Book Proposal Development Grants

Supporting Diverse Voices

We recognize that鈥痶here are鈥痬yriad鈥痮pportunities to support authors in the earliest stages of a book鈥檚 development, specifically the ideas-to-proposal stage.鈥疘n support of our unequivocal commitment to equitable and inclusive publishing, we want to ensure this early stage support is available to the greatest diversity of prospective authors. With Supporting Diverse Voices grants, we offer historically excluded and underrepresented scholars around the globe the opportunity to develop a book proposal in group or one-on-one settings with one of our partnering book coaches, each with her own approach to the collaborative development process.

The鈥疭upporting Diverse Voices鈥痝rants cover the costs of these collaborations. Each grantee will have a sponsoring PUP editor who will work with authors and coaches throughout the process. Following coaching, grantees agree to give PUP the right to consider the resulting proposals exclusively, before they are submitted to any other publishers for consideration. For any projects PUP does not pursue, Press editors will mentor grantees on alternative possible publishing paths.

Grants will be administered twice during the calendar year, with particular disciplines and groups specified for eligibility each cycle.

Grant Cycle, 2024 (closed)

Underrepresented Voices in the Sciences

The earliest stage of a book鈥檚 development involves writing a book proposal. For scholars in the sciences, including underrepresented scholars, this can be an unfamiliar process. In support of our unequivocal commitment to equitable and inclusive publishing, we want to ensure this early stage support is available to the greatest diversity of prospective authors. With Supporting Diverse Voices grants, we offer historically excluded and underrepresented scholars around the globe the opportunity to develop a book proposal in group or one-on-one settings with one of our partnering book coaches, each with her own approach to the collaborative development process.

In this application cycle, we are seeking non-fiction work by scholars in the sciences belonging to groups whose voices have been historically underrepresented (for further detail on underrepresentation in the sciences, see the on diversity in science). We are seeking work across a range of readerships鈥攊ncluding books intended for general readers, scholarly monographs, and textbooks鈥攁nd in the following subject areas: physics and astronomy, earth science, biology, natural history, neuroscience, computer science, and the mathematical sciences. This opportunity is open to previously published and first-time authors alike.

The application cycle lasted from August 12 until October 11. 鈥疉pplicants will be notified of decisions in December.

Grant Cycle 1, 2025

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Scholars in the Humanities and the Social Sciences

In this application cycle, we are seeking non-fiction work by BIPOC scholars in the humanities (in the fields of literary studies, classics, history, ancient history, art and architectural history, urban history, religious studies, philosophy, and education/Skills for Scholars) and in the social sciences (in the fields of anthropology, economics, politics and international relations, and sociology). We are currently not considering proposals for works of fiction, poetry, edited volumes or anthologies, or translations.

We are particularly interested in providing support to:

Projects that employ the book proposal development process to expand the scope of a project to reach a wider audience within or beyond the academy
Scholars at institutions that offer underrepresented viewpoints (including minority serving institutions, land grant universities, historically Black colleges and universities, and universities in the Global South)
Scholars who do not have institutional resources (including affiliations) to support proposal and manuscript development

How to Apply

The first application cycle of 2025 will open in March 2025.

Until then, we invite you to review the descriptions of the book coaches in the section below, consider partners with whom you might like to work, and visit their websites for more resources on preparing the book proposal.

Learn more about what we look for in a book proposal.

This grant is oriented towards support during the ideas-to-proposal stage. If you already have a proposal, we are eager to see it! We encourage you to share it with one of our editors.

Meet Our Coaches

Julia Boss | Julia Boss Editing

Getting your ideas onto the pages of a book鈥攁nd that book onto library shelves鈥攊s essential to a scholarly career. The book proposal is the form in which you first articulate your research as the book it will become and introduce yourself to presses as a partner in the work of creating it. Authors who choose to work with Julia Boss will receive personal coaching in an outcomes-based model focused on a single goal: creating a frictionless reading experience for the acquisitions editors and other decision makers who will read your book proposal.

A flexible-format coaching program breaks the proposal down into a series of writing and revision tasks, culminating in a developmental edit of the complete proposal package (proposal and one sample chapter). Working with Julia, you can choose between face-to-face and asynchronous coaching options, depending on the communications modality that best supports your writing process; you will receive her detailed written feedback on all drafts. Together you will address reader expectations for the book proposal as a form, consider the respective readerships for the proposal and the eventual book, define the work your book performs and how each chapter supports it, demystify the function of comps (comparative titles), and examine the ways you already share your ideas in public as they develop an audience for the book to come.

