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How to list a book under contract?

In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

I wrote a complete book draft. It was reviewed by an editor and two referees, it received generally positive reviews with some suggestions for revisions, and I signed a contract. There is, of course, language in the contract about if the book that is delivered is deemed unacceptable, they don't have to publish it.

I'm applying for jobs. How do I list this book draft. Under "Work in Progress"? Or can I put it under forthcoming publications with something like "(under contract, revisions pending)". Would anyone care, as long as its status is clear?

Good questions. I think as long as your CV is clear about its status, you're okay listing it either under Work in Progress or Books. But I don't think listing it under "Forthcoming" work is germane, since it's not technically forthcoming. The key thing, I think, is whether you list it under Work in Progress or Books, you should list it as under contract. If you'd like to say (under contract, revisions in progress), that could be helpful information.

What do readers think?

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13 responses to “How to list a book under contract?”

  1. A little lost

    I think just plain ‘under contract’ is fine here. I think all contracts have the language about the publisher not having to publish it. Assuming it’s a good press, I think it might even warrant a separate ‘book under contract’ section at the top of the CV.

    Reply
  2. anon search committee member

    I mainly agree (definitely don’t list it as forthcoming), but I would make clear that it isn’t just under contract but that you have completed a draft (which is often not true about stuff under contract). I think I’d go with putting it under a “work in progress” category (not “books” which might imply to someone that it is published or forthcoming) and list it as “under contract (full draft complete, at revision stage)” or something like that. Be specific! And just make sure that no one will think it is misleading, however you list it.

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  3. Not published yet

    I’m in the exact same position and have listed my book under Works in Progress, specifying that it is under contract and due to be published in x year. It feels misleading to list it under Books, even with caveats.

    Reply
  4. Bill V.

    There’s no reason not to give as much info as you think is helpful to your case (and true). For example, the cv entry could look like this:
    (book under contract; full manuscript has been refereed, revisions are due DATE; target publication date is DATE) Title, publisher.
    This works whether you have subdivisions within your Publications section or not. (I agree with Marcus and others here that “Forthcoming” means “accepted for publication and scheduled to appear.”)

    Reply
  5. Michel

    Books
    (Under contract) Book Title (Press)
    Sounds about right to me. I’m less sure about having a WIP section in the first place.

    Reply
  6. G

    I agree with Michel. I think a book under contract could be something that worth highlighting in order to distinguish it from both “forthcoming” and “work in progress”. I know that in some departments in humanities (not sure about philosophy though), they require a book for tenure, and signing a book contract is sufficient to meet this criterion.

    Reply
  7. The Real SLAC Prof

    Please do not list it under a general “Books” heading or under “Forthcoming.” I distinctly remember a negative committee response from a person in your position doing the former.

    Reply
  8. OP

    Thanks everyone for the feedback.
    In the interest of getting the book near the top of my CV, I’m going to list it under a separate ‘Books’ sub-section under “Publications”. However, I will make it clear that it is merely under contract and revisions are pending, despite having a complete draft. I will not call it ‘forthcoming’. Hopefully that doesn’t offend any search committees’ sensibilities.

    Reply
  9. David

    If it matters, The Professor Is In blog agrees with you OP, in the comment section of this post:https://theprofessorisin.com/2016/08/19/dr-karens-rules-of-the-academic-cv/.

    Reply
  10. Navigating Landmines

    I’m really glad for the discussion here. None of these are nuances I (an early assistant professor with a book under contract at a prestigious press) have I had previously been advised on, nor are the impressions they seem to give some search committee members ones I would have anticipated. Perhaps that’s mostly naiveté on my part.
    I do appreciate the importance of not padding one’s cv and of being transparent in your self-presentation. But, it seems worth noting for search committee members, this is another area where many candidates may wholly be unaware of norms and not trying to violate either of those commitments.

    Reply
  11. Elizabeth

    I’m an AP who has published 2 books. In both cases I listed them under a ‘Books’ section. While they were under contract I listed them as such, but once the manuscript was accepted, I changed to ‘forthcoming’. Once a publication date was set, I changed to the year.

    Reply
  12. anon search committee member

    Maybe this is wrong, but I would think not listing things that are either (a) forthcoming with 100% certainty (and complete) or (b) already published under “publications” would just be automatically obvious CV padding/not transparent. I don’t really get what’s nuanced about not listing anything that doesn’t fall under (a) or (b) as published.

    Reply
  13. Navigating Landmines

    @anon search committee member, It may just be the number of CVs I have seen with manuscripts listed under “Books,” noting that they’re under contract. That’s what I have done and hadn’t previously considered it to be padding or not transparent, since I thought the caveat of “under contract” was both clear and standard. The point about adding that the full manuscript has been reviewed (when it has) seems worthwhile to me.

    Reply

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