subject: Tips For Getting Educational Textbooks Published [print this page] The world of educational publishing is as cut throat as any other sector of the publishing industry, with a great deal of authors vying to have their publications put on the shelves of bookshops and libraries across the UK, and indeed around the world. In this article we'll look at the kinds of things that an author must consider in order to improve their chances of having their book published. Having educational textbooks published can be a very rewarding experience, both financially and in terms of personal achievement.
It is very important that you establish the need for the book you plan to write. It is no good simply choosing a topic you're passionate and knowledgeable about if there are already dozens of educational textbooks covering the same subject. With this in mind a large portion of your time should be spent identifying a target market for your book. You should do this by contacting publishers of educational textbooks as well as looking in-depth at the kinds of titles currently available. If you do already have a subject in mind, look as hard as you can for similar pre-existing books and, if possible, borrow them to see if they cover the areas that you intended to cover.
Those who work in education, be it in primary school education, secondary or higher and further, will no doubt be better placed to identify any gaps in the market for educational textbooks. You may, as a prospective author, be better placed to identify a subject if you have worked in education before. If you haven't, then you would be well advised to try and find contacts who do, or who teach in the area you propose writing about. This is not necessarily that easy, and you'll need to work hard in order to secure meetings/phone calls with such individuals.
If you have had educational textbooks published before, then your publisher may well have some titles in mind, and whether these fit your interests or ambition is up to you. However, if you have been published before, the chances of you being published again go up a great deal. As in many walks of life, getting your foot in the door in the first instance is often the most challenging part. Once you have, a whole world of contacts and opportunities can open up.
Above all, it is important that you keep trying, especially if you believe in your idea for educational textbooks.
