Apply for the book manuscript workshop

The York Centre for Social Justice and Democracy invites submissions for its 2026 Book Manuscript Workshop. Our book manuscript workshop provides a structure for generating constructive, informed criticism on book manuscripts close to completion but still at a stage where they can benefit from a review. The workshop’s aim is to make the book manuscript as strong as possible prior to submission for publication. The manuscript selected will be the subject of a day-long workshop at which each submitted chapter (typically, four in total) will receive critical commentary from reviewers, external and internal to York, with related areas of expertise. This is followed by a response from the author and a discussion with a broader group of invited political theorists from York and other UK universities.

Priority will be given to:

• Manuscripts that engage meaningfully with the research streams of the York Centre for Social Justice and Democracy and research carried out by its members
• Manuscripts that are at a moment in the writing process when authors can most effectively utilize such feedback 

Interested authors are encouraged to email the York Centre for Social Justice and Democracy with an expression of interest. Please get in touch through ycpt-enquiries@york.ac.uk

The deadline for submission of expressions of interest is Friday, 19th December, 2025.

In your email, please include the following application materials:

• a short CV (no more than 2 pages)
• a one-page cover letter explaining the book’s significance to the field; how the manuscript links up to the research interests of the York Centre for Social Justice and Democracy and its members; and why and how this opportunity will be important to the process of book completion and to the applicant’s career trajectory
• project description of 2-5 pages, including title; summary of the argument; chapter summaries, with an indication of the 4 chapters proposed for discussion; timeline for completion and current stage of the writing process; whether the book is already under contract; a ranking of 6 potential external reviewers and names of possible internal reviewers
• one sample chapter

The next workshop is to take place in June/July 2026.

Decisions will be communicated to applicants by February 2026.