We are always pleased to receive suggestions for publications from teachers or others involved in education. Many successful authors have begun by sending an unsolicited manuscript to a publisher. If you have a good idea which you would like to share with us, then the following steps are very helpful.

What should you send?

An outline synopsis of what it is you hope to write. This should cover the subject area, the target age groups (5-7/5-11/11-14 etc). Any particular group of students such as gifted or SEN should be identified.

A brief description of the coverage of the curriculum area within the proposed publication, including cross references to National Curriculum/Guidelines 5-14/QCA/Exams etc.

An indication of whether you see this as textbook/work book/teacher book/teacher file/CD-ROM etc.

Synopsis of content

If you are proposing a publication that fits into one of our existing series, then you should outline the approximate content you would expect to cover. If your proposal is for a major textbook series, then your synopsis of content can be in broad-brush terms.

Market opportunity

Try and explain why you think your publication would find a positive response in the market place. In what ways does the current material available fail to meet the needs of teachers and pupils? How is your product different? What are its unique selling points?

It is very useful here to list what you believe to be the current well-used products in this particular sector of the market place and to highlight their shortcomings which your publication would address.

Sample spreads

If your proposal covers a range of year groups, you should enclose sample spreads of the different target age groups (this will help us recognise whether you can write effectively for the full range of ages you are proposing). It isn't the end of the world if you can't, it just means that you may need more support or to involve another author who has expertise with particular age groups.

Four pages of sample material per pupil year group, and two pages of sample material per teacher resource are very helpful.

Layout

We can work with text only, however if you have a vision of how you think your material should appear for the pupil/teacher, then add a sketch to your submission. Don't worry about including high quality artwork, a brief reference to the kind of art or photograph you would envisage on a spread is quite sufficient.

What else do I need to tell you?

Tell us a little about yourself. Are you a teacher/advisory teacher/lecturer? Have you written previously? if so, tell us what, for whom and when. Is the material you are presenting your own? This is a very serious issue you should resolve at the outset. Did you write it on your own or with colleagues? Did you write it as part of a full-time paid occupation as an expected part of what you should do in your job? Some employers (including local authorities and schools) expect people to develop materials and state so in their contracts. On occasions, this means you would first have to clear with your employer as to whether you, or they, or you jointly own the rights to the content. If you are unsure, we are happy to talk to you about what questions to ask.

How do I select a publisher?

Remember, we are an education specialist publisher. Many of our books are sold directly to schools, although some also have a substantial market in bookshops. We don't publish one-off fiction, poetry, biography, autobiography etc. When you are approaching a publisher, it is always best to identify one who already publishes for the market you feel is right for your book.

All submissions should be sent in the first instance to Peter Burton, Director of Publishing. They can be emailed to pburton@folens.com or posted marked FAO:

Peter Burton,
Folens Publishers,
Waterslade House,
Thame Road,
Haddenham,
Buckinghamshire
HP17 8NT

Developed by Education Direct and Haremi Ltd. Graphic design by Rawnet

Folens Ltd, Waterslade House, Thame Road, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. HP17 8NT. UK