The following is a list of common questions that we've been asked by authors and editors.
If you can't find the information you're looking for in these pages or within the answers below, please get in touch.
On this page
Book proposals
Permissions
Submitting the manuscript
During production
Marketing
eBooks
Citing your book
Royalties
Discounts
Book proposals
If I send you a synopsis of my book, will you consider publishing it?
We welcome the opportunity to evaluate new proposals. Completing our Book proposal form is the best way to be sure you provide all the information we need in order to assess your book idea. Further information can be found in 'Propose a book idea'.
Permissions
What needs permission & how do I get it?
Any material (images, tables, quoted text) not created by you specifically for your book may well be under copyright. You should seek permission from the pubisher to reproduce the material in the first instance, and follow their instructions.
For more detailed information on this, see our permissions guidelines.
If I redraw an image do I still need to obtain permission?
Yes, and you should check whether you're permitted to do so by the publisher. The correct acknowledgement should also be given in the caption for the reproduced image. If the redrawn image is significantly different from the original, only acknowledgement may be needed, but you should check with the copyright holder.
Do I need permission to reuse my own images that have already been published?
It depends on the publisher’s policy. Generally, copyright belongs to the publisher, so you'll have to check whether permission is required.
What do I do if the publisher is requesting payment for use of the material?
The payment of permissions is the responsibility of the author as stated in your Letter of agreement. You can request an exemption to the fee from the copyright holder using the following wording, but we do not take responsibility if the fee is still required.
'I note that you request a payment of x for use of material y. The Royal Society of Chemistry is a registered charity (number 207890) devoted to advancing the chemical sciences. As a signatory to the STM Guidelines on Permissions and in the interest of facilitating the dissemination of chemical knowledge, we do not charge for re-use of our own material and we grant permission to requests such as this free of charge. Could you please consider waiving your fee in this instance?'
Does every author of a chapter need to sign the Copyright and permissions form?
Only the lead author needs to sign the form, as long all figures in the chapter are covered.>
Do I need to submit a form if I have no images or tables in my chapter?
Yes, you still need to confirm that the text in your work has not been directly copied from another source.
Do I need to submit a form if I have informed the editorial assistant via email?
Yes, we need an official declaration from you.
Submitting the manuscript
What happens if I can't meet the deadline?
The submission date we agree with you is used by our sales and marketing teams to help them plan their promotional strategies, and by our production team to help them plan their resources. It's therefore important that you adhere to your originally agreed deadline where possible.
If you encounter any difficulties, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can discuss a new schedule for the book.
How do I submit the ready manuscript, and to whom do I send it?
You will need to submit the manuscript to us using our drop box system. If you have not yet received a submission link, please contact the editorial assistant responsible for your book, or the Books team.
How can I check I'm supplying everything you need?
We have a Manuscript submission checklist that you should complete and supply with your completed manuscript.
Manuscript submission checklistDuring production
Will I receive proofs?
This depends on the type of book and your contribution to it. Conference proceedings are submitted to us a camera-ready copy, so proofs are not necessary. For further information please see the relevant section in 'Prepare and submit your manuscript'.
Please note that the proofing stage is to correct typographical errors, and we may not accept changes that are unnecessary and costly.
When do you need the proofs back?
Chapter authors typically have one week to check their proofs before returning the corrections. Books authors will have two weeks to check their proofs.
Marketing
Where will the book be marketed?
Your book will be marketed globally to an appropriate audience through catalogues, emailing campaigns and conference attendances. We ask you to provide information on potential promotional opportunities – such as relevant societies and forthcoming conferences – to help us maximise the marketing of your book.
eBooks
Will my book be available as an eBook?
Most of our books are made available as eBooks (digial versions of books), via our own publishing platform or through one of our partners.
Citing your book
How do I cite my book?
If you wish to cite your book we would advise including the DOI for the book from our eBook Collection, which can be found at the top of the webpage for your book. Each individual chapter also has a DOI, which can be found at the top of the webpage for that chapter.
If your book is not included in the eBook Collection, please reference it in the usual way, for example:
Kristopher A. Kilian in Mimicking the Extracellular Matrix, ed. Gregory A. Hudalla, William L. Murphy, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2015, p. 161.
Royalties
When will I receive royalty payments?
Royalty payments are made annually at the end of March for sales for the previous year.
Any payment that is due will be made by bank transfer directly into your bank account.
If you are unsure what royalties you are due, the percentage royalty rate is given in your Memorandum of agreement or your Letter of agreement.
Discounts
How do I claim my author/editor/referee discount?
Authors, editors and referees are entitled to a 25% discount on book orders and a 35% discount on books to which they have contributed. You can enter a discount or promotion code in 'My basket' when you confirm your order.
If you do not have a promotion code please contact us using the contact us form on this page.