Leading a new edited book project is an exciting process and one that many researchers and academicians choose to undertake at least once in their lives, whether for tenure and promotion opportunities or simply to just provide the latest much needed research on a topic to the academic community. In order to efficiently, effectively, and easily take over the role of book editor, it is important to understand what is expected from the editor. Editor responsibilities can differ from one publisher to another, and the level of support from a publisher can vary as well. The below article highlights the essential duties of an IGI Global editor during the development process as well as the roles that IGI Global development editors undertake to ethically support editors. Using the information in this article, researchers can navigate the development process while being fully informed of their duties and the duties of the development editors.
 | | Benefits of Publishing With IGI Global: | - Traditional and Open Access Publishing Models
- Honorariums & Royalties
- Free Use of the eEditorial Discovery® Submission System
- Flexible Timelines (Less Than 1 Year, if desired)
- Rigorous Double-Blind Peer Review Process
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Recruiting Chapters
The first major responsibility of the editor is the development of the call for chapters and recruitment of chapters for the book. Upon signing and submitting a contract with IGI Global, an editor is provided a form to create a Call for Chapters for their book, which is then hosted on the IGI Global website. A Call for Chapters is a tool to advertise the premise of the edited book to prospective researchers who may wish to submit chapters. It is expected of an editor during the proposal process to have a diverse and comprehensive plan to reach contributors. This part of the process allows the editor to enact that plan, giving them the resource to share the book with research scholars to contribute chapters. Upon completing the Call for Chapters webpage, the editor may distribute the Call for Chapters, or form personal invitations, to their network, which can include channels such as:
- Colleagues
- University/College Departments
- Research Centers/Laboratories
- Conferences
- Associations/Societies
- ListServs
- Research Groups/Forums
- Social Media
- Personal Websites
IGI Global does not take an active part in the recruitment of submissions for an editor’s book. However, because the Call for Chapters is located and searchable through the IGI Global website, editors may receive submissions from authors who find the book’s Call for Chapters by searching through IGI Global’s Call for Chapters page. Potential chapter authors have the ability to search this page by subject, keyword, and author. Moreover, authors may occasionally send chapters to IGI Global staff asking for recommendations on books that fit the chapter’s scope, to which staff members will point them towards applicable books that are currently seeking submissions.
Note: It is heavily encouraged that chapter authors submit the chapters through the online submission system themselves, as the website will list whoever uploads the chapter as an author. Editors of the book should not upload the initial submission of chapters on behalf of the chapter authors.
Moreover, editors should ensure that their chapter authors follow the chapter submission guidelines and make sure that their work is copyedited prior to submitting the full chapter. IGI Global provides Author Services for a fee that authors are encouraged to use, but will not undertake line-by-line copyediting during the Production stage of the book.
Managing the Double-Blind Peer Review Process
As editors recruit chapters for the book, chapter authors will submit chapter proposals. It is the editor’s responsibility to perform the initial assessment or “desk accept/reject” of a chapter proposal. A rejected chapter proposal will simply be dismissed outright. An initially accepted chapter proposal will prompt the chapter author to submit the full version of the chapter. Editors may initially assess the full chapter and then will assign it out for review.
For ethical reasons, IGI Global should play no part in the double-blind peer review process that must be undertaken for each chapter submitted to an edited book. Editors, as the experts, must facilitate this process for every chapter and the review process must be completed through the eEditorial Discovery® online manuscript submission system.
Note: Editors are required to use the eEditorial Discovery online manuscript submission system for the entire development of the book because IGI Global is a full member of the international Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). As a full member, IGI Global must be prepared to provide records and documentation of every review performed and decision made on any publication at any stage of the process at any time.
The double-blind peer review process must be conducted utilizing a minimum of three reviewers and as needed, the consult of a Managing Editor or member of the Editorial Advisory Board. While this is required of every chapter, the editor does have options in how it is conducted. An editor could use the resources that they already have by using chapter authors to peer review each other’s work. An editor could also use the method of creating an Editorial Advisory Board to conduct the peer review process, or they could use a blend of chapter authors and Editorial Advisory Board members. So long as the peer review process follows IGI Global’s ethical standards, the editor has options to how it is conducted.
Making Editorial Decisions
It is an editor’s responsibility to make all editorial decisions of whether to accept, reject, or ask for revisions for the chapters after the peer review process is undertaken. As the one who oversees the project, the editor has the power over what will be included within the actual book itself. These decisions must be made by the editor and only the editor, as they are the expert and organizer of the project. Moreover, editors are responsible for communicating any and all editorial decisions out to the chapter authors.
Note: IGI Global cannot and will not make editorial decisions on chapters.
Writing a Preface
It is an editor’s responsibility to write the preface to the edited book. It is best that the editor completes this part of the process as they will be the most knowledgeable of the themes that are covered within the text, as well as how they tie together. It should work as a description of the book as well as a broad overview of the topics to come.
The Role of the Development Editors
Every editor of an IGI Global book will collaborate with a Development Editor who will guide and support the editor throughout the development of their book. Because Development Editors are part of IGI Global, the publisher, they ethically should never have a hand in the actual decision-making process, nor should they be the ones conducting the double-blind peer review process.
The Development Editors CAN:
- Assist with updates to the Call for Chapters.
- Answer questions about the peer review process.
- Answer questions about the eEditorial Discovery® system.
- Provide tips for recruiting chapter authors for the book.
The Development Editors CANNOT:
- Actively help the editors recruit content (sending out emails on behalf of the editor, etc.).
- Copyedit the chapters for the editor.
- Manage the double-blind peer review process.
- Make editorial decisions on chapter proposals or chapters.
- Write prefaces.
- Arrange the Table of Contents.
Conclusion
The editor has many roles and duties to complete during the development process of their book. It is essential that the editor completes these roles as the organizer and leader of the book project and understands these responsibilities before agreeing to them. Every edited book contract provides comprehensive and detailed information about the role of the editor(s) of the project and the role of the publisher. Editors are encouraged to read the contract before signing and agreeing to its conditions.
The editor is also the expert in the subject that the book is written under, making them the best to consult on what should be included within the text. Of course, the editor is not left without help. IGI Global has over 30 years of publishing experience and knowledge to impart on editors and is pleased to act as a guide and support system through its team of Development Editors who are there to assist with updates to the Call for Chapters, answer questions about the peer review process, and answer questions about the eEditorial Discovery® system.
For those interested in discovering more information and resources regarding the roles that editors play during the development process, please visit the “Resources” tab on the IGI Global Website. Questions about the development process may be directed to the Development Team at Development@igi-global.com.
If you would like to become an IGI Global editor, please fill out and submit the book proposal form to get started.
About IGI Global
Founded in 1988, IGI Global, an international academic publisher, is committed to producing the highest quality research (as an active full member of the Committee on Publication Ethics “COPE”) and ensuring the timely dissemination of innovative research findings through an expeditious and technologically advanced publishing process. Through their commitment to supporting the research community ahead of profitability, and taking a chance on virtually untapped topic coverage, IGI Global has been able to collaborate with over 100,000+ researchers from some of the most prominent research institutions around the world to publish the most emerging, peer-reviewed research across 350+ topics in 11 subject areas including business, computer science, education, engineering, social sciences, and more. To learn more about IGI Global, click here.
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