Julia has read hundreds of nonfiction book proposals over the course of her career, working first in trade nonfiction and for the past twenty years as a developmental editor focused on scholarly and other serious nonfiction writing. Authors she has worked with have placed books with competitive publishers including av福利社, Cambridge University Press, University of Toronto Press, Oxford University Press, Notre Dame Press, and many others and have won prizes from the Modern Languages Association and the Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts.

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Michelle Boyd, Ph.D. | Composed Writing Retreat,

The is a transformative, retreat-based training program that teaches scholars to overcome their writing fears and create a calm, confident, productive writing practice. The power of Composed lies in its unique experiential learning program. It not only trains scholars to overcome writing blocks; it goes further, providing the container, support, and guided practice they need to truly transform their relationship with writing from one of fear to one of trust. Scholars who complete Composed call it 鈥渕agical,鈥� but it鈥檚 not magic鈥攊t鈥檚 science. The program is rooted in literatures showing that each scholar has their own natural writing process, and that many of their struggles come from their inability to recognize, access or follow that process when they need it. Composed trains scholars to uncover their process, build a routine around it, and use it to work through the emotional and psychological barriers to writing. It was designed by InkWell founder, Michelle Boyd, Ph.D., a self-described 鈥渟truggling writer鈥� whose success as an award-winning writer and former tenured faculty member belied the challenges she faced throughout her career as an academic. Every scholar leaves Composed with a customized method for make meaningful, measurable progress any time they write so they can boost their productivity and reconnect with the pleasures and satisfactions of writing long after the retreat is over. Inkwell: June 29鈥揓uly 5, 2025 at Bellwether Farm in Ohio.

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Jane Joann Jones, Ph.D. | Up In Consulting

For first-time book authors, the book proposal is a brand-new genre of writing that in some ways defies that to which they鈥檝e become accustomed, such as dissertations and scholarly journal articles. As such, it鈥檚 imperative to learn how to effectively communicate the 鈥渟o what鈥� of your project鈥攁nd believe you鈥檙e capable of doing so. This is especially important for underrepresented authors who may lack mentorship or knowledge of academic publishing conventions. Jane Jones, founder of , works with writers in a 6-step process where she walks you through a brainstorming session and multiple drafts of the proposal. First, you will meet with Jane for an initial 1-hour coaching session to discuss the book project and your goals. Upon completion of the coaching session, Jane will send you a memo outlining suggestions for the direction of your proposal. Together, you will determine the delivery date for the submission of the proposal first draft. Jane will review the proposal and offer feedback鈥攚ritten and/or oral depending on extent and nature of revisions. You will review the feedback, can request clarification if necessary, and revise in preparation for final draft. Finally, Jane will review the final draft and copyedit the proposal for submission.

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Laura Portwood-Stacer | Manuscript Works

Authors who choose to work with Laura Portwood-Stacer will join the and have the choice to enroll in one of two book proposal coaching options:

The Book Proposal Accelerator is a six-week synchronous group program that guides an interdisciplinary cohort of scholars through the process of developing and pitching a compelling book proposal. In a series of 12 brief modules, the Accelerator breaks down what prospective authors need to know about scholarly book publishing, what they need to do in order to craft a compelling鈥痯roposal, and how they can make their proposal stand out in the eyes of editors and publishers. As participants in the Accelerator use the modules to craft each component of their proposal, they can post their drafts in the group platform for quick feedback from Laura. This allows participants to not only get responsive advice about their projects but also to benefit from seeing how other scholars approach the proposal and book development process. The Accelerator also includes several live Q&A sessions (which are recorded for those who can鈥檛 make it live). Sharing work in the group platform and attending the live Q&A sessions is totally optional for all participants. Tentative dates for the next Book Proposal Accelerator are January 21鈥揊ebruary 28, 2025.
The Book Proposal Shortcut for Busy Scholars is a self-paced online program that guides scholars through the process of developing and pitching a compelling book proposal. In a series of 12 brief modules, the Shortcut breaks down what prospective authors need to know about scholarly book publishing, what they need to do in order to craft a compelling鈥痯roposal, and how they can make their proposal stand out in the eyes of editors and publishers. The Shortcut curriculum is identical to that of the Accelerator, but the Shortcut is designed for people who prefer to work mostly on their own and at their own pace without regular meetings or check-ins.

