then, for writing to a publisher to ascertain whether there is enough interest in your work before you decide to submit your writing. Such letters feel out the ground before you and can be incredibly helpful, but they must be approached with caution. If the information you are able to discover about a publisher suggests that such preliminary inquiries are welcome or at least not discouraged, you can certainly go ahead and write, but if there is any indication that inquiries of this kind are not wanted, it is unlikely that your efforts will be productive.

Your letter should be straightforward, explaining that you are hoping to submit your manuscript and asking if it might be of interest. Be informative and honest about the content of your document and its value to your scholarly community. Indicate exactly why you think it would be a perfect fit for the publisher’s range and specialisation, and perhaps suggest its similarity to, difference from or development of work already published by the press or journal. Write your letter very carefully, proofreading and editing it to eliminate all errors and ensure clear and correct communication. Remember that it not only introduces your writing, but is a sample of it, so it must demonstrate your skills at their best. Finally, do not forget that a positive response is a promise that your manuscript will be seriously considered, but not necessarily published. A letter of inquiry may improve your chances of success, but it cannot earn you publication all on its own – your manuscript will ultimately have to do that.