2 - Publication Types

Summary

Introduction

Monographs and journal articles are the major publication types for engaging in scholarly discourse and disseminating research findings, while nontraditional publication types such as blogs and podcasts have become more popular for science communication and public engagement. What are the differences between the publication types? What should an author consider when preparing a book manuscript and when planning to submit a journal article? This chapter provides an overview of the following publication types: monographs, journal articles and conference proceedings, as well as nontraditional publications including preprints and blogs, with a focus on the details which researchers should consider when selecting the right venue for publishing their work.

Monographs

There are different types of books: trade books, textbooks, ‘crossover’ (or research highlights) and academic books. Trade books are published for a general audience: they are distributed through booksellers and are available in general bookstores. Textbooks are written for educational purposes: they are mostly acquired by college and university libraries and are also sold in specialised and campus bookstores. Crossover books are academic research that has an appeal to a wider audience and written in a way that can be understood by non-specialists. They are distinct from traditional academic books in that they appeal to a wider audience, or to students, and are written in a more casual tone and style. In contrast, academic books, usually referred to as monographs, are long-form publications that represent original contributions and they are mainly aimed at researchers and scholars in cognate fields of study.

The following discussion mainly focuses on monographs, as they are the most important and valued form of scholarly communication, especially in the arts and humanities and humanistic social sciences. Monographs are usually between 40,000 and 80,000 words. If a manuscript is shorter than 40,000 words, an author should consider if it may be better published as journal articles or book chapters. Put another way, is a book-length manuscript necessary to fully develop an argument, a concept or a thesis? If a manuscript is longer than 80,000 words, an author may consider whether the scope of the project is achievable in a certain period of time. It is also important to understand that publishers have considerations other than the academic contributions: manuscripts of shorter and longer length can affect the costs of publishing, pricing and marketability. Monographs are usually purchased by university libraries and most books are first published as hardcover.