Whether you opt for the Accelerator or the Shortcut, you will have the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Laura to review your completed proposal draft before you submit it to your publisher. In this meeting Laura will provide feedback on strengths and potential areas for clarification in your book proposal draft, as well as advise on submission timing and any other questions you have about the scholarly book publishing process. The meeting will be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time in 2025.

Laura Portwood-Stacer, PhD, is the author of The Book Proposal Book: A Guide for Scholarly Authors and the founder of Manuscript Works, a consultancy serving academic authors around the world. Her book proposal programs have helped hundreds of scholars gain clarity on the book publishing process and confidently pitch their books to competitive presses. Past participants have received offers on their books from publishers such as av福利社, Oxford University Press, Harvard University Press, Yale University Press, Duke University Press, University of Chicago Press, University of California Press, MIT Press, and many others. Learn more about Laura鈥檚 approach to editing and publishing at her website, , and in her .

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Jordana Moore Saggese, PhD, seated with laptop.

Jordana Moore Saggese PhD | Forza Coaching

Jordana is a tenured full professor in the humanities, at an R1 university, an award-winning academic author, an experienced editor, and a certified life coach. She knows what it鈥檚 like to work on the tenure-track as a first-generation woman of color, to write and to publish (three) academic books, and to balance teaching, research, and service with a life that includes three kids and a dog. As the founder of Forza Coaching, she supports academics in the development of their research and writing across all stages鈥攆rom initial idea to final draft. Jordana works with clients to demystify academic publishing, to strategize methods for achieving their goals, and to craft a focused and sustainable writing practice. Services include project management, 1:1 mindset coaching, as well as developmental editing. So, if you are looking for a comprehensive and bespoke research program that allows you to ditch the self-doubt and to manage your mind so that you can reach your highest potential, this is the coach for you. If you choose Forza Coaching as your partner, you will receive (1) an initial 60-minute consultation to discuss project goals and status of the work; (2) a template for drafting a project timeline with clear and realistic benchmarks; (3) personalized support from Jordana via five coaching calls to monitor your progress; and (4) two rounds of editorial feedback on each of your three documents 鈥� proposal narrative and two sample chapters.

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Helen Sword | Stylish Writing Intensive

is Professor Emerita at the University of Auckland and an international expert on academic writing across the disciplines. As the author of research-based books including Stylish Academic Writing (Harvard UP, 2012), The Writer鈥檚 Diet (Chicago UP, 2016), Air & Light & Time and Space: How Successful Academics Write (Harvard UP, 2017), and Writing with Pleasure (Princeton UP, 2022), she aims to empower writers around the world to write more clearly, confidently, prolifically, and with greater pleasure. Helen鈥檚 flagship is a transformational program for academics who aspire to maximize the impact and outreach of their research by publishing engaging, inspiring scholarly prose. This immersive online retreat鈥攐ffered every year in March, July, and October鈥攊ncludes a carefully curated blend of structured writing time, advanced writing and editing workshops, asynchronous feedback, and 6 hours of craft-focused coaching with Helen as part of an intimate cohort. You will also receive one year of free membership in the WriteSPACE Studio, an international community of academic, professional, and creative writers who meet online for weekly Live Writing Studio sessions and monthly Special Events with invited guests. To learn more about Helen and her work, check out her website and sign up for her free newsletter.

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Margy Thomas, Ph.D. |

from Margy Thomas, Ph.D., creator of ScholarShape, includes a unique blend of book coaching and developmental editing that helps you imagine and design your whole project. While a book coach can help you manage your process and a developmental editor can give conceptual feedback, Story-Argument Support fuses elements of both services with the Story-Argument model, a holistic structure for scholarship creation that Margy has been refining for over a decade.

In the Story-Argument Foundations Service Package, you鈥檒l be guided through the development of your book idea into (a) a solid prospectus that articulates why your project needs to exist and how the book will deliver on that promise; (b) a growing draft you feel excited to complete (two body chapters that demonstrate your progress and show how you鈥檒l execute the book stylistically); and (c) a precise yet flexible plan for generating the book鈥檚 remaining chapters. Together, we鈥檒l target all the essential questions and tasks involved in developing a compelling book-length Story-Argument for a scholarly publisher. The package includes two Strategy Intensives, two rounds of Draft Feedback (developmental editing), and more. Read more about all of the !

