Publishing guidelines

Everything you need, all in one place

Publishing a book can feel like a big process, but you don’t have to do it alone. This page brings together everything you need to navigate the publication process smoothly, from guidelines and checklists to essential forms.

You won’t need to go through all of these at once. Your editor is there to guide you at every step of the process, letting you know which resources are relevant at each stage of your publishing journey.

Publishing with Taylor & Francis: Getting started

These guides offer an overview of our products, customers, and readers, giving insights on making your work discoverable and accessible to all.

Overview of the book publishing process – Understand the stages of publishing your book, from submitting your proposal to publication.
Overview of our products, customers, and readers – Learn about our diverse range of publications and target audiences.
Making your work discoverable – Strategies to enhance the visibility and discoverability of your book.
Accessible content and alt text – Guidelines on creating accessible content for all types of readers.

Essential publishing forms and checklists

These forms should be submitted with your final manuscript, but it’s helpful to use them during your preparation process to make sure that your script and materials are organized correctly. The forms will download when clicked, making them easy to access as needed.

Submission checklist – A comprehensive list to confirm that your manuscript meets our requirements.
Artwork and third-party material permissions log – Track permissions for third-party content to avoid plagiarism issues (applies to select book types/lists).
Permissions declaration form – Declare all necessary permissions you have secured for your manuscript.
Notes for the copyeditor – Give specific instructions or preferences for the copyediting phase.

Publishing guides

These guides go through each key step of the publishing process, explaining what is required and what to expect at each stage.

Proposal guidelines – How to craft a compelling book proposal.
Contract guide – Information on your contract terms, including authorship and co-author considerations.
Important information on libel and defamation – Make sure your content adheres to legal standards and publication ethics.
Manuscript preparation guide – Guidelines on writing, formatting, artwork, and permissions.
Manuscript submission guide – A step-by-step guide on how to successfully submit your manuscript for review.
Production guidelines – Overview of the production process, from submitting and editing to typesetting and printing.
Guide to indexing in Microsoft Word – or the indexing guide (prior to Windows XE) – Best practices for creating clear, accurate, and well-structured indexes, including formatting, entry selection, and guidance on how to submit.
Editing a multi contributor book – Advice on managing contributions from multiple authors.

Expert book editing support from cover to cover

For authors who would like English language support, our  book editing service  offers you the opportunity to have your work reviewed by our team of editing experts.

Learn more about language support

The seven steps of the publishing process

For a clear, step-by-step breakdown of the publishing journey, check out the seven steps to publishing a book.

Learn more about the journey steps here

Books sharing data policy

From April 2021, all new Taylor & Francis publications entering the production process will be encouraged to adhere to the following Data Sharing Policy.

Read the Data Sharing Policy

Got a question?

Click the links below to read the answers to frequently asked questions about various parts of the book publishing process at Taylor & Francis:

Responsible use of AI tools in publishing

As a book author, you may choose to use generative AI tools during manuscript preparation. If you do, it’s your responsibility to ensure that AI is used transparently and ethically, and that it doesn’t compromise the originality or quality of your work. You will also need to declare your intention to use AI tools before finalizing your manuscript.

If your use of AI tools has been approved by your editorial contact, then you need to include a declaration in your manuscript. This should include:

The full name of the tool used (with version number)
How it was used
The reason for use

This statement must be included in your Preface or Introduction.

For full details on how AI fits into our publishing guidelines, please read our AI policy

Templates and examples

These documents support the preparation of your manuscript and may prove helpful to adapt to your own work. Clicking on them will download a copy for your reference.

Sample chapter – An example to guide the formatting and structure of your chapters.
Data availability statement templates – Templates to declare the availability of data supporting your research.

Book cover design

We use a wide range of cover options depending on the imprint and type of book. Your Editorial contact will discuss your cover design with you in the run up to submitting your manuscript.

Specialist book information

These guides offer further information for specific subject areas and product types where there are additional technical requirements.

Camera ready guide – Gives instructions for submitting fully formatted PDF and LaTeX files.
Chemical structures guide – Instructions for creating, formatting, and submitting chemical structures using ChemDraw or an equivalent.
Companion websites and eResources guide – How to supply additional material to support your book.
Computer code guide – This guide covers formatting, presenting, and submitting computer code for clear readability and accurate typesetting.
eBook guidelines for authors – Best practices for creating eBook content, including multimedia integration, formatting requirements, and guidance on how to submit.
Law books guide – Key considerations for law book authors, including referencing standards, legal citation formats, and best practices.
Routledge historical resources guide – How to compile and structure historical resources for scholarly accuracy, including sourcing, referencing, and formatting.
Creating and submitting alt text – How to give equal opportunity to all readers, including those with visual or print impairments.