Are you considering writing a book? DSA2026 is a great place to find out more about becoming an author. During our session on Getting Started in Publishing taking place Friday 10 July at 1245 you can hear from book editors and ask questions of Practical Action in the chat. If you’re keen to start asking questions now, feel free to post them in our LinkedIn post and someone from Practical Action Publishing will get back to you. In the meantime, here are some FAQs to get you started.

❓What kinds of development studies research are you interested in?
At Practical Action Publishing we are particularly interested in research connected to sustainability, climate justice, gender, livelihoods, humanitarianism, participation, inequality, and social change.

❓How do I know if my research/ PhD thesis could become a book?
If your work offers a strong original contribution, engages with current debates, or aims to bridge the gap between research and practical application for the global challenges that affect communities around the world, it may have real potential as a book, and we would love to hear from you! Many strong research monographs begin as doctoral research, although the content would need to be adapted for a wider readership and different format.

❓Should I contact you before I start writing?
We are very happy to answer any general questions you have before you submit your proposal, but the publishing process begins when you send in a completed proposal form (which covers all aspects of the book content and context), chapter outline, and two sample chapters. Find the proposal form and further information.

❓What makes a strong book proposal?
A clear argument, defined audience, strong positioning within the field, and an explanation of why the book matters now.

❓Will my proposal be peer reviewed?
All proposals and manuscripts are reviewed by experts in the field as part of the editorial process.

❓How do you support authors through the process?
Our small, dedicated team reviews submissions monthly as a collective and works closely with authors from proposal through to publication and promotion; a process which can take from as little as 9–12 months depending on the project size, review process, and writing stage at the outset.

❓ Does it cost me anything to publish a book?
As a not-for-profit Publisher, we believe that publishing should be as accessible as possible and therefore do not charge publishing fees to our authors. However, if you do have funding available, we welcome support for our efforts to keep our retail prices affordable and content accessible to our target international development audiences, via bulk print purchases and/or open access – fees are variable according to authors’ circumstances, organisational affiliations and extent of work. Find out more about open access.

Remember you can ask your own questions in the comments of the LinkedIn post, or come to the publishing session at DSA2026.