Margy Thomas, Ph.D., founder of , helps you center your scholarly work around your deep wisdom and intrinsic motivation so that the scholarship you create expresses what you believe is true and important, resonates with readers, and contributes to the collective project of healing the world. Using the flexible structure of ScholarShape鈥檚 Story-Argument model, you can navigate the uncertainties of the scholarly process with a sense of purpose even when you don鈥檛 know where you鈥檙e going鈥攚hich, for many of us, is most of the time. Learn more at .

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Leslie Wang, Ph.D. |

Leslie Wang is a writing coach and the creator of Your Words Unleashed, a signature coaching program that helps scholars master their writing habits and publish books that matter. She helps authors from diverse disciplines draw wisdom from their own histories, overcome imposter syndrome, and make decisions grounded in their core values so they can write with joy and purpose. She empowers writers from marginalized backgrounds to transform the world with their ideas.

Your Words Unleashed helps authors develop the practical strategies and unshakable self-confidence to write their first book. Leslie works intensively with individuals through eight 1:1 coaching sessions over six months, with the goal of a completed book proposal. Her holistic process involves creating a sustainable writing schedule and realistic goal setting, managing internal blocks, identifying an ideal audience, and locating the book鈥檚 core message. Throughout, Leslie will provide feedback on your writing and ideas.

A certified life coach and former tenured professor, Leslie is also an ethnographer and the author of two scholarly books. Her coaching brings together an intimate understanding of academic writing, scholarly publishing, and the context of higher education. To learn more about Leslie and her work, check out or listen to .

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Previous Grant Cycles

Grant Cycle | Autumn 2023 (closed)
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Scholars in the Humanities

In this application cycle, we sought non-fiction work by BIPOC scholars in the humanities in the fields of literary studies, classics, history, ancient history, art and architectural history, urban history, religious studies, philosophy, and education/Skills for Scholars.

We were particularly interested in projects that employ the book proposal development process to expand the scope of a project to reach a wider audience within or beyond the academy. We welcomed applications from scholars around the world, especially those whose institutions represent underrepresented viewpoints (including MSIs, HBCUs, or universities in the Global South), as well as scholars whose institutions do not have the resources to support manuscript development. We did not consider proposals for works of fiction, poetry, edited volumes or anthologies, or translations.

Grant Cycle | Winter 2023 (closed)
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color scholars in the鈥痵ocial sciences

The fifth cycle of PUP鈥檚鈥疭upporting Diverse Voices: Book Proposal Development Grants was launched in support of non-fiction works by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the鈥痵ocial sciences. Applicants submitted projects in the social sciences in the fields of anthropology, economics, politics and international relations, and sociology. We were particularly interested in projects that aim to reach a wider audience of non-academic readers. We welcomed applications from scholars around the world and the opportunity was open to previously published authors and first-time authors alike.

Grant Cycle | Summer 2022 (closed)
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color scholars in the鈥痵ciences

In鈥痶his application cycle,鈥痺e鈥痵ought non-fiction work by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color scholars in the sciences. We welcomed a wide range of subjects and readerships for project proposals, including books intended for general readerships, scholarly monographs, and textbooks. Applications were sought for projects in the following subject areas: in physics, earth science, biology, nature, neuroscience, computer science, and the mathematical鈥痵ciences. This opportunity was open to previously published and first-time authors alike.

Grant Cycle | Winter 2022 (closed)
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color scholars in the humanities

In鈥痶his application cycle,鈥痺e鈥痵ought non-fiction work by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color scholars in the humanities. We welcomed a wide range of subjects and readerships for project proposals, including books intended for general readerships, scholarly monographs, and textbooks. This opportunity was open to previously published and first-time authors alike.

Grant Cycle | Summer 2021 (closed)
BIPOC scholars in economics, sociology, politics & international relations, anthropology, and urban studies

In the summer 2021 application cycle, we sought non-fiction work by BIPOC scholars in the social sciences in the fields of economics, sociology, politics and international relations, anthropology, and urban studies.

Grant Cycle | Winter 2021 (closed)
Woman, transgender, and gender expansive authors in science and mathematics

In the inaugural application cycle in winter of 2021, we sought non-fiction work by women, transgender, and gender expansive authors in science and mathematics, including scholars and journalists.