1. I teach a reading course for intermediate students. I've looked at almost all the materials available, and I can identify specific weaknesses in most of them. I think I can do better.

This is an excellent place to start. You teach a standard course. You have taken the time to look at what's available. You have clear ideas of what's not available. You have a plan for addressing those needs. Talk to an editor!

2. I use a particular approach to teaching, and it works. I'd like to share it with other teachers.

This is a little riskier. If your approach is relatively broad and you are in tune with current trends, you may have a wonderful project. If, however, your approach is narrow-you teach reading only through poetry or listening only through current TV sitcoms-then your project may be too idiosyncratic for most instructors. No matter how well your approach works for you, the effort of getting other instructors to buy into it may not be worth the potential reward. But try us! Maybe we can work with you to make your ideas more marketable.

3. I've been using my own materials for years. I think I can turn them into a book.

You may have a head start here-but, as in reason number 2, it depends on the breadth of your approach and the applicability of your experience to that of other teachers in the market. Before you simply send in what you have, make sure that you have a coherent structure for your materials, and a reasonable argument for why other instructors would be interested.

4. I want to make money.

Not necessarily a bad reason! Money can motivate authors to meet deadlines and, more important, to be attentive to reviewer and editorial comments. But if that's your only reason, you may want to reconsider!

5. I have a wonderful idea for a book. My book would include materials for both teachers and students. It could be used both in methodology (teacher training) courses and in all four skills courses (reading, writing, conversation, listening), as well as for grammar and integrated skills courses. There's nothing else like it on the market.

Potential authors often see this as the best possible kind of project-a book that is all things to all people, and one that has no competition at all. But the truth is, these are the "red flags" that editors fear most. First, it is almost impossible for a book to be all things to all people; books that attempt this almost always end up being not very useful to anybody. And second, if there is nothing like it available, there is probably a reason for that. Sometimes a book really does capture a new approach. But most "best-sellers" are comprised of two parts: 80% of their content covers what typical competing books cover, and 20% of their content is new and sparkling, and it fills clear market needs.

Click here for the next step: Longman's ESL Manuscript Submission Guidelines.