Responding to reader reports

Jump straight to:

• Think about your response before writing it
• Make sure you don’t miss anything
• Strike the right tone
• Be open to suggestions
• Points of disagreement
• Revising your response
• Revising your proposal
• Revising your sample material

Think about your response before writing it

The readers will probably make a number of suggestions for improving your book. Take some time to digest the reports before writing your response. This is especially important if you are feeling angry or defensive – your response needs to be calm and balanced, so take some time to cool off.

If you are unsure about any of the points in the reports, speak to your colleagues or check in with your editor to see if they have any advice.

You might want to ask who will see your response – it may be going back to the readers, or to a publishing committee.

Make sure you don’t miss anything

If there are more than one or two points to respond to, we recommend itemising each point and your response. This helps you make sure you respond to everything, and makes it easy for your editor and readers to see your responses.

Strike the right tone

It’s important you come across as being open to advice. Thank the readers for their time and suggestions at the beginning of your response. Take on their suggestions in the spirit in which they are offered: making your book the best it can be. Even if you disagree with the readers, be calm and polite; don’t treat it as a fight or call the readers’ knowledge into question. That doesn’t make you look good.

Be open to suggestions

Most readers want to help and will offer lots of advice and constructive criticism. It’s usually worth taking on these suggestions. Even if the reports come across as unhelpfully critical, the most important thing you can do is look for what you can work with.

Points of disagreement

You may disagree with some of the suggestions in the reports. That’s fine, as long as you have a good reason for it. In your response, clearly explain why you prefer not to make these changes.

Revising your response

Consider your initial response as a draft. Your editor might advise you to amend it before finalising it. It’s a good idea to listen to them: they know what their various committees are looking for in your response.

Revising your proposal

If there are several changes to be made, you will probably be asked to amend your proposal to reflect this.

Revising your sample material

If your editor feels your project needs to go back to readers, they may also ask you to revise your sample chapter(s). They may ask you to provide additional sample chapters or the full typescript at this stage.

Where to now?

• Back: Receiving reader reports
• Next: The final decision
• Return to the ECR Hub homepage
• Ready to submit your manuscript? Discover the step-by-step guide to publishing with Edinburgh University Press