Preparing the Text
You will be given detailed guidance about how to prepare the manuscript of the text. Your priority, as subject expert, is to write accurate, current and comprehensive content, pitched at the right level for the intended audience.
Budget your time
Writing is hard work and takes a great deal of time. Please carefully budget your time. You will discuss and agree a schedule with the publisher, so please be sure to adhere to your deadlines. If for any reason, you cannot meet the deadlines, please notify us immediately. Do not wait till the deadline to tell us you cannot complete your work.
Consider the audience
Be conscious of the target audience. Be sure terms are explained and be careful in assuming previous knowledge or experience.
Format
Do not format or design the text. We need the text in Word (in hard copy and on disk, ensuring that both are the same), and we will design the book to ensure optimal accessibility and economic production of the book.
References
References in the text should follow the Harvard style.
Length
Please write to the agreed length, specified in the contract. If you overwrite, you will be asked to revise and cut the text.
Permissions/Patient Consent
If you want to include material from a copyrighted source or photographs of patients, please refer to the permissions guidance, sample permissions form and patient consent form.
Submitting the Text
The text should be submitted as two copies of the complete, double spaced hard copy and an electronic copy, ensuring that both match exactly. All illustrations should be submitted at the same time. Keep a copy of the text files for yourself. If you have to revise the text in preparation, please establish a versioning system, so that you are always working on the most recent version.
Each chapter should be submitted in a separate file. Text features and illustrations should also be submitted in separate files, clearly named to link to the relevant chapter. Artwork and iIlustrations should be submitted in either electronic form or on paper. We can redraw artwork as necessary. Ensure that all tables and illustrations have a legend or caption, numbered by chapter.
What happens next
The text will be reviewed again, to ensure quality and content. You may need to make some final revisions before it goes into production.
The manuscript will be edited by a professional copy editor. This process will include a checking for consistency of approach and language throughout; and checking all table and figures. The copyeditor may have queries which you will need to answer in a timely fashion. The copyeditor will prepare the manuscript for the next stage –– typesetting. This preparation will include all agreed changes with the authors and publisher and instructions to the typesetter on heading levels, the use of italics, bold and other issues relating to the design of each chapter and page.
