What Is The Peer Review Process At John Wiley Sons Journals?

I got my first submission to John Wiley & Sons after a lot of trial-and-error, so I’ll walk you through the practical route that worked for me and a few extra tips I picked up along the way. First, figure out whether you’re trying to submit a book proposal or a journal manuscript — Wiley handles both, but the paths are different. For books you’ll usually start with a proposal: a concise overview, table of contents, sample chapter or two, a clear statement of target audience and market comparison (what other books are similar and why yours is different), and an author bio highlighting your expertise. For journals, you submit the complete manuscript directly to the specific journal’s submission system — most Wiley journals use ScholarOne Manuscripts or Editorial Manager — and you must follow that journal’s formatting and ethics guidelines carefully. When I prepared my book proposal, I emailed an editorial contact listed on the Wiley site and also used the online proposal form where available. Many Wiley imprints have a dedicated submissions page where you can upload a proposal or query an acquisitions editor. Include permissions or note if you need images or third-party material cleared. For journal papers, pick the exact Wiley journal that fits your study, register in the submission system, fill in all metadata (title, abstract, keywords, author affiliations), upload figures and supplementary files, and provide a cover letter — name a few suggested reviewers if the journal allows it, and disclose conflicts of interest. Both routes often require signing online forms for copyright transfer or publishing agreements during acceptance and production. Expect timelines to vary: an acquisitions editor might respond to a book proposal in weeks to months; journal peer review commonly takes a few months but can be faster or slower. Be ready for revision requests — I revised my sample chapter twice before a final go-ahead — and keep all your permissions, CV, and marketing points handy to speed up contract talks. If you’re unsure where to send a book proposal, Wiley’s Author Services and the publisher’s imprint pages list editorial contacts; for journal submissions, go straight to the journal landing page on Wiley Online Library to find the submission link. One last practical tip: tailor every submission to the specific journal or imprint — generic mass emails rarely get traction, but a targeted, well-researched proposal shows you’ve done your homework and helps your manuscript stand out.

I get a little thrill every time I see a new Wiley title that would fit a course or a review column—there’s something satisfying about turning a publisher’s product page into a classroom reading list or a thoughtful critique. If you want a review copy from John Wiley & Sons, start by treating it like a polite, professional request: find the exact book page on Wiley’s site (or the distributor page), note the ISBN and publication date, and look for any ‘Request a review copy’ or publicity contact listed. If the book is a textbook, also check for an ‘exam/inspection copy’ link; many academic textbooks have separate processes for instructors versus reviewers. Next, prepare a clear outreach message. Say who you are, where you publish or teach, and be explicit about what you need (PDF, EPUB, printed galley) and when you need it. Publishers want to know the outlet (journal, blog, syllabus, social media channel) and an estimated publication date for your review or course adoption. Include links to recent pieces you’ve written or courses you’ve taught so they can quickly verify your reach. If international shipping is involved, mention your country and whether a digital copy would suffice. I always include the book’s title and ISBN in the subject line—makes it easy for the publicity team to match requests quickly. If you can’t find a direct contact on the book page, use Wiley’s main website contact form and pick ‘marketing/publicity’ or ‘permissions’ as the topic, or call their general office and ask for the publicity department. Be gracious about embargoes or review policies; some titles only allow e-galleys before publication, others send print copies to selected reviewers. Follow up once if you don’t hear back after a week or two, but don’t pester. A short, polite follow-up with an updated link to your outlet usually does the trick. And lastly, keep records: save correspondence, note tracking numbers, and if you promised a review by a date, make good on it—publishers remember reliable reviewers and are more likely to help next time.