Book Proposal Process

Required Elements 

General Information 

• Proposed Title 

• Author or Editor Name(s) 

• Contact Information 

• For edited works, provide a list of suggested contributing authors and a brief description of their credentials. 

Type of Project

• Describe the type of book or other work that you are proposing.

  • Examples: textbook (indicate if instructor’s guide also included), clinician’s guide, reference work, consumable workbook, essay collection, or casebook.  

  • Though these are examples of what ACA has published in the past, do not feel confined by this list as we are always looking for new and innovative projects. 

• For proposed new editions of ACA titles please include the following: 

  • Explanation for why an updated or revised edition is needed. 

  • Description of planned new or updated content. At least 30% of the content must be new or updated for consideration as a new edition.  

  • List new contributors to this edition. 

One Sentence Project Summary 

• A brief and “snappy” description or an “elevator pitch” of your project. 

Vision Statement  

• A non-technical description of your project of no more than 500 words, outlining what you want this project to accomplish and why you are writing it. 

Description of the Project 

• A detailed technical description of your project, outlining how this project will achieve your vision. 

Proposed Table of Contents with a Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of Each Section 

• Explain why you are including these chapters and sections and how they will contribute to the overall project. 

Key Features 

• Highlight any key features of the project—such as case studies with questions, activities or exercises—and anything else that would be beneficial for us to evaluate and understand your project. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

• Detail how your project speaks to a diversity of lived experiences including, but not limited to, its content, citations, authorship or audience. 

The Market   

• How will this project serve or enhance ACA's publishing mission? 

• How does this project compare to what else is available on the market? 

• What market need does this project meet? 

• Are there competing books in the same topic area? What makes your work unique? 

Intended Audience 

• What educational, professional or other counseling contexts will this project benefit?  

• What audiences outside of traditional counseling contexts will this project potentially serve? 

• What is your rationale for selecting this intended audience? 

Expected Length 

• Estimated word count or page count of the project. 

Expected Manuscript Completion Date 

Author CV 

• A brief CV highlighting professional experience and citations of lead author or relevant publications. 

Sample of Published Writing 

• Provide up to five (5) pages of a sample of your previously published writing, as well as the citation for the work.  

Optional Elements 

Digital or Multimodal Projects 

• List additional elements that your project requires, such as video, audio or interactive elements (e.g., manipulative data sets, animations). 

External Contractors 

• Specify if you intend to utilize any external contractors or vendors, such as illustrators, videographers or voice actors  

• If you have specific external contractors or vendors in mind, provide their credentials, rate sheet and examples of their work.