1.  The rationale behind the book

• What is your book about? Why is this book needed?

• What are the main theories that will be developed, employed, or critiqued?

2.  Outline, with chapter headings and synopses

• List working chapter headings with a paragraph of explanation/abstract on what you intend to cover for each.

3.  Figures and third-party material

• Estimate how many tables, diagrams or illustrations will be included. (Note: For illustrations, Routledge prefers that authors secure permissions from copyright holders for gratis reproduction of the work. Images need to be scans of at least 300 dpi). 

• Will you be using any previously published material?

4.  Length of the work

• Estimate how many words (including references and notes) in length the book will be. (Most existing books in the series are 70,000-120,000 words.)

• Shorter works of 20,000-50,000 words, consistent with the CRC Press Focus program, are also encouraged.

5.  A description of the target market

• Who is the primary audience for your book?

• Is the subject area of the proposal widely taught or researched?

• Is it a research monograph that will sell primarily to academic libraries?

• Would this subject have appeal outside your home country? If so, where?

6.  A list of the main competing books

• Demonstrate that you are familiar with the competition in the larger market for your proposed book.

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of key competing titles?

• What will your book do differently or better than existing books?

7.  Tentative schedule

• When do you expect to be able to deliver the completed manuscript? Please be as realistic as possible. 

8.  Curriculum vitae

• If there is more than one author, please supply a CV for each author.

• An author proposing a monograph, or an editor proposing an anthology, should have a terminal degree.

9.   A sample chapter

 

Additional considerations for...

...Edited collections

• Will you be providing a detailed introduction?

• Are all of the chapters newly commissioned? If any material is previously published, indicate where it was published.

• Indicate if contributors have already agreed to contribute to the project, and supply details about contributors’ affiliations, credentials (ie, highest degree), and main publications.

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...A book based on a dissertation

• Which parts will you cut or modify?

• How will you draw out and expand the main findings and conclusions?

• How will you be adapting the language and style?

• If some time has passed since the dissertation what additional research or analysis will be needed to ensure the book is up-to-date?

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...A book using original applied comics

• Does the graphic form help to present arguments more effectively or generate more understanding of comics studies and visual literacy?

• What portion of the work will be presented visually? Will the applied comics be used for examples/emphases, or will they comprise the bulk or entirety of the manuscript?

• Can quality and readability of the comics be maintained when printed at the maximum full-page image size of 188.7 x 116 mm?

• Will the content be accessible in e-book format?